Friday, 14 September 2012

The new Colette patterns


I sit on the fence about Colette patterns. On the one hand, people make gorgeous dresses using some of the patterns and I really love the Colette Sewing Handbook, which I own. On the other hand, I find some of the patterns fussy or costume-y or else too self-consciously vintage, and others, even though I like them in the abstract, just REALLY wouldn't suit my body shape. The latter is not the fault of the pattern, of course, but it does mean that the Colette line consists of two types of pattern as far as I'm concerned: YES! and NO! There's no real in between for me. I either want the patterns desperately or else they are something I would never ever wear.

Anyway, two new Colette patterns came out yesterday (photos linked from the Colette site):

Anise (jacket)
Juniper (trousers)
Pretty much, these embody what I think about Colette. On the left, the Juniper trousers, I really like and wanted the instant I saw (and it also reminded how desperately I want that Jasmine blouse pattern on top as well). I love the wide legs and the waistband. I don't make trousers (yet) but this went straight to the top of my "trouser patterns to try when the time is right" list.

And on the right, even though it's so pretty on the model, the Anise jacket is everything I dislike most in jackets: double breasted, short, square-ish, vintage wide round collar (which I irrationally dislike for no good reason) and 3/4 sleeves. It's not that it's not a cute pattern (collar excepted because no, really, let me tell you about my irrational dislike of that collar) and I am sure I will see it made up by other people and think it looks amazing, but for me personally? A resounding NO.
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4 comments:

  1. ElleC15 September 2012 at 14:31

    Thank you! It is great to know that I am not the only person in sewing blogland that doesn't adore Colette patterns. Like you, I have the book, which I love and I may actually make something from it one day, but the retail patterns, not so much.

    PS-did you know you have your word verification turned on? A lot of people (me included) really hate the captcha stuff, and many people won't even try to comment on a blog that has it.

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    Replies
    1. westmoon15 September 2012 at 15:46

      I always really WANT to like more of the Colette patterns because I'm a sheep and EVERYONE likes the Colette patterns. Plus I have seen some genuinely stunning outfits made by people to Colette patterns and there's a part of me going "Look how great she looks! I could do that!"

      However, every time I look at the patterns online and try to imagine making them I think: (a) this would look best on someone with DIAMETRICALLY opposite body shape to me, i.e. a petite pear instead of my tall inverted triangle; and (b) this isn't my look AT ALL. I'm still getting to where I know what my look IS, but I know it's not that.

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    2. westmoon15 September 2012 at 15:47

      Oh, and thank you, I've fixed that verification thing!

      Delete
    3. LC15 September 2012 at 15:51

      I feel exactly the same way about Colette patterns. I am SUPPOSED to like them, what is not to like? But somehow I don't. Except the Sorbetto, and not just because it is free, love it.

      Thank you for taking off word verification.

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