As you can tell, I'm having a love affair with faux leather.  I wish I had some place locally to purchase authentic skins -- I like to touch!  If I did, I would sure buy some.  I still may take a chance on ordering.  But for now, I'm working with faux and copying trendy items that I've been fawning over.  

 Marc Jacobs Stamped Pencil Skirt - Barneys, $995

This was another quick project that I could get in for Fall.

As you know, I had a rocky start with this pattern until Trudy got me on the right path. Once I figured out the flap, the instructions were a breeze and the drafting was impeccable. There was nothing about this pattern that I disliked! As with any pants pattern, I altered the length. I added 4 1/8" to the length. I made my alteration 1" below the knee. I also took in the side seams right below the waistband to right above the hip, around 1/2" on each side. Here is a peek at the inside. Here is the back. I really love the corseted back. This is my favorite part.

On the notions list, it stated around 1/2 yd of cord or lacing. Well, when I was buying it, I looked at the length and it didn't look long enough. I bought a yard and I'm glad I did. Actually, I could have bought 2 yds if I really wanted some length. Trudy advised that I could use beads on the ends and I went with that. I found some really pretty filigree type spacers that I thought would look great and capture the essence of the buttons. Also, the instructions suggested around 8 eyelets. That didn't seem like enough to hold the back closed. Since there is no facing in the back, I decided to use 14 (like the Marc Jacobs pants). The pants are finished with a 2" topstitched hem.

All in all, I was very impressed with this pattern. It lacked all of the excessive design ease that the Big 4 is notorious for. The waistband fit perfectly and that's a part that I always seem to have to tweak for a decent fit. If this is a style that you would be interested, I highly recommend this pattern. I will probably sew this one over in a black wool crepe for Fall.

It's RTW twin:

Riviera Once, Twice, Three Times a T-Shirt

It's RTW twins:Roberto Cavalli Printed Tunic - $1,235, Net-a-porter.com

Acclaimed director Loïc Prigent (he also directed SIGNE CHANEL), is bringing more insight behind the scenes of the fashion world. This time it's with Marc Jacobs & Louis Vuitton. It comes on tonight at 7pm CST/8pm EST on the Sundance channel. In case you miss tonight, it repeats on February 18th & 28th.

PS. You can pre-order the DVD on Amazon.

This is a series I'm doing where I'm sewing basic wardrobe pieces, you know, the kind that if you ran to the mall you'd pick up. The first is a pair of wide leg pants. Since I'm revolting against all things skinny, I made these:

This Vogue Basic Design (rated easy) pattern is a mock fly, slightly flared pants with yoke waistband, side seam pockets with hem variations -- I did a regular hem. It's sized from 6-22, I cut my normal pattern size 16, which is equivalent to the R.T.W. size 12 I would normally buy. The instructions were quite simple, to the point that most of the time I didn't even read them. I would ONLY recommend that if you've sewn pants before.

What I like most about this pattern is that it came real close to looking like the Marc by Marc Jacobs wide leg pants that I've been craving that retail for $278.00. From the illustration, I thought that the waistband was going to be a lot higher than it was and I was prepared to make an adjustment but it was perfect -- they have a 10" rise! I did have to shorten the zipper from 7" to 5" so that it would fit properly. They look a little different from the pattern envelope because it's a line drawing and who looks like that anyway? I like the way the pants fit in the back. If you've watched any fashion segments or T.V. programs such as "What Not To Wear" (both versions BBC America and TLC), or read fashion magazines, you know that the wider the yoke, the smaller your butt looks and wider legs balance out hips. I'm all for illusions!

What I didn't like is that they are indeed a "mock fly". I failed to read that part prior to purchase. Mental note: R.I.F. (Reading Is Fundamental). This isn't a big problem, just personal preference. I thought the "naked" zipper made the pants look cheap, so I fully lined them, which I feel makes everything hang better.

In conclusion, I would/will probably make another pair, one of the cuff versions because I really like these Rebecca Taylor pants. I read a couple of reviews on PatternReview.com and one was very negative, so you always have to trust your own judgement and know your body and what looks good on you.