A few random thoughts and updates…
(1) I’ve started working on compiling images for my mood boards for my year-long sewing goals. I’m whittling down my inspirations, and hopefully will move on to color selections next week.
(2) Because I’m obsessed with Burda, and especially their coats and jackets, I am really excited by this article on the German website: Burda Trench Coats – and now I want to sew all the things! Seriously, I have all these patterns, and I’ve had them on my to-sew wishlist for quite some time, but now I’m really wanting to make a trench!
(3) The German site has also announced the Spring/Summer Burda Catalog. I’ll have a post on this soon – probably next week. I’ve already mostly written it, but my first thought was that the release was very dress-heavy. I went back and checked the numbers and realized that there are at least a dozen patterns that have yet to be posted, so I’m holding off on my review for a bit until I’m sure that everything is up or that they won’t be posting any other patterns from this release to their website. The February Burda preview should be out soon as well, but since I’m going to be busy at an event this weekend, I’ll likely post that next week as well.
(4) And now for a RTW rant. So, I know I sew, and I know pants fit me better when I sew them, but sometimes you desperately need navy trousers as part of a professional uniform and you realize that everything you have is at least 1-2 sizes too large, and you are flying in a few days and there just isn’t time to sew a pair. You haven’t made any sort of RTW fasting pledge, and you are under dire time constraints, so you turn to ready to wear. You go to the store, and are happy to see that, unlike the last time you searched for navy pants, there is a large selection! But, upon closer inspection, you realized that nearly all of these styles have precisely ZERO CLOSURES. WTF is this? No pant closures? I mean, I’m all for elastic waistbands in my PJs, but for professional clothing? Plus, these weren’t the sort of gathered waistbands that would stretch and retract to sit nicely at the waist; no, these were engineered to look as flat as possible, so the waist was ridiculously large to allow you to pull them on. The stretchy material bagged when you glanced at it, and, because of the way the pattern had to be cut to even get these pants on, the fit was atrocious. And it wasn’t like 1 pair. It was like 90% of the offerings were like this, and all from different brands. Clearly, this pull-on pants thing is a trend, but it’s not a good one. Thankfully, the one style that did have a normal fly front had a pair that fit me, so I was able to find something that would tide me over for the event I’m going to, but man am I happy I can sew. Navy and grey trousers have to make it into my spring and summer sewing lists this year, because I’m going to need them come summer, and I’m not holding out much hope of finding anything useful in RTW at this point.
Doctor T Designs 
I tried on a pair of pants like that too and had the same reaction. It was at a high-end boutique where I had a gift certificate to spend. The saleswoman said these pull-on pants are popular with older women who have tummies.
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RTW trousers are not made for curvy girls. Even if you are a single-digit-sized curvy girl. Don’t the fit models have hips?!?!?
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It’s like the waists are all oddly large, the hips annoyingly small, and the thighs too tight. Pants are definitely topping my to sew list right now.
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I was dismayed by those pants too when they started appearing. I didn’t know anyone older than toddlers needed to pull on pants. I reluctantly began trying them on since there were few alternatives (I don’t want to sew everything I wear either) and since I’m lucky enough to be the right shape for some of them, I bought a few pair and they are actually really comfortable. A metal zipper and the bulky fly on jeans in particular is not at all comfortable if you have a job where you sit all day. If you are inclined to wear longer tops anyway, they so give a smoother look although they aren’t the best with something shorter. But the lack of choice is the main issue…
On another note, thanks so much for the new pattern reviews! I really look forward to these, and it is great to have nicely-sized images to see everything together in one post without clicking through each little image as on the pattern sites. I really enjoy them. Thanks!
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I can see the appeal if the pants were cut to fit; they would certainly give a smoother silhouette than something with a fly, but if the shape isn’t cut for you, you are kinda out of luck. A side seam invisible zip could give the same silhouette with the benefit of being able to give a bit more shape to the waist.
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The argument for actually having a stash of fabric for me is that it is actually quicker to sew a simple garment in an emergency than try to find it in the shops. Travel time, searching through the racks time, trying on time, waiting to pay time, getting home and fixing the waist that doesn’t quite fit time – this all takes me longer than running up a tnt trouser or skirt pattern.
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I wish that were the case for me, but sadly weight loss meant I didn’t have any solid patterns to go to. Hopefully I can get to the point of having TNTs this year so I’ll be able to do that in the future.
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Ugh, pants of any kind are such a devil to shop for. I can’t imagine how hard it must be to search for professional wear clothing. Images of Dana Scully from the early nineties come to mind…. All of you who sew pants/jeans are just so amazing! The thought terrifies me.
Cannot wait to see your upcoming reviews, especially the February Burda. I must decide whether or not to continue my subscription (but who am I kidding, is there really a choice… lol…)
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I actually enjoy sewing pants now, but because I have lost weight, I don’t have any TNT pants I can whip out at the moment.
And so far I don’t think February is *quite* as good as January, but, yeah, it’s not going to give you much of a choice 😉.
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I’ve found shopping for clothes really disappointing lately too. For the last few years, whenever I’ve gone to a mall, all I’ve found is high priced polyester without much in the way of nice details. It used to be that I knew I was spending more sewing my clothes than I would spend buying them but I was getting nicer fabric and a better fit; now I feel like I’m getting nicer fabric and a better fit and spending less, too.
I always look forward to your pattern reviews too. 🙂 Yay for a new season of Burda!
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Trousers are my number one reason for sewing. Never yet found a RTW make that fits my little waist, good hips and powerful thighs. Never ever get pull-on pants to fit unless the fabric has a significant amount of stretch. And then there are never any pockets!
I need a flat yoke, side or front zip, pockets and a bit of give in the waistband. I think I’ll have to draft them myself.
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Pants without fly or any opening are similar to one-size garments. This is actual conversation I had in a small store couple of years ago with supplier who happened to be there:
– One-size. There is so much that offenses me that I don’t know even where to begin – I said.
– Only someone who doesn’t understand the female figure can say that – he replied.
– What you have just said is another offense – I told him.
I still remember that conversation. Happy sewing.
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Wow. Just wow.
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If you saw the same style at different stores there’s only one conclusion I can draw: that is another trend the fashion RTW industry is trying to impose. What’s more infuriating is how most of the trends are because they are trying to cut production costs, yet people blindly buy them (and walk around looking like clones), therefore the trend keeps living for at least a couple of seasons. It’s one of the reasons why I decided to start sewing my own clothes.
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