(Click image to enlarge to much bigger and more readable full size).
As I mentioned before on my own blog, I'm super excited about PatternReview.com's Spring Mini-Wardrobe contest.
None of these patterns are technically vintage, but the wardrobe has many vintage-inspired elements--the dress is from Colette Patterns, the top is B&W polka-dot, the skirt is a full circle skirt (albeit with elastic shirring, but I've seen that in 50s dress images!) and the jacket has a major peplum.
Considering that the one-month contest has already begun and I have not a muslin to show for it... and that I start childbirth classes tomorrow... and that I am taking two of PR's online sewing classes starting this Friday (on facings and underlinings, both with Sarah Veblen)... and that I've never made any of the above patterns, never mind altered them for third-trimester maternity... I'm surprisingly hopeful I can pull this off. Yes, I'm reckless! Just RECKLESS!
There's just one problem. I started planning this last week and bought most of the fabrics online, but now that they have arrived, I find myself worrying the whole thing is just too darn monochromatic, even with punchy colored shoes and/or necklaces (or maybe a scarf?) And that's just not me. I have nothing against gray in moderation, but I seldom reach for it--all my favorite jackets and cardigans are pink, or orange, or green, or red, or plum, or chartreuse...
So I'm thinking this would be a BIG improvement:
(Click image to enlarge to much bigger and more readable full size).
...If I can find the right fabric. I went to Paron's and their Annex today and they had many lovely rayon blend double knits, but they were all various shades of pink, purple or orange. (FYI, wool or pure poly double knit would be way too hot & sticky for pregnant me in spring). And what I'm really craving is chartreuse. Fabric.com has some of the same fabric I got in gray from them already, but the digital swatch doesn't LOOK chartreuse to me--more like mustard:
So I ordered a bunch of swatches of their different double knits--the one above and also ones in turquoise and various shades of green from lime to emerald. And I'll keep poking around the Garment District. I just don't want to look like a boring pregnant plum & gray grape, it's just not me!
As you can see in the top image, if I do end up with the plain gray jacket I'm hoping to punch it up with some trim, as in this RTW example:
Oh, and a note about the patterns--I'm a little bummed that my top pattern is just a plain Jalie T-shirt (which I will redraft to a scoop neck), but I sketched a variety of more interesting tops (vintage pattern silk blouses with Peter Pan collars, the Colette Sencha blouse, knit tops with twist or surplice necklines) on my digital croquis and they all just competed too much with the lines of the Parfait dress. At least it's in polka dot!
Cross-posted to my blog, Polka Dot Overload.