It's always bittersweet to announce the final week of a Season...but that's where we are! Week 4, Signature Style. Don't you think we've been seeing these ladies Signature Style all along? But just wait until you see this...
As usual, make sure to get all the way to the end of the post so you can support TWO of these talented sewists with your VOTE.
When we aren't swimming, I wanted to create some pieces she can mix and match and feel comfy, cool, chic, and classy in. She definitely has an opinion when it comes to what she will wear and her style is becoming a little more sophisticated. She absolutely loves all the looks she can get with these pieces. I love clean, classic lines and little details so I made sure to include that aesthetic. The white linen top started with the bodice of the Fringe Dress from Chalk and Notch. I added three vertical pleats in the shoulder as well as arm ties at the sleeves. The skirt is a self drafted a-line skirt with an elastic back and a flat front with an inverted pleat. I designed rounded patch pockets with the same pleat design from the top, and included white trim on the pocket as well as outlining the belt with the white linen. The fabric for both pieces is Robert Kaufman Linen from Raspberry Creek Fabrics. She requested a romper, but was ecstatic for the faux romper we made out of one of my favorite fabrics- rayon challis. It's so dreamy to wear! This is a retired club print also from Raspberry Creek Fabrics. The faux romper look allows her to wear it so many more ways! I used the Linville Romper pattern from Hey June for both pieces, modifying them to be how we wanted them. I made the pants joggers with an elastic ankle and a paperbag waist - of course they have pockets too! The top has a cascading circular sleeve, with a white contrast facing and white poms attached. These brought a huge smile to my girls face, but they also warm my heart. A friend of mine passed away unexpectedly and I got some of her sewing stash - including these. I've been waiting for just the right project to use them for and I know she is proud! I also added a back placket with a tie for a little fun in the back.
Thank you Project Run and Play for allowing me the opportunity to push myself and take time to create some things I wouldn't have made time for otherwise. Sewing for me is connection, resourcefulness, memories, and community and I have felt each of those things during the past four weeks. For more pictures and details, check out my blog post HERE.
I'm beyond honored to be here for the final week! This competition has been a challenge but I'm so happy with what it has pushed me to try (Pattern making, looking at you!). Let's dive in to my final look....well, looks. Because when I thought about my signature style, I realized that I often sew in mini capsules. I have made so many mini capsules for each season, for each kid as well as myself because all of us can struggle sometimes having amazing clothing items, but nothing that coordinates. Any designer I have worked with knows that I think in full wardrobe, not just single piece. So of course, I made her a mini capsule to take her from fall to winter as my finale. Another big part of my process is that my little muse gets a say in absolutely every detail of everything I make her. We sit down and look at inspiration together, pull fabrics together, and sketch our designs. I love having her involved in the process as she genuinely has great taste and loves wearing what I make her so much more if she has a say.
This capsule encompasses both of our style, but it also shows my absolute obsession with clean finishes. I would gladly wear every piece I created for her myself, and think that they will stand the test of time and be great for her little sister in a few years. It also shows how I take inspiration from fashions from the past and try to bring them into modern looks using edgy details like metal and leather. I'll start with the jeans I made her, using gorgeous stretch denim I bought in Paris. I decided to do a more tailored version, starting with the Stay + Stitch Avenue Flares as a base. I made them wide leg instead, and changed the top to be a high waist sailor style (with pockets!). I did facings in satin from Minerva and subtle olive topstitching, with jean tack buttons and a nice deep hem. Next, her pixelated print top. It makes the artsy mathematician in me quite happy to have a geometric floral print (stretch chiffon from Joann's). I made her a simple, tailored top using the Juniper from Sew a Little Seam for the base. I left off all plackets, choosing a faced keyhole instead. I used french seams throughout the shirt and topstitched every little seam, as well as making split sleeves (she is currently obsessed with bishop and bell sleeves and all flavors of flowy sleeves). I tacked the elbow as I originally had chosen to do a wrist tie but she really wanted them open instead. I finished the neckline with narrow self made bias and did a narrow curved hem.
For the skirt, I started with a basic half circle skirt, and slashed and added to the pattern to have knife pleats around half of it. I chose to do a wrap style, borrowing a little from a kilt look (and did some mitred hems at the corners to reduce bulk). The waistband is also self created, a contour waistband that encloses all the seams at the top. For the closure, I used rose gold vinyl pieces with some metal purse hardware, and little metal snaps that mimic the look of rivets but also help stabilize those closures. The fabric is some mystery textile my husband purchased in bulk for me from one of his many Thailand trips...I assume it's a ponte though. The second top I made is from some soft white french terry provided by Minerva. I started with the Knoxville from New Horizons Designs as I like the general ease of it for a sweater, then changed the front to have a curved placket of rose gold grommets that I made a tie to go through. I echoed the skirt pleats by adding a few deep knife pleats on the sleeve caps and now desperately need this whole sweater for me. The facings for the grommet strips make for a nice finish inside the hem as well.
Last, she of course needed a layer for some warmth. I had originally decided I wanted to make a leather moto jacket, but those split sleeves meant I needed something easier to get on and off, so I drafted a capelet from some wool coating (Mibs Fabrics). I started with a circle, cutting the neckhole offcenter for a high low effect, then added a deep funnel collar inspired by Violette Field Threads Alba dress. There's a keyhole with another tack button closure on the back. I used self made satin bias to finish all the seams as the mustard wool is fairly bulky, so I understitched the collar to catch that binding on the inside, then did a thicker binding around the hem so that it peeks out. Last, it got two rows of snaps so that she can choose to cinch it in and create sleeves. She and I are both obsessed with all the mix and match looks she can make from these 5 pieces! Check out lots more pictures and info on my blog!
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