Comments on Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing: Vogue Patterns Winter/Holiday Collection: a Big Ba...

I agree with Stephanie: the snuggie is unforgettab...

2009-11-03T01:24:04.666-05:00

I agree with Stephanie: the snuggie is unforgettable. I had to make one for myself:
http://www.delaido.com/pattern/you-sewed-what-the-fugly-snugly/
I looked up some of this designer's "artwork" and I couldn't believe that these types of artworks are offered for sale at several hundred dollars!

I love anything by Issey Miyake - I've just or...

2009-10-27T18:49:52.357-04:00

I love anything by Issey Miyake - I've just ordered two of his patterns from Vogue. And I grabbed the Anna Sui as soon as I saw it. Some people might shorten it. I have to lengthen almost every pattern I buy. And I will probably make at least one version with long sleeves. (You know, the wrist corsage is probably the stylist's idea not part of the pattern). Personally I never understand why people shell out good money for quite simple skirt patterns that take about an hour to draw up on your own, Takes all sorts, you know....

There was nothing chic about my granny. ;) I agree...

2009-10-26T13:18:41.959-04:00

There was nothing chic about my granny. ;) I agree with your assessment of the patterns! I like the first vintage vogue pattern and I like it's simplicity. It is somewhat boring, but it's boring in a good way. To me, anyway.

Hey, I like that coat - V1148. But not in wool wit...

2009-10-22T00:36:04.886-04:00

Hey, I like that coat - V1148. But not in wool with embroidery floss sprinkled over the bottom. I thought it would make a nice coat dress, unlined in a mix of Anna Maria Horner prints to throw over a pair of jeans.

Granny chic? hahaha The print on that dress is jar...

2009-10-20T22:49:46.035-04:00

Granny chic? hahaha The print on that dress is jarring to the eyes. Total granny dress because her tip was to distract you from wide hips and graying hair by mesmerizing you with her floral patterns. Flattering? NO clever.. yes ; )

Almost everything Anna Sui lately makes me want to...

2009-10-09T14:27:19.309-04:00

Almost everything Anna Sui lately makes me want to gag. I was thrilled to find out about her Anna Sui for Target collection and went in and tried everything on... And I was so disappointed. All I could think was... WTH???

I was JUST commenting to my husband that the Vogue...

2009-10-05T23:31:05.572-04:00

I was JUST commenting to my husband that the Vogue pattern models are so horrendous- those poses and unflattering clothing draping makes me want to gag!

There are a couple of the new Vogues that I really...

2009-10-05T17:53:47.852-04:00

There are a couple of the new Vogues that I really like. The dress in VV1137 is kind of ho-hum, but the coat is lovely - just the kind of throw-on, goes-over-everything spring coat I need. I agree with Fi that 8623 is attractive and I'm also drawn to 8627 tho' I usually don't care for "modern" asymmetrical stuff - I'd probably cut the back straight across if I made it.

I saw that Anna Sui dress pattern yesterday and ha...

2009-10-05T15:29:58.531-04:00

I saw that Anna Sui dress pattern yesterday and had the same exact thoughts you did.

I'm just wondering: how can they even think of...

2009-10-05T15:11:25.063-04:00

I'm just wondering: how can they even think of making a dress like the Anna Sui one out of a fabric like that? I understand about the necessity to please a lot of people with quite different tastes and needs, but that's just wrong. and I without your post, I wouldn't have looked twice at the pattern and might not have noticed the nice waist under all those flowers. even my fashion-wise challenged dad can see that something went wrong here.

I really like your Blog and enjoy reading your opinions on patterns, style etc. The way you tell us how you like something (or not) always leaves room for other views and I love how you "admit" to going against your own opinions like with the length of the wedding-guest-dress.
Greetings from Belgium, Julia

I lol'd at the title of your post. That dress!...

2009-10-05T14:39:47.466-04:00

I lol'd at the title of your post. That dress! A trendy neckline does not make that any less an "i give up dress" as Stacy and Clinton call those floor-length loose-fitting flower dresses. (yes, I admit a soft spot for What Not To Wear).

I actually like the Anna Sui dress when I look at ...

2009-10-05T12:08:29.678-04:00

I actually like the Anna Sui dress when I look at the line drawing for it, although I would shorten it to knee length if I made it. And that hideous sofa/curtain print they chose for the photo is hideous! I'm sure the model is rail thin, but she looks wide as, well, a sofa in that dress. Shortened and in a solid color it just might work.

Those are great points, Carolyn, and I definitely ...

2009-10-05T11:56:20.337-04:00

Those are great points, Carolyn, and I definitely sympathize with Vogue's need to please a lot of different people. I think I'll do a post of the ones I did like, because there were a couple when I went back for second look.

And Janet, why did you delete your comment? It was very insightful and useful!

To argue the other side of this, Vogue does have a...

2009-10-05T11:36:34.340-04:00

To argue the other side of this, Vogue does have a large contingency of people to satisfy and I've noticed that they have taken to rotating their offerings. Suits/office wear one time, funky/creative another time that way it gives both sides of the creative coin the ability to have their sensibilibites focused on. I'm sure the people who love to sew the Issey or Mizoni designs go WTF when it's an all suiting/dresses offering.

I mean just to add some balance to your thoughts...cause lately I'm always wondering if our criticisms could hurt the few remaining sewing/pattern resources that we have left.

OMG this was hilarious!!!! And so on point...part ...

2009-10-05T11:15:57.897-04:00

OMG this was hilarious!!!! And so on point...part of what I don't like about the Big 4 is that they seem to be chasing each other or their bottom numbers!!! Now Burda seems to be able to do both and run circles around the rest!

The fabric suggestions for the witch's coat sa...

2009-10-05T09:37:35.287-04:00

The fabric suggestions for the witch's coat says "not suitable for obvious diagonals". Duh! You could fly without a broomstick in that getup if made with a diagonal fabric.

....aaaaaaaaand just copped a closer look at the W...

2009-10-05T08:45:32.570-04:00

....aaaaaaaaand just copped a closer look at the Witchypoo costume in pic 4. 'object' indeed ,that thing shouldn't be getting anywhere NEAR anyone's bod.

Yeah I can see the Muslim ladies in my city going ...

2009-10-05T08:36:57.222-04:00

Yeah I can see the Muslim ladies in my city going the Anna Sui too actually, just with a long-sleeve top underneath. Though the younger Muslim gals in my city tend to go a little more body-conscious than the silhouette of the Anna, but more skin covered. Their Mums might go the mure flowy silhouette.

Actually.... These fashions reflect the new knowle...

2009-10-05T07:47:04.381-04:00

Actually.... These fashions reflect the new knowledge of Muslim fashion. I recognize it immediately. With all that's going on in the world, and knowing that fashion interprets current reality, I'm not at all surprised. And am actually grateful that certain elements in fashion are reflecting that some of us want to dress modestly, but not look like a Mormon. No offense to the Mormons.

Peace

Was just gonna agree with Gail. It's not to m...

2009-10-05T06:19:35.188-04:00

Was just gonna agree with Gail. It's not to my taste, but folks from the LDS or Amish, maybe Mennonite denominations, might dig the Anna Sui.

That Anna Sui dress would sell well in the Amish c...

2009-10-05T05:44:48.940-04:00

That Anna Sui dress would sell well in the Amish community.

LOL'd at your commentary on the weirdo Pirates...

2009-10-05T04:06:48.576-04:00

LOL'd at your commentary on the weirdo Pirates of Penzance coat, but the two vintage vogues are kind of appealing - I agree that the green one is dull but in a nice basic way, and the other one has very, very nice back detailing.

Where's a Project Runway judging panel when yo...

2009-10-04T22:11:23.731-04:00

Where's a Project Runway judging panel when you need one? As I clicked through the photos I kept hearing the voice of Michael Kors in my head: "What modern woman would want to wear THAT?!?"

I will say a few patterns looked both interesting and possibly wearable from the line drawings, but made up and photographed in black? I can't tell what the finished garment really looks like.

And don't you love it when the model looks like she's silently screaming because the dress they've put her in is so awful.

I wonder who they are designing for exactly?

2009-10-04T21:29:50.383-04:00

I wonder who they are designing for exactly?

I couldn't agree with you more. I have felt m...

2009-10-04T21:03:09.183-04:00

I couldn't agree with you more. I have felt much the same about the other Big 4 Fall/Winter/Holiday collections which totally answers my question about why I don't sew very much at all during those seasons. As for your comment on the coat "What. The. Hell. Is. This." Exactly!