Finally, on this snowy day, I'm thrilled to show you my knock off top and pants that were inspired by this BCBG Max Azria outfit:
I finished the top at the end of December, but then took my time with the trousers. Honestly, lined trousers with a side zip, cuffs and three double welt pockets simply take time, and rushing really wouldn't yield the results I wanted. I'm glad I was patient; these are the best trousers I have sewn so far. So, without further ado here's the outfit.
I'm kind of wishing that the weather was better so that we could have done a fun photo shoot. But I'll take what I can get at this time of year - at least it wasn't snowing yesterday.
And here are the two pieces, starting with the top...
One of the very unexpected results is that, sexy though it is, this top feels a lot less bare than the Shane I sewed in December. Odd, right? I know it's very low cut, sort of, but thanks to the illusion net it doesn't feel at all risky. Everything stays exactly where it should and I don't feel self conscious in it. And it's surprisingly comfortable - a sexy knit top seems like an oxymoron, but there we are.
So, this started life as V8670, a close-fitting raglan tee shirt with bust darts. I sewed a version of it in November (here) and then added additional ease and sliced and diced the pattern to create the mesh inset panel pieces on the front and back.
The fabric for the top is Halston black matte jersey and black illusion net, both from Mood. The extra ease was necessary because the jersey is very stable. I picked it because of it's weight, which is on the heavy side for a matte jersey. You really can't wear traditional undergarments with a top like this, so my priority was to prevent show thru.
The net, on the other hand is very light and stretchy. I thought it might give me trouble, but sewed up beautifully and easily both on my sm and serger. Illusion net is really rather comfortable. It really moves with you and I love how it looks. I have extra yardage, so expect to see more in the future. The one thing to note is that it will melt on contact with a hot iron. Ask me how I know. Anyway, I've been trying to use more of the features on my serger and this was a perfect occasion to finish the sleeves with a rolled hem. I finished the shirt hem with a twin needle.
Sewing the final top was pretty easy except for the tip of the V on the mesh inset. There is a very slight pucker at the bottom of each. Almost perfect but not quite. It's pretty imperceptible unless you look closely, so I'm ok with it.
As for the style, my goal was that this should look high end as opposed to just racy/trashy. I hope you think I succeeded. I'm probably about as busty as you could be and still get away with a top like this without it looking trashy. And well, please forgive my vanity, but is it immodest for me to think that every push up I've done in the last 9 months of post-back injury pt/core training has been worth the sweat? I must thank my trainer.
And now for the Trousers...
The trousers are Burda 04-2011 #120, a wide legged, high-waisted, pleated and cuffed style with welt pockets. There are so many things from this description that sound incredibly wrong for my figure. I don't think I've worn pants that sit at the natural waist since about 1989. Honestly, I was somewhat worried that these might turn out looking like clown pants. But, although I don't think this is the very best style of trousers for me, I do think that I have the height to carry off a wide leg and pants that have some volume. I really kind of like them, and the color is not the least part.
The fabric is a Ralph Lauren stretch wool suiting from Mood. It was easy to work with, pressed beautifully and I think had just the right hand for this project - drapey enough for the fuller cut of these trousers, yet firm enough for the double welt pockets, cuffs and side invisible zipper to turn out well.
The pocket areas and zipper are interfaced with Pro-Sheer Elegance and I used pocketing fabric bought at Steinlauf and Stoller for the pocket bags. I'm sure that you remember that I wrote about the double welt pockets here. Here they are in final form.
I really like the placement and look of the vertical hip welt pockets. I doubt that anything but my hands will go in them, but I think they're fun and fantastic style-wise.
Unfortunately, I fell down on the job with photographing the back of these trousers, where there is a horizontal welt pocket. This was not for any reason - they look totally fine from the back. You will just have to use your imagination.
Final details are that I lined these with blue Bemberg and finished the waist with grosgrain ribbon so that it won't stretch out.
I'm more accustomed to sewing very fitted garments, so sewing/fitting trousers that are so full was a departure for me, just as this style is a bit of a departure in my wardrobe. Fitting the pattern was easier than I anticipated. To compensate for my smaller waist and larger hips, I split the amount that I needed to take in at the waist between the darts/pleats and the side seams.
And there you go. My final thoughts on the trousers is that they are among the most well executed garments I've ever sewn, both inside and out. I'm really happy with the care I took with them. Plus, it's nice to shake things up style-wise every so often!
I'll probably get more wear from the trousers than the top. Paired with a black top and jacket, I could easily wear them to work....
And now I'm just counting the days until Valentine's Day, when this outfit will get worn out on the town. And that's all she wrote!
 |
| The Inspiration |
I finished the top at the end of December, but then took my time with the trousers. Honestly, lined trousers with a side zip, cuffs and three double welt pockets simply take time, and rushing really wouldn't yield the results I wanted. I'm glad I was patient; these are the best trousers I have sewn so far. So, without further ado here's the outfit.
I'm kind of wishing that the weather was better so that we could have done a fun photo shoot. But I'll take what I can get at this time of year - at least it wasn't snowing yesterday.
And here are the two pieces, starting with the top...
One of the very unexpected results is that, sexy though it is, this top feels a lot less bare than the Shane I sewed in December. Odd, right? I know it's very low cut, sort of, but thanks to the illusion net it doesn't feel at all risky. Everything stays exactly where it should and I don't feel self conscious in it. And it's surprisingly comfortable - a sexy knit top seems like an oxymoron, but there we are.
So, this started life as V8670, a close-fitting raglan tee shirt with bust darts. I sewed a version of it in November (here) and then added additional ease and sliced and diced the pattern to create the mesh inset panel pieces on the front and back.
 |
| Slice and Dice (post here) |
The fabric for the top is Halston black matte jersey and black illusion net, both from Mood. The extra ease was necessary because the jersey is very stable. I picked it because of it's weight, which is on the heavy side for a matte jersey. You really can't wear traditional undergarments with a top like this, so my priority was to prevent show thru.
The net, on the other hand is very light and stretchy. I thought it might give me trouble, but sewed up beautifully and easily both on my sm and serger. Illusion net is really rather comfortable. It really moves with you and I love how it looks. I have extra yardage, so expect to see more in the future. The one thing to note is that it will melt on contact with a hot iron. Ask me how I know. Anyway, I've been trying to use more of the features on my serger and this was a perfect occasion to finish the sleeves with a rolled hem. I finished the shirt hem with a twin needle.
Sewing the final top was pretty easy except for the tip of the V on the mesh inset. There is a very slight pucker at the bottom of each. Almost perfect but not quite. It's pretty imperceptible unless you look closely, so I'm ok with it.
As for the style, my goal was that this should look high end as opposed to just racy/trashy. I hope you think I succeeded. I'm probably about as busty as you could be and still get away with a top like this without it looking trashy. And well, please forgive my vanity, but is it immodest for me to think that every push up I've done in the last 9 months of post-back injury pt/core training has been worth the sweat? I must thank my trainer.
And now for the Trousers...
The trousers are Burda 04-2011 #120, a wide legged, high-waisted, pleated and cuffed style with welt pockets. There are so many things from this description that sound incredibly wrong for my figure. I don't think I've worn pants that sit at the natural waist since about 1989. Honestly, I was somewhat worried that these might turn out looking like clown pants. But, although I don't think this is the very best style of trousers for me, I do think that I have the height to carry off a wide leg and pants that have some volume. I really kind of like them, and the color is not the least part.
The fabric is a Ralph Lauren stretch wool suiting from Mood. It was easy to work with, pressed beautifully and I think had just the right hand for this project - drapey enough for the fuller cut of these trousers, yet firm enough for the double welt pockets, cuffs and side invisible zipper to turn out well.
The pocket areas and zipper are interfaced with Pro-Sheer Elegance and I used pocketing fabric bought at Steinlauf and Stoller for the pocket bags. I'm sure that you remember that I wrote about the double welt pockets here. Here they are in final form.
 |
| Pocket with invisible zipper. |
I really like the placement and look of the vertical hip welt pockets. I doubt that anything but my hands will go in them, but I think they're fun and fantastic style-wise.
 |
| Other pocket with pleats |
Unfortunately, I fell down on the job with photographing the back of these trousers, where there is a horizontal welt pocket. This was not for any reason - they look totally fine from the back. You will just have to use your imagination.
Final details are that I lined these with blue Bemberg and finished the waist with grosgrain ribbon so that it won't stretch out.
 |
| Invisible zipper with waistband. |
 |
| Inside waist with grosgrain ribbon finish |
 |
| Lining with lace finish |
I'm more accustomed to sewing very fitted garments, so sewing/fitting trousers that are so full was a departure for me, just as this style is a bit of a departure in my wardrobe. Fitting the pattern was easier than I anticipated. To compensate for my smaller waist and larger hips, I split the amount that I needed to take in at the waist between the darts/pleats and the side seams.
And there you go. My final thoughts on the trousers is that they are among the most well executed garments I've ever sewn, both inside and out. I'm really happy with the care I took with them. Plus, it's nice to shake things up style-wise every so often!
I'll probably get more wear from the trousers than the top. Paired with a black top and jacket, I could easily wear them to work....
And now I'm just counting the days until Valentine's Day, when this outfit will get worn out on the town. And that's all she wrote!
