My Denim Collection

 

 

I have been wanting some denim pieces in my wardrobe as go to pieces, pieces that I could wear anytime and anywhere. Instead of just thinking about it, I finally took action and did it!

I very carefully curated every piece that I put in this collection. I haven't always done this with collections I've sewn. In fact, I have never done this before!

Every single piece in this collection fits the rules the I should follow for my petite hourglass figure type and true winter seasonal color.

Because of how careful I was, I was really excited about this collection, and it didn't take me long to complete it.

For my hourglass figure type, I need waist definition, and the clothes have to be nicely fitted. I am a true winter and the color of dark wash denim is in my true winter seasonal colorway.

My style is Dressy Casual, and Classic, and everything I sewed fits my style sense. 

Even if I was sewing denim, and most denim pieces are finished with contrasting top stitching, I didn't do that. When top stitching is in a contrasting color, it signals casual, not dressy casual. So it was out.

If you think about it, contrasting top stitching on bags also makes a bag look like it's a casual one.

For my denim collection, I made a pair of wide legged pants, a romper, a sundress with a gathered skirt, a fitted sundress, a fitted shirt embellished with D-rings, and a wing collar fitted blazer.

My wide legged pants. The backstory is a little interesting. For a few days this month, I was heavier because I ate a lot of peanut butter wafers. I was addicted, and I sewed this pair when I was that larger size. Instead of sewing it larger to fit me, I sewed it in my regular size because I knew that I was going to stop eating the wafers and that in a week or two, I'd be back to my regular size. It was a good call because I did stop eating the wafers, and the weight did disappear. The pants fit me like a dream! 

 

 

 

I used a vintage Butterick pattern, 3029, designed by Kenzo, and it is a good one. All of the pieces fit together, and it was easy to sew:

 

 

I love rompers, but they have to be easy to wear or I'm not going to bother with them. This one is very easy to wear. I adjusted the Simplicity cami and turned it into a bodice for this. I added the bottom from Vogue. This fits me like a dream. For the bodice, I cut it to fit my waist length, shortened the waist by an inch, and lowered the bust point by an inch. For the bottom, I shortened it to my length, and that was it. 

 

This is the pattern that I used for the bodice, OOP Simplicity 4885:

When I shortened the cami to bodice length, I took the length from this vintage pattern, McCalls 6376:

I used Vogue 9075 for the bottom:

I also included a fitted sundress in this collection:

I used OOP Butterick 4001. I shortened the waist by 1 inch, shortened the hip length by 2 inches, and I lowered the bust point by 1 inch.

I love the Reformation brand, you can find it at Nordstrom, and recreated their Ruffled Hem dress:

I used the same bodice that I used for my rompers and finished it with the skirt and ruffles from Simplicity 8476.

I couldn't have a denim collection without a denim skirt. 

 

I used vintage Butterick 3046. I changed the diagonal cutaway pockets to a shape that is more flattering for me:

I also made an unlined fitted blazer:

I used vintage Simplicity 7721. I sewed it as is at first, but after I tried it on, I didn't like the way the back collar looked. It was too high and looked like a neck warmer. Since I didn't like it, I removed it and turned it into a wing collar:

And the last thing I made for this collection is a fitted shirt with pocket D-ring tabs.

I used vintage Simplicity 7357:

Although I used OOP and vintage patterns, you can still find similar patterns in the current pattern books.

I'm very happy with this collection and am planning a RTW inspired collection next. I don't consider myself a trendy person. I find myself often running against the winds of trends and opting for classic pieces with a modern take to them.

If this is your style, too, check back with me, because I'm going to try to keep this blog updated. I'm on IG, but the word and time limits don't let me say everything I have to say. I might end up going to YT because it might be easier than writing it all down here. Still just thinking about it.

Be well, until next time,

Summer