The ubiquitous Tibi | Inspiration {Dressmaking}

There are a few reasons why I am keen to improve on my dressmaking skills - one of them is to able to recreate some items worn by fashion bloggers I admire the wardrobe of, and save some pennies in the process. 

Maybe you can see I am already fed up with being pregnant and thinking of my post-pregnancy life (to be honest hot trains are not helping). For a few of you it may be the wedding/summer parties season, and I thought you might be interesting in seeing my inspiration board for the Tibi skirt which currently retails at £495.00 at Net-a-Porter. This is not the most expensive designer item I have my eye on - but still, it is cheaper to make it.  

Pattern: B5929 from Butterick (easy pattern); 

Fabric: there are different colours available on cheapfabrics.co.uk; but one option could be the Dupion Silk in wine which should shimmer a bit to add that touch of gamour

Probable modifications: Lengthen the skirt - to get the Midi Tibi skirt look. 

You could also adjust the pleats if you felt you need more, smaller ones

Tibi Skirt: You can buy it on NaP for £495

So let's do the maths.. 

You are saving quite a bit but what attracts me to this project is that you could really adjust the size of the patterns according to your morphology (as in I have 'usually' a small waist and big hips in comparison). Also it is a great staple garment to have in your wardrobe as there are a lot of inspiration out there to make it work for more casual or glamorous looks. And Butterick says that it is an easy pattern - I do not have a lot of experience with Butterick so hopefully easy does mean easy..  I do love that look with the stripey top - this is will be for next Summer for me, hoping it inspired you! 

You can see my inspiration to make other designer garments here. 

Oh, to own a Jonathan Saunders bomber jacket! | Inspiration {Dressmaking}

There are a few reasons why I am keen to improve on my dressmaking skills - one of them is to able to recreate some items of my favourite fashion designers, today Jonathan Saunders, and save some pennies in the process. 

I love Jonathan Saunders style - quirky but classic, but I cannot really justify the price, especially for a jacket I would only wear occasionally. But isn't it beautiful? Surprisingly (yes there is some pink involved) I love the colour combination too! But, here is the thing, I could be making my own... 

Pattern: the Rigel Bomber jacket from Papercut; 

Fabric: I chose a Floral Embroidered Dupion from Joel & Son which is not as shiny as the embroidered silk used in the designer model but could work. I am also very (very keen) on this colourful version. 

Probable modifications: Not sure whether it will be a modification as such, but a lot of care will have to be given to matching fabrics. 

Bomber Jacket: You can buy it on NaP for a mere £1,495.00

So let's do the maths...

This would be one of the most expensive garment I would be making - but still at a bargain price compared to the designer version. Although before I get started on this, I would definitely do a muslin - just because I know I would be scared to cut into that fabric and mess it up. 

However I have seen a lot of sewists' versions of that jacket, and it does look like the real deal on them, so it would be worth the investment. 

Modern Vintage | Celia Birtwell {Shopping}

I don't buy many clothes (anymore). I try to make my own clothes of course, and I'd rather spend money on some key pieces that I will keep, and if they have an interesting story (or designer behind), and affordable, I am there. I am very late to get my hands on the Celia Birtwell's collection for Uniqlo - but better late than never! 

Birtwell's fabulous career has spanned five decades. Married to Ossie Clarke (one of my favourite designer) in the seventies, the pair made some of the best floaty chiffon dresses, ever. Designs loved by the rock and roll crowd, including Bianca Jagger, Marianne Faithfull and Pattie Boyd.

Detail from Ossie Clark dress with Celia Birtwell print 

She is an iconic figure in the world of arts and the prices of her own label reflect this and start at several hundred pounds and go beyond 2 and a half thousand pounds... yeah right... So when I found out (late) that Celia Birtwell has worked with Uniqlo to bring out a special collection, I was delighted. She used her archives, the prints have been updated and made available across t-shirts, tunic vests, shirts, leggings pants, pyjama pants, culottes, tote bags and stoles.

Source

The high street chain has previously worked with Lulu Guiness, Jil Sander, Laura Ashley and Orla Kiely. , so naturally you will be delighted that prices  starts at £9.90 for a stole, while t-shirts sell for £12.90. Dresses are £29.90. 

The Uniqlo x Celia Birtwell collection is still available in-store and online. The range is now limited as it has been out since March 2013, but there are still some interesting items left, like this dress, this boat neck T, and this beautiful stole. 

So we are saying fashion, vintage and affordable.. One item HAS to feature in my 'creative' wardrobe!

The Outside Olso Collection {in my stash}

I decided to stop buying more fabric, so of course I bought more - it is the same as when I am on a diet, I crave what I should not eat. However I was tried to be reasonable, and really looked at design that was 'more me' (if that makes sense). To be fair I am a little late to join the Outside Oslo fan club. With its scandi design on canvas weight fabric, in fresh colours, how was I supposed to resist? Can you?    

I thought it was worth spreading the Outside Oslo love with an interview of the designer Jessica Jones about designing fabric and what to make in Outside Oslo. You should also check out her blog  'how about orange'. 

The whole collection

How did you end up designing fabric?

It's not a very complicated story... I was working as a graphic designer (still am) and blogging on the side for fun (still am), when Caroline of jcaroline creative (now closed) sent me an email. I knew of her online shop, but didn't know her at all. Essentially she said, "I like your blog. Want to design some fabric for me?" Essentially I said, "Sure." Without having a clue how to do it. 

I have a BS degree in Design Communication and have been working as a graphic designer since college. I use Adobe's Creative Suite every day, which includes Illustrator and Photoshop, so I imagined it couldn't be that hard. Other people do it, right? 

So I figured out how to make repeating tiles of pattern in Illustrator, my program of choice because I like flat graphic shapes. Essentially you do it like this (the best tutorial I could find for you.) I set to work making a page of patterns, and from those Caroline selected her favorites. I designed some prints to coordinate with them. Then Caroline picked a set and I refined them until we ended up with Modern Flora, my first collection. She found a vendor to manage the printing. I sent them files and they magically turned them into screens. Yes, using magic! And then in January of 2008, Caroline and I met in Massachusetts for the print run, which was great fun.

My process: If I have an idea for a pattern or interesting shape, I might spend a nanosecond sketching it on whatever piece of scratch paper is handy. Or I might not sketch it at all. I might just start making it in Illustrator. I don't have a sketchbook. Sometimes I doodle on computer paper, or notebook pages, or junk mail. Then I put it next to my computer until it's time to make it in Illustrator. Sometimes I lose it or decide to throw it away because it sucks. I don't try to make nice sketches AT ALL. Just a shorthand notation so I'll remember an idea. And then it usually turns out completely different, anyhow

What is your favourite fabric?

It depends on the day, but right now I'll say the Tulip print from Outside Oslo.

Dawn Tulip

What is your favourite item made with the collection?

This travel bag made my by Mom - ie Grandma G (check her Flickr account for more inspiration on how to make the best use of the Outside Oslo collection).

What was the inspiration behind Outside Oslo?

These prints have a bit of a mid-century vibe and look somewhat Scandinavian to me. Relatives on my mom's side of the family came from Norway. The prints are all named after things you might see on a nature walk somewhere outside a city, and I always adore alliteration. Thus, Outside Oslo.

What are you working on now?

Like always, a variety of websites, logos, and brochures for clients. And... some new fabric prints, too!

Thank you so much Jessica! To get your hands on Outside Oslo, check the Needle Shop.

Linking up to Sunday Stash today.