News — Capsule wardrobe

Mood boards are so inspiring when it comes to 'conspiring' sewing plans! They may evolve and change as one’s work continues. This is a board I started the summer of ’19 which I recently updated. I originally worked off a palette of reds, black and white of a Japanese sensibility. This last spring, I began to expand the color palette while still hanging on to the Japanese thread for instance, the colorful feed-sack style fabric Japanese print dress (top left). I have drawn connections to projects I have since completed with a shot of a project in progress (the red...

Simplicity marketed this pattern (1210) design in Summer of 1933 headlining it, 'Daytime and Evening Fashions of Cool Charm and Smart Line'.  It is one of the earliest street trouser patterns I have found for women: As one from the Simplicity Three-Style pattern series (a 1930's take on the 'Capsule Wardrobe' concept, if you will), this ensemble includes the epaulette-shoulder blouse, wide leg trousers, vest and jacket with French cuffs. A piece for the Ascot-style scarf is not given, but dimensions and instructions for creating it are included. Curiously, this ladies' Tuxedo was issued at a time when Simplicity released their...

Now available in sizes 32" to 46" bust, is Vogue's 1949 Ensemble.  Originally meant as lounge wear, the tunic and trousers could TOTALLY be worn as a casual outfit by today's standards!     The sash which ties around the waist and knots at left front was originally referred to as a 'gridle' and I chose to re-name the 'coat' a 'tunic' for Vogue being inconsistent with how they name that part of the ensemble in the original pattern. Per the text to describe the style, 'The flared lower section of tunic joins double-breasted top at waistline and has notched...

but here is another hidden gem pattern! In 2014, I started adding some single-size patterns I drafted long ago, but for whatever reason hadn't issued.  I call them 'Hidden Gems'.  This is one I pulled from the file drawer and digitally drafted for the set of Gilets, originally by Pictorial Review in the mid-1930's.   The reason I never put it out?  I simply did not make a color reproduction of the envelope art and it was missing a piece I had to create.  Thus, I offer it in black and white, also see last week's post on re-creating a...