pants Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Handmade by Carolyn

The pared back menswear look

12/07/2010 4:07 am \ 10 Comments \ Carolyn

My ensemble today is inspired by the minimalist pared back look of this Chloe outfit (below)I spied and coveted in my Vogue magazine. I assumed at first it was from the spring/summer Celine collection that I have raved about in a previous post; an uncluttered simple look that suits me to a T… but no, it is Chloe, Fall 2010. Obviously the designer Hannah MacGibbon was just as “inspired” by Phoebe Philo’s collection as everyone else. I won’t say “copied”, these are supposed to be paid creative professionals, after all…!, but you just head over to style.com and have a quick squiz at these two collections side by side and you might raise your eyebrows a little too…
These are the linen pants I made back last year, using Burda 7944. I love their wide-legged comfortable Annie Hall appeal. For winter I am wearing my tights underneath and a thick thermal under my top, and I’m warm as warm can be! So nice the weather has warmed up a tad now the winter rains have come…
On a different note; when I started this blog I was determined that I would be spicing up my boring wardrobe by trying to accessorise more but looking back I can see my natural look is to be minimally accessorised and I seem to be slipping back to that more and more… should I fight this?

Details:
Pants; made by me, Burda 7944, gunmetal blue linen
Top; Metalicus
Belt; Country Road, had since a teenager
Boots; Mina Martini, from Marie Claire shoes

Photos below; at left Chloe Fall 2010 RTW, middle Celine spring/summer 2010 RTW, right a still from “Annie Hall” filmed in 1977

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: Burda 7944, Fabulous fabrics, inspiration, pants

Gunmetal blue trousers, 6 different ways

22/02/2010 1:57 am \ 10 Comments \ Carolyn

I thought it was time for another 6-way profile of an item of clothing in my wardrobe. These are fun for me to do, shopping in my wardrobe and stretching my imagination, blasting away any preconceived ideas I’ve got about how to wear a certain garment. This time I’ve chosen to showcase my gunmetal blue linen trousers, from Burda 7944. Of course there is only one way to wear trousers, you can only vary the tops you’re wearing with it. However linen is such a great fibre, cool and airy enough for summer, and these pants are loose enough that I can envisage wearing thermals underneath when the weather gets colder. So I think I’ll be able to stretch them out into my winter wardrobe also.
Burda 7944 is a great menswear inspired shape, something like the look Katharine Hepburn originally pioneered in the 40’s. It does use a lot of fabric, because the legs are so wide, and require extra length for the cuff at the bottom, but it results in such a great look. I’ve always loved the menswear look on women, and I’ve even borrowed my husband’s linen shirt I made him for one of these looks!
For today I’ve styled it first for a casual look, for both summer and winter:

And for a slightly more dressy look, say if one is going to meet friends in town for an outing, summer and winter:

And finally a little more formal, for an evening do, both for summer and for winter:

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: 6 different ways, Burda 7944, Fabulous fabrics, pants, Sienna

The grey light of day

02/02/2010 12:09 am \ 6 Comments \ Carolyn

The crispness that is in the air these last few mornings has been a very welcome respite, my senses seem fresher and sharper and I feel more awake and ready to face the expectations of the new day. The light in our rear lane-way is almost lemon-yellow at this time of the day, and even the patches of moss and rust on the old fences seem to glow. I love the shadow of my shoe, it looks like a sort of grotesque, deformed parody of a foot….
This little cardigan was made recently as part of my autumn sewing plan, but I feel its high time I starting wearing some new items to inject a little freshness into my wardrobe; I’m getting tired of some of my summer clothes, and no less the heat! It feels like a long time to go still before autumn….

Details:
Pants; Burda 7944, gunmetal blue linen
Camisole; Country Road
Cardigan; Mauve and white net, cream crotchet lace and grey velvet ribbon, own design
Necklace; Jorgen Jensen of Denmark, gift from my parents (in the 70’s)
Shoes; Sandler, op shop

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: Burda 7944, cardigan, Fabulous fabrics, own design, pants

Casual Christmas party

18/12/2009 1:20 am \ 2 Comments \ Carolyn

We went to a Christmas party last night and I had intended to wear my new cocktail dress but a quick phone conversation with my friend confirmed that smart casual was more the order of the evening. I didn’t want to turn up looking like a Christmas tree while everyone else was covered up decorously so reluctantly dressed down instead. Hmm. Still waiting for the opportunity to wear that dress… Too many functions are casual…
Please excuse the bad quality of this photo, I think my camera can only really cope with natural daylight photos.
Yesterday I also picked up a shirt pattern for my husband; he has requested that I make some linen shirts for him so I am going to break new ground for myself and attempt some menswear. Oh, and yesterday was a day for rejoicing, as I got out an old shirt pattern to start my latest project and lo and behold! tucked inside was my Vogue 7303 skirt front that I had lost about 18 months ago! Yay!

Other details:
Pants; Burda 7944, grey/blue linen
Camisole; Country Road
Cardigan; Vertice, from Mid 70s
Necklace; gift from my friend K
Bag; a handmade gift from my friend H
Shoes; Sandler, op shop

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: Burda 7944, Fabulous fabrics, pants

Casual shopping chic

17/12/2009 3:21 am \ 2 Comments \ Carolyn

Blah blah; shopping and Christmas preparations on the agenda today. Came home yesterday to piles of mail and a to-do list a mile long, plus a few parties on the horizons, it’s back to happy chaos in our house!
In the wardrobe department I am now planning for autumn; and I have a few sewing projects waiting in the wings and plenty of ideas about what to do next. My mother brought along a fantastic DVD for us to watch while away; a Threads magazine production with great sewing tips by Louise Cutting, a lady who is a full bottle on all things sewing. She had a great new way of sewing collars that eliminates the front seam altogether that I plan to try, I’ll give details when I try it out…
Anyhoo, today being a day of errands and chores I’m just dressed for shopping and looking smart but functional. I’m wearing my linen pants, drafted by me from my favourite jeans, and my light summer cardi made out of a double layer of net sewn together at the shoulder, side and armhole seams. I’ve included a close-up of the front area to show how the front edges were finished with grosgrain ribbon simply zigzag stitched in one seam. This is a wonderful little top for very hot days as it looks quite chic and funky and covers your shoulders while still being very light.

Other details:
Pants; white linen, self-drafted
Camisole; Country Road
Cardigan; coffee and white net; self-drafted
Necklace; souvenir from Murano, Venice
Sandals; Vicenza, from Soletta shoes
Sunnies; RayBans

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: cardigan, Fabulous fabrics, own design, pants

Sandy salty toes

08/12/2009 5:54 am \ 1 Comment \ Carolyn

So, here we are at the beach house, and blissfully happy. The sun is broadcasting diamonds upon the water and the sand is scrunching white and squeaky clean under our bare feet. This morning the tide was so far out we walked over a hundred metres out and we’re still just cooling our calves.

Today I’m wearing my white linen pants that I drafted from my favourite jeans, and a white top made from some leftover fabric that I posted about previously here.

Other details:

Pants; white linen, self-drafted from other pants

Top; Butterick 4985, view B collar, view A sleeves, white self-striped cotton

Cardigan and hat; Country Road

Thongs (flipflops); Mountain Designs

Sienna is in heaven when we’re on the beach. She’s whizzing and scampering about like a mad thing; its as though she too senses the ordered chaos of city life has gone.

Btw, have you ever seen ducks on the ocean? Lookee here! Who would have thought?!

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: Butterick 4985, Fabulous fabrics, own design, pants, Sienna, top

Self-drafted pants

27/11/2009 1:49 am \ 4 Comments \ Carolyn

These white linen pants I drafted from my favourite jeans (see here) and even though I’ve got my new pants pattern Burda 7944 that I really like; I still love the fit and shape of these I’m wearing today and think I will use this again. And again. The top of the pants is a very flattering shape as it isn’t darted or pleated, but has a separate shaped waistband that is curved to fit. Most dressmakers will know that a flat bit of fabric however it is darted, tucked, pleated or manipulated will still not fit as well as properly curved and pieced garments. Yes, it’s more time consuming to cut and sew, but there it is.
Whenever I’ve sewn pants with a curved waistband the fit is always superior to a straight waistband. The trade-off is that a curved waistband uses more fabric, to a waste-phobe like me that is something to struggle with. Alternatively you can try to dart a straight waistband to achieve the curved fit you require… problems, problems; oh, the dilemmas of achieving the perfect fit! A common anthem for seamstresses the world over! I guess it doesn’t ever get any easier, but the challenge is what keeps us going. That and the satisfaction of a producing a great pair of pants – finally! And I do love these pants. I’ve decided to reuse the fabric from my other white linen pants posted about before, as they just don’t do it for me any more. Another project. Hmm. At last reckoning I already have about six unfinished projects lurking about the place. And yesterday I went to Fabulous fabrics and bought some more fabric. And I also bought three new patterns the day before. Confession time. Hanging my head in shame.
Moving right along, I’ve had a few queries as to the absence of Sienna; well, she’s always around but doesn’t always deign to slip into the photos. Recently she spent a day getting pampered at the beauty salon and has come home with a beautiful new ‘do. See how stunning she looks in her photos!

Other details:
Top; Metalicus
Sandals; Neo, bought at Nine West?
Necklace; from the surf shop on Rottnest Island

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: Fabulous fabrics, pants, Sienna

Pants the colour of bruised clouds

16/11/2009 5:38 am \ 3 Comments \ Carolyn

I just finished these pants recently and absolutely love this pattern, Burda 7944. They fit like a dream and went together quickly and easily. I love the wide legged “menswear” look in pants and these really fit the bill. Especially love the cuff at the bottom. I’m planning to make these up again this summer, so no need to draft that pattern from my favourite jeans again! The fabric from Fabulous Fabrics is sort of a gunmetal blue/grey linen, but in some lights it looks purple, sometimes almost brown. Love it.
Last Friday my daughter and I visited the op shop and the rest of my outfit is my finds on that day. The shoes I posted about last Saturday. Still can’t believe my good fortune in finding them. I washed the two tops over the weekend; I’m sure most people wash their clothes before sending off to the Good Sammy’s but can’t always be sure of that so I always launder them myself before wearing just in case.
My daughter expressed guilt that we were shopping there, and that we were “taking the best stuff”. The thing is; there is always so much stuff at the op shop. So much. I feel that even though we aren’t charity cases that any reduction in the amount of stock in the stores would be welcomed by the staff. Also, I donate quite a lot to Good Sammy’s as well as buying off them, so feel like I’m a pretty good customer.
I like the colour combination in my outfit today; makes me think of the colours of my bougainvillea seen against the heavy bruised clouds of a stormy sky, much like what I saw when I looked out the window this morning. I must be very susceptible to my surroundings as I so often take inspiration from them, when dressing myself as well as when planning my next creative output.
Saw my friends this morning and trying not to let myself get upset about something tactless one of them said, probably without ill intent. Visited Spotlight on the way home and by way of compensation I bought some beads to make myself a few new necklaces. Also arranged with D to visit her house and photograph her tea cosy this afternoon, after my office duties.