The Lady Tux for the Holidays!
5:30 PM
Sometimes, you just don't want to wear a dress, so a fabulous suit will fit the bill for an evening look.
Suits are so popular this season in women's wear that I knew I had to make a couple. More to come... Maybe Hillary started a trend. Or maybe we're all just kind of ready to stop overthinking dressing as much as possible and to simply just have our blazer match our pants. Even if you don't have a job that requires suit wearing or a special occasion for a "lady tux", don't feel intimidated. Suits are great wardrobe pieces that you can create in a fabric you love that would fit your lifestyle... and make perfectly good since wearing together or as separates. It's okay to break them up!
I wanted to make this suit in a fun fabric that I knew would work for either a special occasion, or pairing the blazer over jeans, my white jumpsuit, navy pants or white skirt. And Lord knows I love a printed pant! These would pair perfectly with a red or any other bright, jewel-tone sweater or top.
The star of any great suit is the blazer, of course.
My inspiration comes from one of my current favorite designers, Veronica Beard.
My jacket is Vogue 8958, view D. It's currently out of print, usually the good ones are! Sometimes you have to reach in the back of the pattern drawer for current styles. This gorgeous design has really good bones. It has the perfect wide shawl collar and two-piece sleeves. I'm tall, so I like long blazers. I like for mine to be long enough to cover the booty, because it creates a flattering line to my shape. But the only thing this jacket was missing is a back vent.
So I had to modify the back pattern piece. This jacket had only one pattern piece that was supposed to be cut 4 times. It has a center back seam, so 2 for the back and 2 for the back lining.
Creating a vent and a vent lining and then sewing it is pretty complicated if you've never done it before. Not impossible, just tricky.
If this is something you all would like more details regarding, let me know in the comments below and I'll do a YouTube tutorial for you.
The fabric is very lightweight, so it's completely interfaced with this White Knit Fusible Interfacing, which is my new favorite! And I also added a back stay using Whisper White Silk Organza.
I cut the size 14, and I didn't have to lengthen the jacket.
I did however lengthen the sleeves by one inch. If I make this one again, I will probably add a sleeve vent and buttons. I'm not bothered by not having this detail, but I do think it's all about aesthetics though. But this fabric is so heavily printed that the buttons are not missed.
I cut my contrasting collar in White Polyester Crepe.
And the way the collar and facing are drafted gave me a beautiful turn of cloth. Because no one wants to see the seam line!
I love the cut of this jacket, how it's nipped in at waist. The vent was the perfect touch. And I can't wait to make this one again.
My pants are Vogue 9181... the same pattern that I used to make the hot pink cords. Officially, my tried and true!
I cut these the same way but made the hem longer. The pink cords are meant to be worn with lower heels. As these are meant for 4" heels. So they're around a 37" inseam.
I still used pockets. And I omitted the belt carriers this time. This pants fit so well at the waist they're not needed.
I love how this suit turned out and I can't wait to start on another one.
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25 comments
To the question of a tutorial on adding a lined vent: Yes, please!
ReplyDeleteAlso, that is one snazzy suit. Very nice indeed.
DeleteThank you Erin!
DeleteBeautiful suit - yes please on the tutorial. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you Susan!
DeleteTutorial, yes please! Beautiful suit and the fit is perfect. Love the trousers and the blazer!
ReplyDeleteThank you Anna!
DeleteOh dear, why couldn't you have done this two weeks ago. I have just finished a BurdaStyle jacket and typical instructions for the back vent left me completely baffled. Take a look at my blog jellybeanjan.blogspot.co.uk for the sad tale. Please do a tutorial and for how you bagged out the sleeve lining. I'd be so grateful.
ReplyDeleteConfusing instructions are the worst! Thanks Jan!
DeleteAaahMazing fit. It's a fabulous suit. Finding a shirt pattern with a vent is near impossible. Even with pencil skirt patterns...no slit (is that the same as a vent, btw?) Would love the tutorial for vents.
ReplyDeleteSlits and vents are different. But I will definitely work on that tutorial. Thanks Danielle!
DeleteBeautiful suit with a great fit. I love how the pants are perfect with the jacket. It looks like they would have been in the same pattern but of course, you have an eye for knowing what works with what. Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThank you Tomasa!
DeleteI would love a tutorial on adding a vent. Thank you for your blog, it is quite inspiring, your are a gifted sewist.
ReplyDeleteMarie
Thank you Marie!
DeleteErica, your suit is stunning and you look beautiful (ALWAYS), great fit. You did your thang! Thanks for the very thorough review.
ReplyDeleteThank you Tanya!
DeleteErica. You did it again! Please make a tutorial for the vent
ReplyDeleteThank you Shamj!
DeleteIt would be awesome to have a tutorial on the Jacket and Pants...I'm greedy:)lol
ReplyDeleteThank you Lora!
DeleteErica! Fabulous job as usual! Count me in for wanting to see a tutorial! And I love the way the collar/undercollar turned out, too! So great.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sewsy!
DeleteAbsolutely beautiful!!!! I would love to see the tutorial for the vent. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you Shawn!
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