Friday, November 18, 2011

Red Pant Friday

I declare today Red Pant Friday! A great day to wear red pants. Why? Because it is Friday, the last day of work for 9 days - vacation yeah! Food, family and friends coming up on Thanksgiving, and the first frost of the fall i.e. I am cold, time to break out my wool pants.

My other suitcase sewing project was a pair of red pants. The pattern was Burda 9-2011-107, a fitted , slim leg pant with no side seams. Instead there is rather interesting wedge shaped piece over the hip area. The wedge seams incorporate the darts usually seen in fitted pants. There are in-seam pockets in the front wedge seam and a pocket stay that helps hold the pockets in place and flatten the tummy.

The pattern recommends a stretch fabric. I used a prewashed, medium weight, wool gabardine from Vogue Fabrics. I did add some extra fabric in the waist and upper hips because it was non stretch and the largest pattern size was a 42. I usually use a size 44 for waist and high hip. There is an invisible zipper in the back seam that extends all the way up to the top of the waistband. I made the pants to duplicate this look by Australian brand Lover.
I have the fabric and pattern (self drafted) for the blouse, but sourcing the lace has been an adventure. It is a very light weight net lace. The scallops are larger than normal and the transparency creates interest where two layers overlaps. After an exhaustive search, I found similar white lace on a British bridal site for big bucks. And an acceptable poly lace at JoAnn’s. When I attempted to dye the poly lace red using iDye Poly Red, I ended up with some very pretty wine colored lace.
That really puzzled me. Oh well, I have some red silk netting in my fabric stash so someday if I am feeling especially creative, I may embroider my own lace using my sewing machine and instructions found on the internet. Since the blouse is going to be a long time coming, I decided to incorporate the pants into my winter wardrobe. With styling inspiration from netaporter.

McQueen


Versace
 Though I didn't go with the black shoes cause I wanted to wear the red ones I bought for the Lover look. The jacket is one I made several years ago with a Burda style pattern, to replicate an Akris jacket I loved.

31 comments:

  1. Your red pants are very chic! I love them!

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  2. You look very lovely. I'm too green to attempt pants right now but when I do, it will be red too!
    Far @ Memoryseed

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  3. Nice red pants! The original blouse is very interesting and I hope you find the lace for it. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and I hope you get a little sewing in too!

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  4. The pants look great and the fit is fantastic. lately I have been thinking about some slim ankle length pants, you have convinced me.

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  5. Happy vacation time! Your pants look brilliant in every meaning of the word.

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  6. Lovely pants! Red really suits you too.

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  7. Very stylish! What a nice pop of color!

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  8. Ooh, I LOVE them! I really want red pants, too. They sell out every time I see any in the store, so I guess I'll have to make myself some as well. Love the shape of these - very stylish!

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  9. Yes, lovely pants. I bought a length or red wool last year to make pants and I keep chickening out. Now I really want them! Your outfit is really beautifully stlyed; I love the colour combination.

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  10. I love red pants! You can wear them casual, punk or dressy, and they're always right... kind of a classic, really. Your look is very stylish!

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  11. Very nice.., Enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday/vacation.

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  12. Love these!! And good call on that pattern, too - I'd totally missed all the ice details in it so I'm adding this to my mental list.

    I've got some cherry red stretch cotton sateen I was thinking of turning into trousers, too....

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  13. Your red pants look better than the McQueens.
    LOVE them, and you look great in them.

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  14. I love them - they're classy and chic and the construction is really interesting. Enjoy your time off.

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  15. I've been hankering after some red pants too. Love yours - the cut is very flattering.

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  16. Great pants! I love the vibrant color and the style is very flattering. Have a wonderful vacation and Thanksgiving holiday!

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  17. Your red pants are smashing! You look right off the runway.

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  18. I love these red pants, they fit beautifully.

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  19. How nice do they look? Very sleek. I like them better than any of the inpiration photos.

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  20. Woo-hooo! Audrey! I love your red pants! Good for you!

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  21. Red pants Friday indeed! I love your whole look.

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  22. Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful! These red pants brighten the winter and add a touch of joy.

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  23. What a beautiful outfit! You found the perfect shade of red for pants. So stylish.

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  24. Your advice to I'll Sew You about the zipper in the center back of her skirt was right on point. I too the advice and not the bump at the bottom of my zippers has been eliminated.

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  25. A pair of red pants can really make your day better!

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  26. Those pants have been on my list I wanted to make them in a shiny stretch fabric. Your decription makes me want to give it a try during the xmas vacations. Lovely colour it makes me think of a wonderful monochrome look I had seen...http://www.thesartorialist.com/photos/on-the-street-little-red-milan/

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  27. You pants are super gorgeous, and great fit on you. I truly love the color

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