It’s not news to anyone that I enjoy dressing like a four year old but ohh, it’s only gotten worse-er.
Ever since Fumi pointed me in the direction of the beautiful Japanese sewing books at Japan Center, I’ve lusted after the gorgeous patterns, colors, fabrics, the cute models. I broke down and bought one (Girly Style Wardrobe), despite the fact that the directions are in Japanese. Thankfully they use metric measurements with Latin numerals, so I can eek through them that way…
The challenge will be to make the patterns me-sized and make adjustments so that they’re more flattering to someone with hips and other things that keeds don’t have to worry about. There are several beautiful a-line dresses that I’ll shirr or add the ability to gather with a tie, at the natural waist or below the bust (empire waist). Otherwise they’ll be shapeless, and that’s hangs flatteringly on a svelty-limbed girl or woman but is unfortunately sac-like on someone like me.
Anyway, I’m already dreaming of linen and liberties and ridiculous notions… maybe I’ll make something for the girls, too. I gush over Liberty Fabrics but never explain, so I’ll be lazy and point towards flickr again (one of my self portraits is in this search, I’m wearing a Liberty band in my hair): Liberty of London. I’ve only used it in small quantities because of the cost, and my favorite place to get it in fat quarters is Ambatalia in Mill Valley — a tiny fabric/notions shop with an owner that shares my name and penchant for collecting weird shit.
The photos below are borrowed from a blog (Knitting While Intoxicated). I am crediting Knitting for two reasons: to thank ‘em because I can’t scan at the moment, and also to assure you that I didn’t title the images “Japclothes”. Nope. They did. Just sayin’. There are also a lot of cute variations on the patterns and fabrics when you search flickr for “girly style wardrobe“, the name of the book.
Also, thanks to Maya from WordPress, I’m going to WordCamp this Saturday :> I’ll be there photo’ing and probably being shy about blogging, but excited nonetheless.
