ooobop! review: Burda Style December 2012

Was beginning to get a bit anxious about the late appearance of this issue on the shelves of Smiths! But was it worth the wait?…. In my humble opinion, if there is just one great pattern in there it’s worth the cover price. Two and I’m laughing. Three and it’s definitely Christmas. But more than three? Oh yes, yes yes!!

Party Fashions opens with  a great fitted jacket in black and gold. Sling it on over a pair of jeans and a T and you are so ready for the party. And check out the detail on the ‘Master Piece’ dress. Hurts my head a bit wondering how that is created. And it has 3.5 ‘difficulty blobs’ out of a possible 4  but as luck would have it, there is a step-by-step sewing course included, to help you on your way.

I love this ‘Black Power’ dress. Shame it is obsured by the jacket in this shot but the line drawing highlights the simple lines. Would be gorgous in silk. In stark contrast, not really a fan of ruffled layered bottom halves. Only because my bottom half doesn’t need bigging up. But this little skirt is pretty with the metallic tulle lace overlay. And incredibly easy to make.

Party Fashions wouldn’t be complete without an adornment of sequins but I can’t help but think how spiky they must be to wear. The skirt part on the black dress however is made from imitation leather scales. Now your’e talking! I don’t tend to do trousers anymore either but stretch nappa leather ones like these are luring me back!

More sequins and shine…

…. and then we are on to Christmas!!

Boy am I excited about this coat. I was given a decent length of a lime green/chocolate shot silk/wool mix fabric. Quite heavy. Probably intended for furnishing. Certainly not dressmaking. But I instantly had visions of classy and totally original coat. Have been looking for the perfect one. And now, as if by magic, I think I have found it! Just praying there is enough fabric!

Not sure if I am suited to the following look, though I think the skirt is very interesting. Perhaps its the distraction of the 1D lookalike in the photo. I do however, reeeaaallly like that little girl’s shift dress. And love that it is actually in my daughter’s size. More often than not, the kids patterns are either too small or too large and I’m far too lazy busy for pattern grading!

Again. I’m not feeling the puritan look but the jacket with the retro peplum and the little girls coat is totally up my street!

The whole sweet angel and tweed look is maybe pushing the boundaries of sweet. Verging almost on sickly, I’d say! I can hear Mr  and Master Ooobop! roaring with laughter as LMO and myself prepare Christmas lunch in such puritanical stylee. The fact that LMO would howl with protest if every I tried to dress her like this is a sure thing too!

A good teddy bear pattern always comes in handy as a gift for a small person. Or even a grown up! I do enjoy sewing toys just as much but so far haven’t strayed from the path of Tilda makes. Burda have even included the corochet pattern for the lovely shawl they are sitting on. Oh please don’t get me side-tracked!

I keep coming back to this dress. It’s not instantly my thing but I love how the seam joins have been highlighted in white. Definitely a conversation piece. I quite like the waiscoat too but they can keep their billowy sleeves!

There’s a Master Piece jacket and coat pattern for the smalls too. Very classy. I’m sure I could talk LMO into that jacket, if it meant she could keep her Doc Martens on too!

There’s a fun Street Style section with some clever twists on casual using wool. Makes for a more quality look than with the usual jersey. But I have glossed over that because I don’t really do casual street!

This dress certainly makes a ‘Grand Entrance’ when you turn to this spread. Works great as a short dress but soooo elegant as a full length evening dress. It’s made in silk crepe here. Imagine how luxurious it would feel too!

In stark contrast I fear the blue shiny combo on the left is a bit wrong! Luckily there is a pleasant distraction opposite! I really like the simple cut of this dress. A variation of the black dress at the beginning. But with the addition of long sleeves and an overlay of floaty chiffon it is transformed into  and enchanting swoosh of loveliness! I do have a little issue with how the neckline seems to be pulling though. Anyone know why this might be happening?

Here’s a couple of real simple to put together outfits. Well, Im sure the jacket is a little trickier but I do  think it would be worth any amount of hassle to be snuggled in wool velour. The gathered collar and three-quarter sleeves are gorgeous features. Rose and gold is quite a sophisticated colour combo too.

Oh and here we are. My favourite bit! The Vintage pattern. A very stylish French couture look. Though I like a nice bouclé fabric, especially one with a metallic thread, I think that gorgeous design feature at the front bodice is lost. If or rather when I get round to making this beauty I will definitely be employing a plainer wool fabric and keep it closer to the original.

There’s  a few treats in the plus section. Not least of all this hot LBD. Flattering sweetheart neckline and some glamourous gathering at the hip. Oh to have those curves!

Well that just about wraps it up for the clothes section but there are lots of extra crafty projects too, just to get you in the spirit of the season!

Thanks for swinging by. Hope you get some sewing in over this busy time. Till next time, toodlepip! xxx

ooobop! review: Burda Style November 2012

A little later than usual but I do hope that November 2012’s Burda Style magazine serves to whet your appetite and make your sewing list longer all the same!

I’m going to jump straight to the Vintage pattern because that is exactly what I did in the shop and it is so totally my favourite and my best! I do like it in black but I also like its original floral form. Such style in the fifties! Bring it back, I say!

Lots of lovely misty neutrals in the first section this month. I am quite surprised to see a floaty batiste dress (top left, below) considering the chill factor but I like it all the same, especially styled with boots and the faux fur waistcoat. I am also tempted by the blouse, centre bottom row. Batiste with a metallic print…. not sure I will stumble across that fabric choice in the Goldhawk Road, but always worth an ask! It’s got 3/4 raglan sleeves and bust darts so its simple but not completely shapeless.

The trousers (bottom right) are nagging me to attempt my first pair of trousers. These ones have hip yoke pockets and are ankle length to display some fabulous show-off shoes!

Next up is the Gem Colours section. You may have already have seen some of these patterns on the Burda web site. They were quick to go up this month.

This jacket or ‘blouson’ as its called here, would present such a rewarding project. Having just completed my first proper jacket I’m itching to employ some more tailoring techniques and this one looks like it could present a few more. Its got some beautiful hand stitching going on which gives it such a professional finish.

Undertones of the 70s with oranges, purples and browns are the order of the day for Gem Colours. I’ve not worked with crèpe de Chine before but I think the first dress (below, top left) would be a great place to start. It’s semi-fitted and has a wide neckline, with broad sleeves that taper into slip on cuffs. Perfect for those bloaty days or when you just want to throw something over a pair of leggings or sturdy coloured tights before flying out the door.

Two Sides of Me is an interesting section this month. I like the dress!

Not too sure about the boyish looks. Bit boyish for me to be honest! But I’m quite drawn to the blouse on the left. Not my usual style but I like the idea that this could be whipped up a couple of hours before a theatre date! It is made of stretch silk satin here. Much like my pin up pants, so I bet it feels gorgeous on!

I kind of flicked past the Knits section to get to the Kids. Nothing against knits, honest, and I feel bad now for not including them. But they just seemed like staple loungewear. And I need to avoid making stuff that everyone is going to think is from ‘Primani’!

But… there is some totally cool kid stuff as usual. Keeping the neutral theme and mixing up metallics and matte. Lovely textures and fun, chic designs that will even fit Little Miss Ooobop!… hoorah!!

And a Burda mag would never be complete without some hot plus-size gorgeousness. My picks this month are very vintagesque. Creature of habit, moi?! Very elegant and sexy and perfect for a hot wintry date!

Any faves? Any dislikes? Feel free to share your thoughts!

ooobop! review: Burda Style October 2012

Octobers issue of Burda Style presents many a contrasting style with some drastic variations on a theme. Lots of snuggly autumnal makes, some very stylish shapes and of course the usual couple of red herrings that make you wonder if you’ve missed the point!

First up are the pastels. Not my bag really. Far too girly and considerably more suited to the fairer beauties among us. But the fifties-style-cuts are always a winner.

On first glance this purple dress doesn’t look dissimilar to many that Burda has published before but then I noticed the bodice has side fronts for princess seams AND darts at the waist. Not sure about the point of that. And also I am really not sure about all the gathers being concentrated at the belly of the skirt. I have tried this before and really, it’s not a good look on me! Pretty though.

This lurex t-shirt is an easy little number. And there is a great step by step tutorial for it too. I quite like the subtle shimmery look but not how it’s styled here. Gathering issues again!

This next dress could be really stylish in the right fabric. It has “reversed pleats that open at the waist to release the fullness of the skirt.” Far classier than gathers!

Now as I sit here shivering, holding out from turning on the central heating, for the first time this year, I can imagine being wrapped up in this gorgeous mohair jacket. I love the asymmetric draped collar. It doesn’t look to be that complicated either… no lining… and unfinished hems… though in real life I might not be able to leave them as such!

And as luck should have it, I have just inherited some wonderful heavyweight silk which might be a contender for this lovely 50s style coat. It’s not a pastel colour I hasten to add!

Now I can’t decide if I like this dress or not. I don’t mind the high waistline. In fact that look is kind of flattering on me but those bust darts/pleats scare me. Perhaps a softer fabric would make them sit more comfortably. Striking though… all the same.

I do love a little bouclé jacket and though you can’t see it here, this one has a deep reversed pleat on the back to add swing! Would look better in red or black 😉

The ‘Faux Fur’ section delivers all number of snuggly things. This wrap, made of faux mink is genius and sooo incredibly easy. Kind of a lined tube with a horizontal slash within which you put your arms! I would have to make the matching bag too!

I will let you be the judge of the remaining furry fellas!

The ‘Refined’ section is just that. Some unusual yet clean lines. Minimilistic styles both modern and classic. This blouse has folded yoke pieces which transform a V-neck blouse into something a little more dramatic. Looks great as styled with a simple A line skirt. Not sure how practical the kangaroo pouch is though!

This asymmetric waistcoat looks comfy and pretty simple to make but I’m not too keen on the open neck for some reason. Not the most flattering but it’s got a certain je ne sais quois!

But this ensemble really does hit the spot. Really flattering. Quirky and comfy and certainly not frumpy. The hip wrap is fascinating. layers of wool, leather and felt. The faux wrap top is made of fine jersey and the pencil trousers are very slim fitting with a side zip which would be a style to tempt someone like me back to wearing trousers. Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I did!

The following two garments incorporate a cowl neckline. which looks a bit half baked to me. Maybe it’s the fabric. Not sure. Doesn’t look intentional enough to me. Could end up looking like a dodgy mistake to the untrained eye!

Now I love a vintage pattern and I always look forward to this section but this swing coat isn’t my favourite. Looks a bit maternity to me. But I like the sentiment!

Oh but this one is…A special designer pattern by Gabriele Strehle. Burda you are spoiling us!

I’m afraid the plus-section isn’t very imaginative this issue. Not sure what happened here. Previous issues have had stunning plus size dresses so I was a bit disappointed by this section. There were a few goodies though…

Fast forward past some strange toy animal craft to some cute folky styles for kids. Not sure they’d get away with wearing that look in West London but it’s cute all the same!

Well I do hope I haven’t come across too negative. I really do appreciate the effort on Burdas part, to break out from the norm with some of the asymmetric styles. Always inspirational and still well worth the cover price.

ooobop! review: Burda Style September 2012

I seem to be a bit light on ‘likes’ in this month’s issue of Burda Style magazine. But I’m not grousing. There is certainly enough inspiration to be getting on with. For starters, the cover photo presents this lovely lace dress. Slightly fitted at the waist with those deep curved darts that are mostly to be seen on vintage patterns.

Giant dogtooth print is something I most definitely want to seek out after seeing this dress.

I can totally see myself in this dress. Never fancied a Mod parker (which also features) or even slotted into the Mod scene to be honest but I do approve of the above and the following ensemble. It too is made of giant dogtooth print by the looks of it…. but in wool velour… how lush would that be?!

I’m not so sure about the light brown version of this top (below). Much prefer it in the crazy jersey print but loving the contrasting shoulder yokes. It closes at the back with a small loop fastener which would be cute. A great top that doesn’t look too tricky to make and perfect for those days when you don’t want to think too much about what to wear. Might give the ‘ankle flappers’ a miss though

Now I havent ever entertained the world of shiny crazy satin dresses but I think the following dress is all I need to get started. I love the empire waistline, the contrasting black bands and the way its been overall styled with leggings and substantial heels. Yes I do believe I could strut my stuff in this dress as confidently as she can!

If I had the bod, I would certainly go for this ‘Matrix’ style dress. That tiny leather bolero adds a lovely ‘don’t mess with me’ touch!

I love that there is always a vintage inclusion. But not 100% sure if I’m in love with this one. That particular 1950s silhouette is all that condones bad posture. So slouchy and round shouldered. Nope, not for me.

But this one is far better. Everything about it. The double breastedness, the check, the contrasting collar, pocket flaps and sleeve bands on this box jacket. I love the skirt it’s paired with but it would look equally good paired with a pair of jeans (not that I wear them) or any other classic styled skirt.

I think the following dress is more geared for the ‘Twiggy’ figures among us but I’d quite happily give it a shot. Cute shirtwaist dress with Peter pan collar, teamed with some solid tights and boots. Yep. Like it!

Perhaps with a control body and a few days of fasting I might be able to carry off this gorgeous number! British designer Matthew Williamson is the designer and inspiration for this dress. Overcut shoulders, intriguing seam lines and… wait for it…. incorporated front pockets too!! As the mag says: ‘this sexy style leaves no fashion wishes unfulfilled’!

As always there is always one or two sexy plus size patterns. And this one is my September favourite. It is perhaps a little too ‘Milk Maid’ but I think that could be rectified by removal of the frills at the end of the sleeves… simples!

And just to round up, gorgeous things for little girls, as always:

Being short on ‘likes’ is probably a good thing for me this month. I’m really struggling to find the time to sew over the holidays. Well, that is finding time to sew things for me! But I hope to post news of Mr Ooobop’s new shirt in the making real soon. Thanks for paging in!