Fall’12 Colours by Pantone

Albeit late, but here’s the colours for Fall 2012 by Pantone. It is rather vibrant combination with honey GOLD, pink FLAMBE, tangerine TANGO, and BRIGHT chartreuse, contrasted by the muted hues like Titanium, Rhapsody and Rose Smoke. Besides Tangerine Tango, the colour of the year which I obviously adore, here are some of my other favourites from this season.

French Toast. Besides the word french (which I’m obviously biased towards), this colour is the first that calls out to me. It is a rich warm shade of brown with the right amount of darkness to it, perfectly roasted. It reminds me of my favourite dark chocolate. As much as I am drawn towards the colour brown especially in my makeup stash, I do not own a brown number in my wardrobe. Time to sew something!

Rose Smoke is for the romantic. I like the fact that it is not the in-your-face type of romantic pink. It’s gentle, secretive, hiding behind a smokey veil. For the feminine, not girly.

Ultramarine Green. This colour is so full of vibrance and character. I always thought that green is not an easy colour to pull off but this is not one of those shades. Because it speaks so much, it will look great on a basic shift dress with an exposed metal zip down the centre back.

 

Well it’s time to go through my huge stash of fabric and see if I own any of these.

L’inspiration française

While blog surfing, I chanced upon this ‘Parisienne’ Dress which was a love at first sight! I love the silhouette, its clean lines and the tulip skirt. Bonus points for being called the parisienne dress! I can do away with the sleeves to make it a little friendlier to the weather in SG.

After some googling, I found out that it’s from Burda Style 8/09, #128. I googled more and found these designs too.

Burda Style 8/09, #117: a dart-less! nude pink-ish blouse with frills

Burda Style 8/09, #129: a black laced blazar
(Both photos credit to loweryourpresserfoot)

Now I want a copy of it! If anyone has a copy (I don’t mind if the patterns are all used. I just want the lookbook pages) and is willing to let it go, or knows of anywhere I can get it in SG or online, please let me know!

In The Mood for Cheongsam

The boyf surprised me with a trip to the National Museum for “In The Mood for Cheongsam” exhibition! You cannot imagine my excitement! This exhibition showcases quite a variety of cheongsams from the 1920s-present, among which includes pieces worn by ‘powerful’ women in Singapore. It is very inspiring and informative on the evolution of the traditional Chinese dress over the decades in our hometown.

Cheongsams from the early days

It’s all in the details!

Lace and georgette

A few of my favourites: funky prints, floral, polka dots, and lace.  The lace number is by Tan Yoong!

Zip detailing by Alexander McQueen

To quote a friend, “I feel zip does not do justice to a cheongsam. It took the ‘delicate-ness’ out of what cheongsams are suppose to represent. Full marks for innovation though.” I do agree with her but it also daunt upon me that cheongsams have evolved and reflect the society too: today’s women are not as delicate any more! In the past, the XX chromosomes were expected to be gentle, feminine, ‘delicate’ … and cheongsams were meant to bring every bit of these qualities.

After touring the exhibition, there is an activity corner designed for the little ones. There is a section on various types of fabrics used (I passed the quiz!), another where kids can trace and colour traditional chinese motifs and finally a model where you can unleash your creativity by styling it.

Here’s what I’ve styled. She’s just short of a pair of pearl earrings.
The other pairs available doesn’t suit the look I have in mind! 

I was very overwhelmed and a little distracted by every single piece featured. I should be making another trip down to be inspired once again!

Pussy-Bow;

Pussy-bow silk-satin top from Chloé, £499.34 (SGD 983.67)

Houndstooth Dress seen on karla’scloset

Hazel from Victory Patterns, $10.00 CAD (SGD 12.55)

Dress #1 from Intermediate class, ~SGD 10

I shall re-attempt the pussy-bow pattern during the holidays or when Sew Weekly calls for when I have the time.

Ideas shopping;

I like to marry designs to my fabrics so that I know I will make this dress with this cloth one day. This is especially important when I am hoarding 2 ikea boxes full of cloth. Each piece of fabric takes a queue number, waiting for the magic dust from the fairy godmother to turn them into wearable pieces. The bad news is that this queue number system is not fair. Some cut the queue and the queue gets longer and longer and longer. Ever since I picked up dress-making, my stash of fabrics has been increasing at an alarming rate. I started off buying from local stalls, moved on to Etsy (where I went crazy), and eventually expandded my spending power overseas. Most of the fabrics I bought from Etsy were meant for a few sets of cheongsam when I was in my cheongsam craze. One was used to make Breakfast at Tiffany’s Dress. Those I bought from Muar last year and Kluang in June were untouched. Needless to say, those from Hanoi too, except for one piece of silk chiffon for the L’zzie Dress. The sewing class also went crazy over French Dior, which I have at least 2 yards in 6 colours.

I have yet to include fabrics that are gifted by friends. One of the most recent ones was a good 3 yards of Chanel-tweed-ish fabric and white cotton with embroidery. Oh bless me! These fabrics are enough to last me a lifetime!

I intend to make a very simple basic shift dress with this. Maybe with some pleats at the neckline.

Anyway, I was tired of doing school work and went ideas shopping on ASOS. Here’s a summary of what I like.

Sexayye cut-outs but I wouldn’t really bother to make

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic shift dresses with a twist. The first dress that I made was a shift dress in princess cutting. Very easy to wear and I love the absence of joining at the waist which slice across your tummy. Nuff said, make more shift dresses!

Dresses in solid colours

I noticed quite a number of outstanding colours: detailing, contrasting colours etc.

LACE!!!

Simple basic design with nice interesting print

Last but not least, I scouted two dress shapes that I really love. Skater dress and fit-and-flare. Yes they are pretty much similar.

Project #4.1

For the intermediate course at Kadomay, it covers 6 pieces of garments. The first three were dresses and I thought it’s practical to save a slot for trousers and another for jacket. So for Project #4, a pair of pants it shall be!

Initially I planned to make a pair of pants in mustard colour but I couldn’t find the perfect shade that complements my skin tone. Then I discovered this very beautiful shade of nude pink mulpa. I knew I just got to have it (though I was distracted by a teh (tea with milk) coloured one)! Fabric, checked.

Now, what kind of pants/shorts/culottes should I make??!? This is often the most frustrating part of dressmaking: I need to find/think of THE design. Two things, that are not helping me:
1. I am not a long pants/jeans person but it’s more practical to learn making that than a pair of shorts
2. I know I want pleats (box/inverted) on my pants, slightly tapered towards the ankle and maybe a bow design somewhere somehow, but I just cannot picture the final product.

Then I remembered eyeing on Chloé’s pants a few weeks back and telling myself that I will have a pair one day (if it ever fits my body shape). So I googled and here are some of my favourites:

Chloé Spring 2009

Chloé Fall 2010

Harem pants from See by Chloé

I have short listed the linen-looking pants from Chloé Fall 2010 and the one from See by Chloé. I have time till Monday to decide.

Beauty in Black;

I have been feeling unmotivated to sew of late. This is Week #7 of Project X but I have 3 projects that are half completed. Project Week #3 is still left undone: blind stitching is such a chore. Ran out of bias tape for #6 and here I am having problems with the hem for #7. Have I reached a plateau? I hope I am not losing my steam for sewing (this will be a total nightmare!). Maybe the vacation next week will do me some good. Take a break, recharge and be inspired!

I have been in the mood of all things ‘black’ of late, a result of visiting “Beauty in Black” I would say. It is a small exhibition at National Museum, showcasing black dresses from the 1950s to now. It includes pieces by Cristóbal Balenciaga, Pierre Cardin, Karl Lagerfeld and Azzedine Alaïa. There are a couple by local fashion designers, Benny Ong and Thomas Wee. It is a pity that the exhibition is albeit small. It would be perfect if it has the LBD seen on Audrey Hepburn by Givenchy too!

I save £14.99;

Skirt from H&M

and

my tulip skirt

About the same shape, no?

*Off to search for the perfect fabric*

Betty Draper Dress #1.1

With the holidays approaching in 2 weeks time, I am very determined to use up my fabrics. One project I have in mind is to make a dress, quasi what Betty Draper wore to a picnic in Season 2. I love and would very much like to own her wardrobe! I have the fabrics but can’t decide which to use: an English garden-ish piece which I acquires at my favorite local fabric store or Elegance from Moda’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s collection.

Project #3.2

Project #3 will finally materialise soon, in end April hopefully! I decided to move away from the sweet feminine look and go for beach, resort style instead. When I am looking for ideas for beach, resort style, VS naturally come to mind. I think they have lots of awesome stuff, especially bikini and lingerie! Here are some ideas that I am considering: toga, halter and twist front. I will try to keep the design simple because I want the focus to be on the fabric. Can’t wait to see how it will turn out. 拭目以待！