Category: dresses
What did you do at the weekend? x
It’s been a while coming, but I’ve finally hit the time when I am (virtually) redundant from hand to hand trench child care. Quite a revelation. Suddenly free time is mine again – like really mine. And weekends seem to be the place where the change is most obvious – one day is spent going for long cycle rides (to keep up with husband, a self-confessed mamil, I have an electric bike – like shut the door fabulous) and the other? Well, inspired by Sewing Bee – I’m sewing. This is the pattern I’m currently working on. In this print:
Because it was cheap to make mistakes on and the print made me smile. But if it works, I’m upgrading to this:
Bright canary yellow! And the main print is like 83 cm large! Watch this space…
My new porn is searching for future patterns and ideas – which leads me to what was going to be the main thrust of this post – Folkwear patterns – based in the US, but a treasure trove of historical and international patterns from a Hungarian Szur worn by Magyar herdsman as far back as the middle ages to a ladies chemise from the mid to late 1800s.
(All pics Folkwear. com – and if you want to check out my collection of sewing thoughts and ideas check out Material on Pinterest)
I’m in heaven!
Laters, Kate x
Summer Sizzling x
Rumour has it London will be hotter than Barcelona next week with temperatures tipping over thirty. Hard to believe as I look out on a grey, soggy back garden. I had the notion I wasn’t going to buy any summer clothes this year, famous last thoughts, because then I trawled through H&M Conscious collection and fell in love.
Come to Mama…
Laters, Kate x
The dress x
According to one blog post, the voluminous dress is the new quarantine. And who am I to disagree? So far, my basic wardrobe has consisted of cropped trousers and long buttoned shirts, double layered when the temperature dipped, as loose coats over t-shirts when the sun shined. But temperatures due to hit 27 degrees this week, I think it’s time to transition to dresses. My favourite summer dress is a dark green, cotton vintage dress made with a deep v in a batik print. I love it. I love the colour, the ease and the print. In fact, I would like more of the same, but I can’t find and….so I’ve been trawling patterns on the web to come up with something similar.
And I’ve found three, and two of them, including the one above, need no pattern at all…and this one even comes with pockets!
This pattern comes This Little Miggy, a fab website with great ideas and a wonderful vibe, I would recommend a virtual tour. The instructions are brilliant; clear, precise and everything you could need.
If you feel comfortable sewing, you may want to move onto this pattern from So Sew Easy – or rather, instructions, because again, this is simple, only measurements, no-pattern sewing.
(All pics Pinterest, This Little Miggy, so sew easy, oliverands)
A finally, if you want to tackle a simple pattern to add sleeves, there’s this beauty from OliverandS
High summer dressing sorted.
Laters, Kate x
Oscar night x
A few of my personal faves from the 2020 red carpet. In my dreams, the gorgeous Billy Porter is giving me deportment lessons and teaching me how to walk in heels. I managed to see Parasite, the winner of the best film award last week, and whilst I enjoyed it – there are some gasp aloud moments, I actually preferred the subtler but brilliant Chinese, ‘The Farewell’ which didn’t even get nominated. Life will always remain a conundrum.
(Love this dress, the shape, the pocket, the colour. I always like the ones that subvert just enough. But the shoes? Is it just me or do they look like something from the geriatric aisles of a pharmacy??)
A love it or loath it dress. With the suggestions of a squid in flight, it’s love it from me.
(All pics Vogue)
So Mr Pitt, nobody could persuade you to go the extra mile and just trim the mullet? Shame on you.
Laters, Kate x
The Golden Globes x
Oh. The Joy! It’s award season again – and it appears the uncertainty in the world is translating itself into unusual dress choices, pushing the boundaries and the return of colour. Thank you Jodie Comer for these sleeves, this colour, that face. Not sure quite what happened on the boob line, but I’ll forgive you for proving flashing flesh isn’t a necessity.
Not a miss in the classic sense, but a darker red would’ve been so much more flattering Nicole. But the reason this is in the naughty list is Keith’s shoes. You know what they say about big feet…unless this is the armour for a Napoleon complex…
All that money, that body and Salma looks like she stepped out of a C&A advert Circa 1982.
Sacha Baron Cohen. Designed so his wife could find him in the crowds? Just. No!!
Saoirse Ronan. Don’t be blinded by the label – it’s a sack.
Dear Michelle, Your large blue bra strap is showing.
What????? I wonder if there’s a recognised Hollywood affliction that’s the opposite to body dysmorphia where top level actresses think they can pull off any dress, including slime and a bin liner. Charlize Theron in Dior Haute Couture. Heads should roll.
Quentin Tarrantino looks like a scary man so I’ll only say this in brackets (Did he dye his hair and eyebrows to match his tux?)
This year, it’s my proud pleasure to give the Tara Curtain Award to Taylor Swift.
Kate Blanchett, normally impeccable, gets the Canape Award, sponsored by crinkle chips.
It’s not quite in Bjork Swan category, but I’m impressed JLo decided to wear her Christmas wreath down the red carpet.
I am, and will always remain a Phoebe fan……………………………………………………
(but……..the hair. Who decided that the way to go was to give her a bald man’s combover???)
But drum roll please…….for consistently trying, but generally failing…and even having the chutzpah to repeat horrific mistakes…the lifetime achievement award goes to Gwyneth Paltrow!
We know, with the right help, she can do it.
But nine times out of ten, something else happens.
The Golden Oldie award goes to Zhao Shuzhen. Loved the film. Love her elegance. A beautiful choice.
Closely followed by Lucy Lu. I want to be these women when I grow up.
(They both put Helen Mirren and Glenn Close in the shade: Old fashioned, uninspiring.)
Toni Collette gets a pat on the back. A difficult choice, pulled off.
This is beautiful: Cut and colour. Zoey Deutch in Fendi.
Another winner, in both sense of the word, from The Farewell, Awkwafina. Loved this fun, understated, fashion forward look.
( All pics Elle and Pinterest)
This is how you do it. Gugu Mbatha-Raw in Gucci.
Roll on the Oscars.
Laters, Kate x
The Oscars 2019
There were the good dresses – Emma Stone in Versace
Lady Gaga in Alexander McQueen.
And an ‘Oh no!’ for the lovely Olivia Coleman, perfect from the neck up.
But most of al, this year marked a cheer for the men that were prepared to break boundaries, like Spike Lee.
And Stephan James in Etro.
The blushing pink of the masculine Jason Momosa.
Pharrell Williams showing men have legs too.
Mark Ronson putting on a Mark Ronson twist.
And Chadwick Boseman looking fabulous. Because here’s the irony: This ceremony celebrating the peak of visual creativity is actually all about conforming. Apart from the few braves souls who don’t.
Of which the prize goes to the stylish, the bravura, the impeccable, Billy Porter in Christian Siriano. Not a breath of kitsch, no sign of a send up, just a sonic statement in understated class.
The shirt. I want.
Billy Porter says when he debuted his dress-wearing persona at the Golden Globe parties, he was astounded by the amount of attention it caused with crowds ‘parting like the red sea’. He says ‘It’s infuriating that a man in a dress still garners this much attention. Women wear pants every day and nobody bats an eye. But you put a man in a dress and it’s like the sky is falling.’ Porter asks ‘Are you saying that women in pants equals masculinity and that’s good? But a man in a dress equals feminine and that’s bad? Well, I’m done with that.
(All pics Hollywood Reporter and Pinterest)
And so am I.
Laters, Kate x
Pippa Holt x
Not cheap. But these are the dresses I could live all summer long in. Simple, free, colour and a touch of the barefoot…
Beauty without having to think. Ticks the boxes for mr.
Laters, Kate x
Three wishes..
And one of them would be to buy a summer dress from Three Graces London...
With a joyous attitude that isn’t afraid of volume, a lightness of touch and a cunning eye for cut, these dresses embody the free, unfettered spirit of summer.
Classic yet modern, these dresses have the ability to move effortless up or down social requirements, from the perfect piece for a day knocking back the Pimms on Centre Court, to a throw-over beach dress for a family holiday.
(All pics Three Graces London)
Time to get saving..
Laters, Kate x
Christy Dawn x
Christy Dawn produces indie pin-up pieces beautifully crafted for easy living and barefoot dancing in the golden rays of the Californian sun.
Her clothes are made with deadsotck fabrics – the left over fabrics from other fashion houses who’ve over estimated their needs: smaller supplies means smaller production runs making these dresses eco friendly near-originals handmade in LA.
For the laid back beach babe bride, her bridal section is also well worth checking out for its simple lines, lightness of touch and sheer summer elegance.
(All pics Christy Dawn and Pinterest)
In fact Christy Dawn, with her prices of around $260 for a dress, $800 for a wedding dress is the perfect illustration of quality over quantity, buying less but buying better, her prices truly reflecting the costs involved for a genuine artisan label rather than an omnipotent big name brand with willy waving status issues.
Worth a thought.
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 