Doctor T Designs

The October BurdaStyle Magazine is here! I wasn’t overly excited by the early preview images, but the full preview of this issue has completely won me over.

There’s a lot of good stuff to check out, so let’s dive in!

Of course we have to start off with the coats and jackets this month:

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Love this! The interestingly geometric lapel is apparently a major trend this season and I’m here for it. I really love all the seam lines in the jacket, and the extra seam that creates that really strong shoulder is an interesting feature.

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Another great blazer! If the first pattern was a bit too harsh for your taste, this one has softer lines and a much easier to sew shawl collar.

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And here is a more relaxed blazer. Burda is really covering all of its bases here. I think I would have passed by the line drawing, but I really like the way this looks on the model.

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Ok, so, I know this is just a rectangle with a neck hole, but it’s a really cute rectangle with a neck hole! Also, my new office is really cold and I feel like this might be a socially acceptable way to wear a snuggie in an office setting.

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It’s been a while since we’ve had a vest, and this one is fab! I really love the structure and shape of this design, and I think it looks equally great over the sleek turtleneck and the softer blouse. The collar is a great shape and the many small buttons are also a great detail. I love how much Burda has embraced the super structured silhouettes with lots of seam lines in this issue.

The dresses this month are ready for fall:

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Burda’s already given us a lot of silhouettes that are really similar to this dress, but I still really love this. The slightly wide v-neck is really nice, and I’m sure we can all get behind the pockets. The silhouette rides the line between being fitted and relaxed, and I think that will appeal to a lot of people.

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Love this! The neckline treatment is so cute! And I really like the angled hemlines. I also think the styling is very smart – it’s ready for work, but also a casual fall day.

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I’m less impressed with this button front dress. The details get a bit lost in the print, so it’s hard to tell if the feature is cute or just weird. I’m not overly excited by the more simple version either… it’s a bit of a miss for me.

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I actually really like this dress. It’s simple, but it’s so cute! I really love the styling of the plaid version, and I think it could be a really versatile piece in a fall wardrobe. I have thoughts about the 1920s inspired photo shoot that Burda’s done in this issue, but I’m going to save those thoughts for the comments.

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And, well, an apron isn’t a dress, but it’s sown with the dress. I think we aren’t quite to the point where an apron would be considered a cool fashion accessory, but if you made the dress in blue and the apron in white you’d have a pretty cute casual Belle cosplay!

I find the tops this month to be decent, but a bit less inspired than the jackets and dresses…

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This top looks way more voluminous on the model than it does in the line drawing. I do think the cuffs and neckline are nice details though. And the yoke seam could allow for some very nice mixing of fabrics or playing with prints.

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This could be a good basis for a woven t-shirt pattern. It has just enough darts and shaping to prevent it from being too boxy. I’m not sure how I feel about the bow detail – it’s a bit high and seems to awkwardly float in the middle of the top? I think it could probably be a bit better with a bit more length. Or maybe without the bow. But the bones of the pattern are good.

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In contrast to the other top, this one looks like it should have move volume based on the line drawing. Perhaps Burda has just used very drapery fabrics? Either way, I like it! I wish we could see a photo of the back yoke detail on the model, but maybe there will be one in the magazine.

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Ok, so the line drawing and garment image aren’t too inspiring, but I think the model looks super fabulous. Maybe this top requires that your friends always walk in front of you with a wind machine so you can always look amazing? Regardless, I think I’d want the front of the shirt to be a bit longer, but I do think that the model image has definitely sold me on this looser fitting garment.

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From the front this top is pretty basic, but the back has an interesting almost cape-like effect. It’s one of those surprising patterns that I passed by on first glance, but am actually way more interested in when I look at the pattern a second time.

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I do really like this top pattern. The thick collar is a really nice detail. I feel like this could also be an upscale version of a sweatshirt if it were make in the right kind of fabric. Sort of like office appropriate athleisure if the styling is right.

On their own, I don’t find the bottoms in this issue to be terribly compelling, but I do think they are all good pieces to mix and match to get a full outfit:

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I don’t think anybody was out there dying to get their hands on a new drawstring pants pattern, but I do think these pants look really comfortable and like they could be a quick pattern to whip up.

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This is one pattern that looks way more interesting on the model than it does in the line drawing. The drape of the side panel is actually really interesting in this checked print, and I think this skirt would look great worn with many of the tops Burda has given us in recent issues.

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I think this skirt is also really great! It has a bit of a slimmer profile, but the draping is a nice feature that prevents it from being too boring. I don’t think it has as much visual impact in the image of the brown version, but the styling of the grey version is actually pretty cute and really shows off the features of the skirt.

The Burda Plus selection this month is really great as well:

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I love this coat! It’s sleek and elegant and I love the hint of a collar. It looks like it should be in that “might be a bathrobe” category, but it really don’t go there at all because the lines are so clean and sharp. I think this could be a really great fall wardrobe addition.

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My office has been really cold lately, so I can definitely see the appeal of these jacket/cardigan pieces. The slight wrist fluff is pretty small… definitely an indication that the trend is winding down, if not already mostly dead.

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I really love this dress/top pattern! I think the draping is super pretty and is elegant without being too formal. It gets lost a bit in the wild print, but the version in the solid color really highlights the details.

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I also really love this top! The collar detail is fabulous, and I think I must grade this down because I really need one of these in my wardrobe.

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The drawstring trousers are about the same as the pattern for the smaller size range – not overly exciting, but definitely very functional. I think they look pretty fabulous on the model!

This month we even get some men’s patterns:

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I think this vest looks pretty sharp! It’s definitely not ultra-fitted but it is a nice tailored shape. Perhaps I’m wrong, but I feel like it looks a bit short on the model?

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It’s the everybody gets drawstring pants issue! To be fair, Burda always does a great job of making guys look stylish, so I can get behind this pattern. I definitely think the cut (with the softer gathers at the waist) is an interesting design choice we don’t often see on men’s patterns.

The kids section is very thematic, and also has a nice mix of patterns for girls and boys:

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I think a lot of these are really cute! Possibly a bit formal for what most kids would wear today, but it’s always good to have options.

And that’s it! It’s a pretty good issue with a lot of surprisingly yummy details, which makes choosing the top pattern a bit difficult. But after considering the options I’m give Best of BS for October 2019 to:

The super chic vest! Burda doesn’t often give us vests, but I have to admit they’ve really convinced me that they could be a fun wardrobe item with this issue. I think this vest has a lot of fantastic details, and that the end result is surprisingly versatile and really smart looking.

BWTF for this month was a little easier to pick:

The boring button up dress! Ok, so I don’t think this pattern is bad, but I do think the styling and/or photograph’s choices aren’t doing it any favors either. This image really doesn’t showcase any of the details, and really makes it look uninspired and sack-like. I don’t think the pattern is bad, but I do think the was definitely the least inspiring garment image this month.

And that’s it! I think there are a lot of goodies in this issue and I’m really excited for it to show up in the mail. I also think Burda’s decision to do a retro/vintage inspired photoshoot was a very interesting artistic choice. My worldview might be colored on this a bit because I’m American, but I definitely get the Ellis Island/immigrant journey vibes off of these images. Perhaps the European perspective could be different; maybe these images have a different connotation in the context of their national history. Part of me sort of hopes that it’s a subtle political jab at the state of the world right now, but, it might not be. Maybe it’s just the ideas from a mood board. Maybe it’s just the decade that fashion has decided is “in” right now. Hard to say. But, regardless, nothing exists in a vacuum, and I find the potential dialogue between fashion and politics really interesting with these images. What do you all think? Does this turn-of-the-century inspired look do more for you than just provide some pretty pictures? Or does it seem out of place next to all the more modern items in this issue? Do you want your sewing magazines to make a political statement? Or should they be a place of escapism and pretty fantasy images? Also, what do you think about the actual patterns this month? Is this one of those amazing issues that will be cherished for all time? Or are you finding your fall sewing plans elsewhere? Feel free to discuss it all in the comments!