Erica Bunker | DIY Style! The Art of Cultivating a Stylish Wardrobe

Fall 2011

New VOGUE Patterns!

4:45 PM

I always get excited when Vogue Patterns release new offerings! Here are the ones I plan to buy:

1265 - Pamella Roland

1267 - Tom and Linda Platt. I love the asymmetrical hemline. Very similar to a knit RTW dress I already own.

1268 - Guy Laroche. I would love to make this in a faux suede as recommended.

1271 - Kay Unger

1273 - Badgley Mischka

8766 - Vogue Easy Options. I really love the strapless dress.

8772 - Vogue Easy Options. This is a great basic blouse pattern. The bow tie blouse is such a hot trend.

8773 - Vogue Easy Options. You can NEVER go wrong with a princess seam pencil skirt!

8774 - Jeans! I'll also be adding this one to my collection.

"Fashion Forward"?!

10:45 PM

This summarizes my thoughts on the issue and how some people think they fly above fashion and how "silly" it all may be:

Stuff

The Devil Wears Prada

— MOVIECLIPS.com

Even the silliness that is fashion plays a MAJOR part in those sale patterns that you fish out of the drawers at JoAnn's, Hancocks, online on your BMV memberships and from vintage sellers.

Stop acting as if you're unaffected.

Happy Birthday to Me!

12:00 AM

I'm only getting more and more comfortable in my own skin!

Cheers to another year!

Bold Colors

McCall's 6330 - Mikaela's Homecoming Dress!

9:45 PM

Project Details:

Pattern: McCall's 6330 - Phoebe Couture

Pattern Sizing: 4-18. I cut the size 6.

Description: One-shoulder, two-toned dress with empire waist, invisible side zipper and diagonal ruching.

This is Mikaela's first homecoming as a high school freshman! Can you believe how fast she's growing up? I can't and I see her everyday! This is the pattern she selected and I think she made a great choice. This pattern is by Phoebe Couture. This is the fun, youthful line by Kay Unger. I liked the original dress so much, that I decided to copy the colors:

Last Call by Neiman Marcus, $215

I used a turquoise and cobalt blue crepe back satin. And I used just regular lining fabric from Hancock. Colorblocking is such a trendy look right now and seemed to be well represented when we dropped Mikaela off at the school dance.

This pattern was pretty easy to sew. It just has quite a few tedious details that were time consuming. Making the pleats/ruching was one. And another was sewing in the boning.

And the topstitching on the strap.

I really loved the shoulder detail of the original designer garment. I wish the pattern had the exact design.

I sewed this practically straight out of the envelope. I only had to slightly take in the bodice. I also pulled the strap tighter than the model on the envelope in order to raise the bodice, so that it would be "bra-friendly".

I love the bow detail in the back. I think the dress is just as striking both coming and going!

And best of all, Mikaela loved everything about her look. I'm always just as excited as my girls when I get to doll them up. It's like every year, we get that red carpet moment!

Fall 2011

Crocodile Embossed Faux Leather Skirt

9:00 PM

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.

This time I decided to make an elongated crocodile embossed faux leather skirt. I've been seeing lots of fashions made from skins with exorbitant price tags. But since I sew, I don't need to take a small business loan out to have something "similar" to the looks I love.

This time my inspired look was taken from Marc Jacobs and Anne Klein:

Marc Jacobs Stamped Pencil Skirt - Barneys, $995

Anne Klein New York Embossed Leather Skirt - Bloomingdales, $450

Instead of using a pattern, this project is actually an upcycling. These were faux croc embossed pants that were in my closet. I re-discovered them a few weeks ago while cleaning my closet it out. They were headed to the donation pile and I saw that Marc Jacobs skirt in a magazine. The pants already had the waistband in tact and a side invisible zipper. All I need to do was rip open the inseams and sew center front and back seams. I then cut it off to the appropriate length and hemmed it.

And just like with the prior project, I pressed the seams open using a warm iron and a pressing cloth.

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

Butterick 5285

Polka Dots and Ladylike (faux) Leather!

12:00 AM

Project Details:

Pattern: Butterick 5285, View D.

Pattern Sizing: 6-22, I cut the 14.

Description: Skirts A, B, C, D have side seam pockets, back zipper and waistband. A: front and back gathers. B: front and back pleats. C, D: front and back stitched pleats. C: contrast hem band. A, B, C, D: length is mid-knee.

I was completely inspired by this upcoming season's a-line leather skirts. I had pinned a few a while ago and used them as a reference point. This Butterick pattern was perfect for what I wanted. I wanted something that was edgy, but at the same time feminine... hence the flouncy chiffon top and the maryjane peeptoes. My husband said the look was "June Cleaver on acid"! LOL I wanted to wear my new Kenneth Jay Lane belt that I found at TJ Maxx and I kept adding gold accessories. And while "shopping" my closet, I found this polka dot blouse that I made FOUR years ago!

I found this faux leather at Hancock. I'd seen it last year but I didn't buy any. I took a chance a couple of weeks ago, hoping that they'd have it again and they did. The fabric is 55% polyurethane/45% polyester. I bought a teflon foot for my machine (Bernina #56) and used a Microtex needle. (Had this been real leather, I would have used a leather needle.) And I had no problems... it was pretty easy to work with.

I made my usual lengthening of 3 inches. I added an exposed metal zipper and a 2 inch deep hem. And even though the pattern didn't call for a lining, I lined my skirt with Bemberg Rayon.

If you love an a-line skirt with gathers or pleats, and whether you choose leather, faux leather or a woven -- I highly recommend this skirt!

Fall 2011

Vogue 8711 - Black Draped Skirt

12:00 AM

Project Details:

Pattern: Vogue 8711

Pattern Sizing: 6-20, I cut the 14.

Description: Fitted, above mid-knee or mid-calf length, mock wrap skirts A, B, C, D, E, F have gathered front, yoke, elasticized waistband and stitched hem. A, D: contrast yoke and waistband. F: button trim.

I'm somewhat over Summer sewing. But I'm not quite ready to dive head first into Fall sewing, so I've been looking for projects that would make a good transition. I want to wear them now and when it's cool out. I thought this skirt would be a good one. I've been seeing this style a lot lately. I think it looks good with sandals and it'll also look good with opaque tights and boots or booties.

I made view D. I knew the shorter version would have been scandalous. I still had to add around 3 inches to the length of the longer version and you see where it stops.

I used a poly matte jersey. I chose that fabric because I wanted something "crepe-like". For what it's worth, I think it was drapey enough.

This was a pretty easy to sew pattern. The only things that occupied the most time were the pleats, gathering and the hemming. Not difficult, just time consuming.

I really like this pattern... enough to want to sew it again. I may alter it to a maxi length. I think that would look great with boots.

Brightly Hued Pants

Vogue 1264 - Pink Cigarette Pants and Colorblocking!

8:30 PM

Project Details:

Pattern: Vogue 1264 - Anne Klein

Pattern Sizing: 6-20, I cut the 14

Description: B: Semi-fitted pants with tapered leg.

If I've sewn an Anne Klein pattern before then I don't remember. So we'll call this a first! I'm really loving this silhouette for pants. I could never really enjoy pants like these from RTW, but since I sew them up in every color (and I just may), I'm enjoying them now!

I decided to make another pair of bright pants. This time in pink. I found a nice bright pink bull denim at Jo-Anns. These pant are similar to the red pants I made last month. They both have side zips, but the waist is different -- simpler on these. I still had to lengthen the leg by three inches. But for these, I kept the same size leg width. And I really love the ankle slits.

These pants are pretty high-waisted. As in, they actually stop at your natural waist! How's that for a change? LOL And unlike the red pair, the waist fit perfectly. No gaping at all!

These are just really great fitting pants. I may make these again in a longer length. Hmmm... possible yellow or blue.

And since I had a great pair of brightly hued pants, I decided to do some colorblocking with my orange top, red belt and clutch. And I added a nude pump.