ooobop! review: Burda Style May 2012

I think I’m about to get very boring! This post carries a ‘LENGTHY’ warning! If you look forward to an element of surprise in your monthly Burda magazine, then look away now. I am about to seriously feature and ‘favourite’ just about half the mag this time!!

First up is an out fit that has ‘make me!’ written all over it! This skirt is just one pattern piece and the fact that its make from jersey means no zip and no buttons and no lining… are you sharing my enthusiasm?!!

The blouse is so cool too. I love the three-quarter sleeves and in particular the no show button placket. So vintage, so modern and so classy all at the same time. Both these items are part of the retro section which I so hope is maintained each issue.

Trouser suits are not normally my bag but I love the simple lines of this pool party attire…

This top (below) has not been displayed to its best advantage. It is a little retro button back top from embroidered batiste, dyed tangerine orange! I think three or more of these would be essential to my wardrobe, perhaps with the addition of a Peter Pan collar on one or two of the versions!

I might give the Marylin skirt a miss though. Bit too girly for me.

Just when I thought my little gypsy tops were easy makes, this little top looks to be a winner too, though I’m not a fan of this particular choice of appliqué. Would be a lovely addition to the holiday suitcase. I really like the style of the shorts too but a bit worried about the attention seeking design touch in the belly area!

Here’s a couple of classy little retro dresses too…

‘Tropical’ normally conjures up bad nightmares of Hawaiin shirts and nasty long shorts but there were some pleasant surprises in this section, even for me! First up, the Latin Lady dress in stretch satin. I’m not sure I could personally carry this off but it would look fabulous on my eldest daughter. The hem of the ruffle is shaped with boning tape and once again, for the easy project searchers out there, this one has no zipper and an elastic waist.

Most of the other Tropical style garments were variations of other themes and to be honest, the themes were a little overshadowed by the tropical prints but I do rather fancy this top. Another easy way out, I know but a great casual jersey top all the same.

Just look at the draped back on this beauty (below). Not long ago I bought some wine-coloured silk velvet from my friend’s mum who was moving house and having a sort out. I have been waiting for a pattern that justifies the luxuriousness and I think I just found it!

The mind boggles how those little bowed shoulder straps sit perfectly positioned at all times. There’s a little concern that I would end up with the top section round my waist!

Tennis-style is next up. And I’m not renowned for my sporting abilities so I’m afraid there was little appeal for me with the ‘white-stuff’ but not a complete ‘dis’. I’m not sure how anyone would manage a game of tennis in this skirt but it is very lovely all the same! I think it would sit better in the office or propping up a West end bar with a cocktail in place of the racket!

I love this little top too. Incredibly simple and crisp and versatile. And the magazine includes a step-by-step beginner’s sewing lesson for this one.

Now I have thought long and hard about this ‘corset’ belt. A strange little accessory for sure and one I feel would look better with a pencil skirt to add a bit of detail. Worn with these strides it just looks to me like she is wearing cut out pants on top!

There’s a great Holiday section too which included a dress and a skirt that I like very much. The dress has a really flattering neckline and would be good for day or evening wear. Its made from jersey so perfect for stuffing in a suitcase too!

I think you would have to pack your travel iron if you packed this skirt but it would certainly be worth it. It is described as a ‘beach skirt’ but I think it’s far too good for that! I love the shaped waistband and the deep pleats

I think Burda is seriously trying to prove a point with their plus fasions . . . mostly that a plus-size shape is infinitely more sexy than standard size. I have so changed my desire to be stick thin since Burda has started publishing the loveliest patterns in plus size and am now seriously hoping my chocolate and cheese fix goes straight to my hips!

And I will no longer sulk at the prospect of the patterns being too big because Burda has kindly supplied instructions to decrease and increase pattern sizes. It’s not rocket science and I kind of knew how anyway but I seemed to absorb the info much more readily this time round, spurred on by the the prospect of the following designs.

Just look at this dress!

And this one with its asymmetric wrapped look with refined pleats at the left side seam…

And this one…

…which incidentally was an idea I was considering following my gypsy top make. I just wasn’t sure how to go about making it into a dress… but I now have a pattern… and the no how to make the pattern to my size!!!

And this ensemble…

In hindsight, I think it helps that they are all black. To me, dresses always look sexier in black. But I’m pretty sure you will be with me on the overall sexiness of them all!

Every now and then, Burda serves up some real cutie pie stuff for children. I flashed some of these pictures under the snobby nose of Little Miss Ooobop! and even she approves! Its a shame that she has grown two sizes bigger then the largest but thanks to those handy instructions I should have no probes grading them up!

I think the red gingham look is a real selling point on all these outfits but chambray, polka dots and stripes would all do the same in achieving maximum gorgeousness!

Now normally I am blinded by the clothes patterns and skip over the little side articles about upcycling, recycling, and crafting but there are some gems in this issue:

How about using mens’ shirt-sleeves for straps on a dress or a top and a t-shirt combined to make this skirt…

And some gorgeous photography brings new meaning to scented bags…

This is just a sneak peak at what is going on in May’s issue. I hope it has inspired you as much as it has me. There really is lots more and to be fair this is purely a pick of my faves. I’m going to have to wrap it up here, mostly because my scanner has overheated… and there’s a possibility I might also get in trouble for completely reproducing this issue!