Get ready, because all things flared is a dominating trend for Fall 2016. I'm rocking this trend with Vogue 8945 and New Look 6459.

I previously made Vogue 8945 a couple of years ago. It's a fabulous dress pattern that's been around for a while, but it's perfectly on trend this season. And this pattern is perfect as a dress or as a modified top. 

These exaggerated sleeves are simply to die for. If you haven't been sleeping under a rock, you have seen that current fashion-forward drama is pointing towards cuffs that are as wide, some as waistbands. This is a great white top that I've been enjoying for a while. I originally made it for a dressy occasion to wear with guipure lace skirt. And I've even toned it down with jeans here. So it's extremely versatile.

My cropped flared pants are another iteration of New Look 6459. I made them in a white suiting fabric over the summer. I reached for those pants so much that I had to make another pair in black.

The fabric type is also trending for Fall. Jacquards, brocades and damask is really hot right now. This fabric is Nicole Miller Floral Jacquard in Caviar from Joann Fabrics. It's one of the priciest fabrics I've run across in the fashion fabric section. It was $30/yard (I bought it during a 60% coupon deal!). And it's very luxurious. Nicole Miller is the best thing to happen to Joann's. 

I love the fabric. I love these pants. And I'll be wearing these all season!

I've been embellishing garments with eyelets for a while now, and I thought it would look really cool and interesting to play with larger sizes. And while we're here, are eyelets and grommets the same thing? I had to do research and this is the article that I found.

So basically, I guess you can say that the two terms can be use interchangeably depending on what they're being used for.

I was inspired by the Ellery Utopian V-Neck Dress. For my version, I needed to make some adjustments to the style to make it work for me.

My starting point for this look was Simplicity 8094, view C.  I cut the size 12. 

I changed the neckline into a v-neck. I kept it low enough to have some nice décolletage, but without the possible nip-slippage plunging neckline. 

Here is how I finished the neckline with seam binding.

On the original dress, the sides are completely open exposing lots of side-boobage with laces holding the sides together. I'm not a prude by any means, nor am I uncomfortable with the condition of my 45 year old body. I work HARD maintaining. But since this is just something I wanted to wear and not for a special sexy-night-out occasion, I needed for mine to be "bra-friendly", so I stitched the sides right below the horizontal bust darts.

With that adjustment, I only needed to add two sets of eyelets on each side.

My fabric is a white ponte knit.  I also used 1/2" wide single fold bias tape.  My grommets are from Joanns.  These were extremely quick and easy because there were no special tools needed or hammering.

And also, this View C of Simplicity 8094 is long! So if you're not as tall as me, you may want to take that into consideration. It measures approximately 56" from the base of the neck. I wore the tunic over my New Look 6459.

I made this little tunic dress for Mikaela so that she would have cute little dresses to take back to school with her this fall. It's so short and so cute and the perfect length for long-legged sassy 19 year old (her birthday is Friday!).

This dress was inspired by the BCBG Max Azria Tonya Lace-Up Tunic Dress.

I used New Look 6803, View D.

I cut the smallest size and it was fine right out of the envelope.  The only changes I made was the addition of the large eyelets and the ties.

It's so amazing how the eyelets can give the garment an entirely different look.

Such a perfect minimal look. Only thing needed is earrings and strappy sandals!

A black and white outfit is always très hip. You get pieces that can be worn together or separate. That’s the perfect way to add to your wardrobe. Especially when using seasonless fabrics.

When searching for seasonless fabrics, I look for comfort. I also look for fabrics that will keep you comfortable in the warm months and can also be layered in the cool months.

For my top, I used this gorgeous Black Sleek Viscose Ponte Knit. I love the weight of it.  It works for this top and it would also work for a body con style dress.  The weight of this knit would hold in and smooth everything out. It would also make a great pair of ponte knit pants.

For my top, I used New Look Pattern 6461.  It’s an extremely simple pattern, just the front and the back.  The front has horizontal bust darts.  I cut view C, in the size 12. I added 3 inches to the length because I didn’t want my top cropped.  I modified the top by finishing off the seams and hems with seam binding.  After sewing the front and back together at the shoulders, I left the sides open.

I added eyelets to each side for lacing details.

And I laced up the top with rope and DIY tassels made from crochet thread.

I didn’t much care for the pants in New Look 6461. The elastic waistband simply wasn’t polished enough for my beautiful Italian Ivory Lightweight Stretch Suiting.  I went with New Look Pattern 6459.

I love how tailored this pattern is.  I cut the size 16, and made them straight out of the envelope.  I find that I typically need to size up in New Look Patterns because they run significantly slimmer.  Like junior’s RTW sizing.

Even though this fabric is opaque, it’s still white.  And with most white pants, you’re plagued by pocket show-through.  I don’t like that, so I omitted mine (at the last minute) and just stitched up the pocket openings.

The pants have a back invisible zipper.

And I always add strips of 1 inch interfacing to my zipper area to stabilize.

I’m pretty happy with the way these turned out. The fabric with its 4-way stretch is really comfortable wear and looks really luxurious at the same time.  I would love to have an entire suit out of this.

These are two great pieces made from two extraordinary cuts of fabric that make great additions to my closet! I’m sure I’ll get plenty of wear out of these.