My sister in law S’s birthday today, so I took her out for afternoon tea; cake and a chin-wag. Girly stuff. We would have liked to squeeze in a bit of shopping too, but we both had had a jam-full day… hopefully next time.
So far I’ve just worn this very girly pink lace dress with light soft neutrals for spring and summer, and I wanted to see how it stood up to being mixed with darks, for the cooler months. I think it works OK with charcoal and black, what do you think? I think the trick to mixing a powder-pink very delicate spider-webby lace like this with strong darks is to keep the touches of charcoal/black equally as light, delicate and feminine as possible, because a dress like this could easily be overwhelmed by strong colours. So I picked my strappiest black sandals, a very light and little charcoal cardigan, and my necklace of graduated polished iron-ore balls, a noir twist on the more traditional ladylike pearls.
And for Perth readers, Janet very kindly left me a note yesterday to say that Pattern Magic 1 and 2 in English are available at Subiaco Books. Thank you so much for your comment, Janet!
I will add that I have also seen the English version in Dymocks in Melbourne, so maybe they are in the odd Dymocks store elsewhere too… It made me smile to have a look through it, as I have only the Japanese version myself. All those mysterious and very intriguing Japanese notes and instructions dotted everywhere throughout the book, which seemed to promise in the artistry of the script all the secrets of sculptural pattern manipulation and Japanese couture that I felt if only I could divine their meaning I would gain some sort of sartorial enlightenment and rise up to a new higher plane of sewing mastery… Well naturally upon reading the English version I was highly disappointed to find out actually translated to things like “back”, “dart”, “fold” and “cut 2” and so on and so forth. Absolutely no earth shattering to be had… Laugh!
But seriously I still recommend this series to the serious seamstress. The garments are not all conventionally wearable, but that is not the point. I think of them as like sewing textbooks, akin to a musician practising scales to improve technique. Working through the Pattern Magic books is sure to increase your pattern manipulation and adaption skills, as well as understanding the ways in which interesting sculptural details can be incorporated into a garment.
Also thank you to everyone who has left a link to the pattern for Pippa Middleton’s bridesmaids dress.
Details:
Dress; modified Simplicity 3745, pink lace and pink border lace, sewing details of dress and petticoat together here
Petticoat (underneath); Burda 8071, pink silk satin
Cardigan; Country Road
Sandals; Micam by Joanne Mercer, from Hobbs shoes
Necklace; iron ore orbs, souvenir from Egypt
Bag; Louis Vuitton
Nail varnish; Blackest Black, Revlon
I think your dress works well with the black, but like you suggest, it should be kept light or it would be overpowering.
I hope you both had a nice day enjoying each others company.
I think your dress looks fabulous with the black.
Very feminine yet very chic. The pastel lace works well with a hint of dark.
I think it works. Everything looks balanced, yet grounded.
Your outfit looks very chic. I like the black and charcoal touches with the lace.
Thank you for your review of the Pattern Magic books, I've been debating about whether or not to get them for a while, and for the link to the Pippa Middleton dress pattern. It looked amazing on her, and I'm very tempted to get the pattern, but I don't know where I'd wear it to. Would it look good just below knee length do you think?
I think the two are a perfect match. I also love the red leggings with your outfit in your previous post. Now I must own a pair of red leggings.
Very pretty–looks both classic and fun with the lace/black combo.
I really love your dresses and the way you prescht all.
The today's photo is wonderful.
Regards from Germany
Petra
I love this black & pink look on you…so chic!
Thanks for the reminder! I need to organise another SIL dinner.
The black and lace work together, and that dress is always fab!
xo
Thank you for your lovely comments!
daisydonut; I can't really picture Pippa's dress at knee length. I thought one of the loveliest features of the design was those contoured seams making a slightly flared "fishtailed" shape from knee to ankle. I guess if the skirt was, say mid-calf length at the shortest, you could still get some of that elegant flare happening!
Let me know if you decide to make up this lovely pattern!
Lovely lace dress! 🙂
Also, I like your shoes.