Making Life more Beautiful
I have been thinking for ages about creating an 1960s evening pant suit. Ever since I saw the Italian Fashion exhibition at the V&A last summer. I want to look like Irene Galitzline. Who wouldn’t? I think this would be … Continued
I have a few vintage Vogue patterns – from the Vogue Couturier series and Vogue Paris Originals. Making up these patterns is a nice way to access really great dress, costume and coat designs from some of the most famous … Continued
It’s New Year’s’ Eve! How will you be spending it? Dressing up I hope. We are eating out tonight, by the Red Sea (Aqaba, Jordan)! Anyway this post is about jeans – special, embellished, customised jeans. Since I made a … Continued
I mentioned that we are planning on calling our new home Rainshore. And, the power of the internet, I got an email from Esme, who lives there now. Her parents bought the house from my brother, James, who inherited it. … Continued
I am not a big one for Christmas presents, but on Christmas day I will be opening gifts with my husband and mother. The children and grandchildren will be with their Dad/Grandpa so this will not be a “family” Christmas … Continued
Since falling for the Green 1955 evening dress I have been researching Herbert de Givenchy. He is most famous, perhaps, for dressing Audrey Hepburn. Isn’t this just lovely? A huge, deeply pleated skirt, attached to a slim yoke, coupled with … Continued
I am making up a YSL Vogue Pattern Originals dress as my first SWAP garment. I do enjoy using these old patterns, especially the “designer” versions. I like to think about Yves St Laurent himself drawing the lines that got … Continued
Independent Pattern designers – of whom there are many these days – do not have the luxury of a professional pattern testing team. They cannot afford to pay people to make up several versions of their designs. So they often … Continued
I remember a post years back, before I started blogging, where Jay wrote about what she didn’t think it was worth sewing. Is there anything you wouldn’t bother making, because it is too much fuss, or you find it too hard, … Continued
I have spent a couple of weeks draping over understructures and found it hard work. I wanted something dramatic, but also wanted something wearable. First here is my minimalist understructure – I created a couple of “croissants” (left). I made … Continued