La Mia Boutique 10/2013

Yes, yes, yes! Another very good issue of La Mia Boutique!

As usual, you can find it half here and half on Silvia's blog, with comments by both of us in every post.

Let's get started!

The first patterns of this issue (and my favorites) are by Italian designer Makola, whose gorgeous 50's- and 60's-inspired creations were the main attraction of the beautiful May issue.

Anna: First of all: I get that having an Audrey Hepburn-inspired photoshoot makes completely sense and it actually goes great with the clothes. But when you bring such an humongous icon into play, you need to do it right. I mean, DAT HAIR is hideous. Together with the model's perpetual duckface, and the LMB stylist inexplicable preference for heavy jewellery, it kinda bombs these photos. 

Anyway, at least the dress is very, very cute. A basic shift dress that looks great on almost anyone and a perfect beginner project. Because it doesn't have darts in the back, it could also be a cute jumper.

Silvia: Not a new pattern if you have been seeing the latest issues but I wonder if you can have an issue on Audrey without a shift-dress pattern.

Anna: Lovely outfit! Perfect for a formal occasion, chic and put together with that touch of retro that I love. The coat pattern is almost identical to one included in the May issue, but that's ok.

Silvia: To die for! I love the color and the design. Would make it immediately. 

Anna: Ah, this dress! Silvia challenged me to make it, and it's about time I sew something from LMB. I've already studied the pattern and it looks quite interesting and doable.
I LOVE those in-seam pockets (similar to those of the Chloe dress by Victory patterns, but without a tab). The pattern is meant for knit fabrics, but I think it shouldn't be too much of a problem to make it in a woven (I'll add a side zipper). I just need to think it over a little bit and find the right fabric for it.

Silvia: This pattern screams Anna make me! Black and white combo is so cute. And I want the shoes too. BTW did you notice the tattoo on the model’s foot? ;)

There are four more Makola patterns in this issue, and you can see them in Silvia's post.

Anna: I like the idea behind this dress, but you need to have a shop/laboratory/whatever that pleats fabric nearby. That's just unthinkable in my area, so bye bye dress.

Anna: Bad-ass jacket. I love it, but it looks like a pain to construct; the horizontal lines are a leather trim. I also like the buttoned variation, although a jacket without pockets is blasphemy to me.

Silvia: I love the style on this jacket. I never had a leather jacket in my life but I could certainly make the variation in a Ponte Knit or wool.

Anna: This pattern really picked my interest. It's different and stylish, I really like it. I think that shortened, it would also make a nice maxi cardigan.

Sorry if you can't tell too much from the photo... I can't either. I mean, black gloves? Really, LMB stylist?

Silvia: When I read this issue included an Aspesi pattern I immediately flicked the pages to see it. The design is very interesting but it’s not something I would wear.

Anna: And here's the winner for worst product photo in a sewing magazine. Would you ever match the technical drawing to this photo if you didn't have the little numbers? I know I didn't when I was making these collages. So, it's an interesting pattern with lovely tucks on the front. I'm not completely sold on it, especially because of the fullness in the back, so it would have been nice to see how it looks on the model. I know, I'm asking too much.

Silvia: Well, you don’t see much from the picture, but I like the fabric. The pattern is not for me though.

Anna: A nice button-up shirt/tunic, maybe a little boring. Why you would tuck it in those pants and make it look like a completely different garment is beyond me, but at this point it's clear that I'm not on the same wavelength as the photographer and the stylist (and the model too... is she stoned?).

Silvia: I would chop off some of the length from this pattern or lengthen it for a shirt dress look and add a belt.

Anna: I really like the pants, although they're too low-waisted for me. The jacket... eeh, it's cute, but I wonder how functional it can be, with those short sleeves...

Silvia: I don’t know how I would wear a short-sleeved blazer, but I really like the pattern.
Cool fabric [for the pants]! Give me those legs and I will wear the pattern too.

Anna: Very cute dress (although the waist looks quite different on the technical drawing, am I right?) with gorgeous embellishments. These are all adhesive studs; it would have been nice for LMB to give us a pattern for the embellishments or to at least give us an estimate of how many studs are needed. Without any of those two things, it's just a pattern for a very standard dress.

Silvia: It’s a cute dress pattern but it seems too wide and short for me. If I were to make it I would need to make some adjustments.

Anna: This skirt was clearly stolen from Burda, as it's two (slightly tapered at the waist) rectangles of stretch lace laid on two rectangles of jersey with a ribbon at the waist and a zipper at the side. Why would you complicate your life with a ribbon and zipper, I don't know. A 5-year-old can figure out this pattern without having to trace it off and add a seam allowance.

The cape is extremely cute, but once again we're faced with the wise decision of black on black, so we have no idea how it looks like.

Silvia: Very cute capelet! I am really considering making it. Would you, Anna? Any suggestion on how to style it?
Oh a lace skirt! I have some lace stashed away and have been meaning to make a skirt for ages. The only think I’d need to check is the stretch factor.

Anna: Nice basic tunic, at this point I'm maxed out on clever and/or bitchy comments, so I hope Silvia has something to add.

Silvia: Cute shirt, though I prefer stand-up collars.

Anna: The first time I saw this, I thought "ooh, interesting!", but the more I look at it, the more I ask myself "how would you wear this?", unless of course you add some sleeves. Then it would make a very cute coat.

Silvia: Pity there are no sleeves on this pattern. I would muslin the collar to check the look on me.

So, all in all, despite my moaning and bitching, a very good issue. I even added a pattern to my to-sew list, so I can't complain.

As always, there's more on Silvia's blog, so go ahead and check it out. She also started a survey, if you want to let her know which patterns you liked the most, you can find it here.