Easy business wear

Strictly entre nous I love my new dress.  It is part of a six piece business wardrobe I'm working on.  The key elements are trans-seasonal wearability, easy wear/easy care and colour.  I've blogged before about my loathing of grey and black business wear.  My six pieces are the dress Burda Sept 2012 121; a Patrones 298 jacket in Teal ponte (pictured below); a black Palmer Pletsch mock wrap t-shirt McCalls 6513 view C; a pencil skirt in the same graphic print as the dress and teal jersey rouched cardigan both from Burda March 2013.  These fabrics are still available from Tessutis.

 

When I look at Burda's batwoman interpretation of this dress I can see why it hasn't been a popular choice with sewers.  A few tips - cut the side panels as a detached piece and dispense with the extra layer in the Burda design.  If using ponte or a reasonable weight fabric you don't need to line it.  Use piping to highlight the centre panel and sleeve edge.

 

I'm not sure if I have the discipline to sew all six pieces in sequence - I need a party dress for an occasion in September, but I'm mad keen to start on the jacket.  I love the style and will wear it with pants, skirts and the dress.

 

Off to make a muslin.  Meanwhile happy sewing!

 

 



Curvy girls can colour block too!

Ok I'm smiling.  Is it because I'm thrilled with

my new Burda (February 2012 117b) colour block dress?  Well 98 per cent thrilled.  The colour combination gives me cheer on a winter's day and the use of a slightly heavier, firmer black ponti at the waist has a corseting effect that makes me happy.  I'm also happy with the 'trans-seasonal value' of this dress through adding a black spencer underneath.

Where does two per cent dissatisfaction come from I hear you ask.  Simple, I forgot to make my usual 1 cm sway back adjustment.  Big mistake on a garment that has a huge zip at centre back, creating a bump that too closely resembles a roll of fat!  So provided I stand with my back to the wall,  I just love this dress.

PS I'm not sure I could ride a bike in it.  It is well ...figure conscious.  Hoping that there will be less of me to cling to come summer. 

I'm working on a new skirt and blouse set which I hope to show you all soon. 

Meanwhile, happy sewing!