Tag Archives: Style Inspiration

Style Crush: Tár

Houndstooth Richmond Blazer

When I was thinking of making my suit for the Sewcialite Soiree, Nina Lee mentioned that she was releasing a jacket pattern. It was released later than made it possible for using it for that jacket, but I snapped it up as soon as she did release the Richmond, so that I could make a copy of this jacket Claire Foy wore.

I was on the lookout for the right fabric for ages. I eventually settled on this fabric from Minerva Crafts. I also bought the lining from Minerva. The scale of the houndstooth is obviously smaller than on Claire’s jacket but it still kind of works. The fabric is super synthetic, though, so I probably wouldn’t really recommend it to anyone else as it’s difficult to iron into shape.

I made the size 8 and didn’t make any fitting changes as it’s drafted to be a relatively loose fit. The sleeves are a little tighter than I anticipated, though, so I definitely wouldn’t get a thick jumper underneath – not that I was planning on that anyway.

The pattern has 2 welt pockets, with pocket flaps and the instructions were really clear – so if you’ve ever struggled with this before, you won’t struggle with this pattern.

I think if I made another jacket, I would use this pattern rather than the Joe Blazer (which I made for the suit) as I prefer the way it fits. I also made the super wide lapels, which I liked for the suit, but I think I like the lapels on the Richmond better.

It doesn’t look like it, but I have pressed all the seams and the collar but it doesn’t really look like it – this is because of the super synthetic fabric.

I didn’t bother adding buttons or buttonholes as I figured I wouldn’t wear it done up. I might change my mind once I start wearing it though. I think I’d go for black buttons like in the inspiration pic.

I thought about putting some shoulder pads into this jacket to add a bit more structure but the fabric is quite drapey and it’s meant to be a slouchy fit so I decided against it. I do kinda want to make a proper tailored jacket with shoulder pads and stuff one day though.

I’m hoping to get a lot of wear out of this jacket once Spring finally arrives, as an alternative to a jumper or cardigan.

Sewing another jacket has also made me kinda want to make another suit…..

Have you made a jacket/blazer?

Style Crush: Kerry Washington

Wardrobe Architect Week 3: Exploring Shapes

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This week’s Wardrobe Architect exercise is about finding out which shapes of garments you like wearing – and possibly more crucially, which shapes you don’t like wearing. Some of the things that contribute to the shape of a garment include ease (tight or loose), length, neckline, waistline position, sleeve length, and fullness. There’s a really helpful worksheet you can download from Colette to help you rate the different aspects of each different garment, to help you see which shapes you like. I think we’ve probably all sewn things that we didn’t feel great in, or weren’t the most flattering, and I feel like this week will be the beginning of me working out what’s good and what’s bad!

The worksheet has you grade different elements of different garment types, where 0 is hate wearing it and 10 is love wearing it.

Here’s my overview:
Then there’s another section with more specific necklines and sleeves to mercilessly judge:

Skirts

According to my scores, I mostly like skirts which are mid-thigh or knee length – I’m too short to pull off midi! And I like them to be fairly straight in style, including pencil-type skirts, though I don’t like them to be too tight. I found some photos to sum up my taste – some of the photos are things people have sewn from patterns (including one I made myself!) because it seemed like a not-terrible idea to find things I might actually be able to recreate!

(All image sources can be found on my Wardrobe Architect pinterest board)

Dresses

I definitely wasn’t surprised that what I like are shift dresses, without waist seams. Also that they are quite loose and hit me mid-thigh. I feel exposed and uncomfortable in mini-length things, especially if I have to sit down!

I also quite like the 60s-style high waisted look. I think this will be a silhouette I’ll experiment more with. I’ve been meaning to make a Tilly and the Buttons Megan Dress (from Love At First Stitch) for ages, so maybe now is the time!

(All image sources can be found on my Wardrobe Architect pinterest board)

Trousers (Pants)

From my scores of trousers, it seems that I like most styles and shapes – really fitted, somewhat fitted and somewhat loose. Also I’m quite flexible when it comes to where they sit on my waist.

You can’t beat some classic black skinny jeans!

I do also like wide-legged trousers, though there is a limit! I think being short I can’t pull off giant trousers.

I also like these more boyfriend-y shapes. The Morgan Jeans are on my #2017MakeNine list, so I’ll be making myself some this year.

(All image sources can be found on my Wardrobe Architect pinterest board)

Tops and Blouses

As I’m sure I’ve mentioned before, I like loose, boxy tops. I hadn’t really thought explicitly about what length of top I like, so that was interesting to think about – I like tops just above hip level. I don’t mind the odd cropped top, but with high-waisted bottoms. I think the tunic length on me would just throw off my proportions because I’m short. Weird how basically all the photos I picked are monochrome!

(All image sources can be found on my Wardrobe Architect pinterest board)

Jackets and Blazers

I wasn’t really surprised by how I scored the different styles of jacket/blazer – I kind of knew I like quite loose, slightly boyish shaped jackets, in a length that hits on or just below my hip bones. Jackets are definitely an area I want to move more into, given the office I work in is fairly smart, and I feel a bit more put together and grown up if I’m wearing a jacket. This first photo is the hacking jacket from the first Great British Sewing Bee book, so that’s definitely on my list to make.

(All image sources can be found on my Wardrobe Architect pinterest board)

Cardigans

I found it really hard to find pictures of the kinds of cardigans I like wearing! I like round necked, plain, fairly fitted cardigans – it’s one of the few things I prefer to be more fitted and not as loose. Maybe I’ll explore with other styles in the future? Since I now live in a very cold place, I like the idea of some over-sized, snuggly knitwear!

(All image sources can be found on my Wardrobe Architect pinterest board)

Outerwear

Apparently I like grey and yellow coats! I also like them to be loose, and I love cocoon shapes (which weren’t really covered on the worksheet). I have a duffle coat which is more hip length and I like that, but I also love my Freemantle coat, which is a bit longer – you need to have some long coats, for warmth if nothing else! I may have to make another Freemantle because I really do love it. I might try making it more round necked, though, as the v is very deep so not super warm when it’s really cold unless you’re wearing a giant scarf!

(All image sources can be found on my Wardrobe Architect pinterest board)

Well there we go. I don’t think there were a huge amount of surprises for me, but it was interesting to look at the specific design elements I like and like to wear – sometimes I look at things and think ‘I really like that’ but I don’t analyse why, so sometimes I sew things I think I’ll like but then don’t, because it doesn’t fit with these scores. I’m definitely going to try to remember to come back to this post when I’m planning my makes!

p.s. Sorry this is going up a day late – I was writing it yesterday evening and was still going at past 11, so I figured there was no point forcing myself to stay up and get tired just to finish it a couple of minutes before midnight, just to have it be published on the Sunday.

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Style Crush: Emma Stone

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At the weekend I went to see La La Land, as I’m sure did a lot of people! The screen I was in was pretty full and it’s been out a couple of weeks. I did like it but for some reason I left feeling a little underwhelmed – maybe it’s because of the hype? Also I love musicals and, although I liked the nods to the classic musicals, like Singin’ In The Rain and An American In Paris, the songs seemed a little weak. I do now want some 2-tone brogues now though! And Emma Stone wore some nice dresses, especially the yellow one above. I’m sure I read somewhere (though now I can’t remember where!) that the dress was a sample they made to screen test but then they ended up using that one in the film!

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But enough about La La Land and onto my style crush for today: Emma Stone. I’ve liked her for quite a while and I think she’s always really likeable and watchable on screen. And I love her style! She looks particularly good in bright colours, like pink. I love the dramatic bow on the gown above, and the 2 different shades of pink below look really cool. I also like the separate top and skirt, it’s a bit more different on the red carpet than a dress.

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This pink dress, with a white collar and cuffs, might be one of my favourites of all the dresses I’ve seen her wear. I love the sheer sleeves, the bright shade of pink, the monochrome houndstooth shoes, everything! This could be my inspiration for my Billie bodice from Boundless Style……

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She looks pretty great in white and red, as well as pink! I like the embroidery/ appliqued fabric here. And the exaggerated hip shape. I’m guessing it’s Vivienne Westwood?

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I like this simple shift dress, too, and the more coral-y shade of pink.

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Although I don’t think I’d wear this outfit, I do really like it! I like the ruffled skirt, the casual t-shirt, the turquoise necklace and the red shoes! I really don’t think I’d combine these colours, but they really work!

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You can’t beat spots and stripes!

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Now I’ve got a few of my favourite gowns Emma Stone has worn. I like how simple this dress is, with the perfect nude shade. But it’s still interesting, with the sparkly trim and the cut out sides,

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This is another of my favourites of her dresses. I love, love, love the fabric. And there’s something really lovely about the proportions and fit of this dress. I can’t really explain why I like it so much, but I do!

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I love the beading on this gown she wore to the Oscars. I can’t begin to imagine how many hours went into it! Not totally in love with the colour of this one, though.

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She even looks great in black – which not everyone does. I like the Grecian style of this gown and the fact that it’s made of floaty fabric. I bet it was lovely to walk in!

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I read somewhere that this gown was the inspiration for the yellow dress in La La Land. She really does look great in yellow. And I like how it seems to have shoulder pads, or something. And it looks like the fabric on the skirt has a sort of vertical rib. You don’t often see interestingly textured fabric on red carpet gowns – possibly just because it doesn’t come out in photos!

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Of course you can always spot lace. I like this dress, and how they’ve used a nude colour underneath the black lace. If they had used black underneath, the pattern of the lace would have been lost. I like the ribbon around her waist, too.

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I’ve posted this photo mostly because the dress has wings! I love the black collar and the embroidery, too!

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I like how she wears trousers on the red carpet as well as dresses and skirts. I love this one! You can’t beat black sparkles!

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I like this more casual look, too. I think I may need some trousers made of patterned fabric in my life. I always err on the side of caution with trousers and mostly just wear black or navy or jeans.

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This is an amazing look at the Golden Globes. This is up there with the red dress thing with black trousers that Emma Watson wore to the Globes one year. I kind of want to copy this one day, though I’d probably never wear it!

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She even looks cool in a suit! I’m not totally in love with these trousers, but I love the shoes, it makes the outfit more interesting.

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When I do these posts I always try not to use obviously paparazzi photos because I feel actresses are entitled to some privacy – when they’re on the red carpet, they’re ‘at work’ so it feels a bit different. Having said that, however, I’m sharing this one street photo of Emma Stone because I love it! I basically want to rip off this whole outfit. The Morgan Jeans are one of my #2017MakeNine so I’ll at least have the jeans at some point this year! And I want her shoes soooo badly!

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