Monday, October 6, 2014

Holiday Vogue Collection 2014


Vogue 1426

OK, it is just me?

I have been studying the new Vogue patterns, which came out today, and I am filled with the desire to beat myself into a stupor with bunches of invisible zippers, tied together with horsehair braid.

Vogue 1423

Yes, there are some lovely dresses, with beautiful silhouettes, unusual cut outs, and interesting inner seam lines.

Vogue 1424

But.SO.many.dresses.

I work in a company filled with women in their 20s and 30s. And, yes, some of them wear dresses. But MANY of them wear separates to work! Many many many.

Many.

In fact, MOST.

You know I love you, Vogue, but OY. I would love to see a little more balance in the offerings. I mean, even the vintage ladies and girls got dresses (which makes a certain amount of sense, especially for a holiday release).

Vogue 9072

But you missed an opportunity with the men. They got a combined vest/cumberbund/tie pattern. If you had offered a view with an attached kilt, sort of a kilt onesie, if you will, you would have accomplished an all-dresses-for-all-categories release!

Vogue 9073


(And, yes, some of these dresses would look great on my daughters, but I don't sew for my daughters, for the most part. Down that path lies misery and suffering.)

In summary: WHERE ARE THE PANTS?!??! I mean interesting pants. Pants with details. Pants with character.

Sigh

OK, now that I've gotten that out of the way, let's talk.

But not about dresses.

So, this should be pretty short.

Let's start with my absolute favorite pattern of the release. And it's a bag.

Vogue 9074

I don't make many bags, but this one is gorgeous. Both of these bags are staring at me imploringly, with their little zipper mouths. Yes! Yes, I will buy you, little zipper mouth bag pattern! I will!

Marcy has three new patterns in this release, making up for the fact that she had only one last time. But not one of them is pants! [insert unhappy sniveling noises]

I love Marcy's new raincoat pattern. This photo looks a bit weird, but the line drawing drips with promise. (Though I hope that the collar won't actually funnel the rain in.)

Vogue 9070

This may be my favorite new pattern of Marcy's. A skirt! (I rarely wear a dress, but I love me a skirt!)

Vogue Vogue 9060

Marcy's final offering looks like a nice top with several views.

Vogue 9057

Sandra Betzina has two new patterns this release, also featuring zero pants. The first one (either a dress or a top) has an unusual neckline, which is a bit hard to see in this busy print, though I like the creative use of a border print. I like the line drawing very much. It's a dress I might actually make.

[ducking to avoid hurling projectiles]

Vogue 1429

Sandra's other offering is a loose, drapey top and a skirt.

Vogue 1430

On the right person, this top is chic and dramatic. On someone like me, with a "full front" with my large bust, it can be a bit much.

So, what other patterns jump out at me from this batch? Not a whole lot. Some of the remaining separates look similar to past releases. But there are a couple that I will probably pick up on sale.

Vogue 9063

I like this top, which has an Issey Miyake-like hem. It would look best in a very drapey fabric, like rayon batik. But I would wear it as styled here, with skinny pants, and not as shown in the second view, with the skirt. This could skew frumpy very fast.

I like view A of this pattern, though I'd add sleeves. (I do not care for views B or C at all, which look like maternity smocks.)

Vogue 9054

But, I am sorry to say, that this top looks all kind of wrong to me.

Vogue 9064

I don't know, maybe someone out there can make a version that proves me wrong, but it seems, to me, like it draws attention to the most problematic part of the body and creates some weird proportions.

So, that's it for me! What do you think? What did I miss?

39 comments:

  1. WoW! Thanks for checking them all out - I'm sad about the lack of separates too. As usual, I'll probably get all of Marcy's patterns, LOVE me that skirt! But it's getting harder and harder to find really neat pants - maybe StyleARC will come up with something this fall/winter or we will just have to make something in the pattern stash again.

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    1. Yes, Style Arc does pants very well. In fact, they recently came out with a pattern designed especially for women with flat butts, which is a great idea!

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  2. Oh. My. It is pattern shopping time! (next sale, that is) Love Love LOVE both those bags! And Marcy's raincoat and skirt! And the top 9063. All on the Must Have List for me. Off to check out the rest of the story.....

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  3. It's not just a lack of pants, but a lack of sleeves! Seriusly, it's a winter collection!

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    1. Good point! I don't even think about this as adding a sleeve is an easy alteration.

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  4. I agree. Neat, wearable separates with an edge are what are needed - remember when Vogue used to always have a designer edge? These separates, with the exception of MT and SB, are all very run of the mill. Nothing screams (except that great coat) rush out and buy me :). Ahh well, there is always the pattern stash....

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  5. I agree with you completely. They need some more Designer patterns. Marcy to the rescue again!

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  6. What struck me seeing them this morning was that it did not feel like a "winter" collection. Agree with too many dresses, most of them sleeveless.... I'm not tempted very much (yet).

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  7. Not sure exactly what to make of some of these, although I like that many of them include more than two or three pattern pieces. One of the vintage repros has my attention, the other . . . not so much.

    But those bags are adorable . . . tres chic, I think!

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  8. I couldn't agree more with you on the latest release. Those handbags!!!!!!!!!! Definitely worthy of multiple exclamation marks :)

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  9. Kathryn Brenne made that bag in a recent article in Vogue Patterns Mag. If anyone wants to make it, there is a wealth of construction info in that article. Since I am in wedding sewing mode, I saw a few that interest me. I sure wish we had a little girl in the family.

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  10. It's always interesting to read your review since our styles are such direct opposites. This new collection was just okay to me. I did like some of the dress patterns and may get around to buying a few but it really was just okay.

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  12. Your comments are hilarious and oh so on target...I agree with your summing up and, except for marcy's coat and skirt (the top, IMHO, is too similar to previous designs) and THE PURSE! I will give these patterns a pass. Sad.

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  13. Love the first dress, if I went to black tie affairs or gallery openings, but I don't. And the last top you show - if that was an attempt at a color blocked designer sweatshirt like what's all the rage right now, um "no"! I had hopes for the ABCD cup suit jacket until I saw it had a peplum. I like the two tunics (9058 and 9059) but afraid they may be too voluminous and maternity looking. The rest seemed too casual or too formal. Still I think there are a few patterns I might get.

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  14. I looked at the collection during intermission while I was at the opera last night, so just on my phone. I scrolled through and then deleted the email as I just wasn't thrilled with anything that I saw. But you were able to shed a little nicer light on a few of the pieces. Somehow I missed Marcy's raincoat. And I do like the purses. I remember the days when the new patterns came out and I couldn't wait to get to the pattern store. It's been quite a while since I've felt that way.

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  15. I like the collection, and filled my wishlist with a few dresses, some Marcy patterns, and Sandra Betzina patterns. One sleeper pattern is the Five Easy Pieces pattern 9067. I too love the bag pattern.

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  16. I am in agreement on your opinion around separates. I sometimes wear knit dresses to work with tights but...all those sleeveless dresses. Just not happening. I am a fan of the Tilton skirt too. Knitting your sleeves for your coat - yikes! Super talented!!

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  17. Beautiful fabric, and I like how you used the selvage on the edge of the jacket. Thanks for your informative post.
    Deborah@Sew Much To Give

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  18. I was disappointed when I saw this too. Too many dresses, and too many sleeveless dresses. My dd is 28 and works in Austin, Tx where her preferred work wear is a sleeveless dress, especially in Austin's 100 degree. But, in winter she likes to wear separates too. Most of these dresses are not work appropriate though. Too dressy. I have to agree about the Betzina blouse, there is no way my chest would look good in this!

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  19. Diabolical amount of dresses. Horrible amount of dresses. WTF SO MANY DRESSES! The kilt onesie made me laugh out loud. You missed the reversible coat 9069 which will be very very nice in the proper sweater knit (off to peruse stitch pattern books for my machine).

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  20. To me, the only interesting part of this collection was the holiday/party dress section, and I have zero need for any sort of fancy cocktail dress. (Our company party is literally held at CenturyLink Field.) I thought that everything else was basically a re-hash from other collections of the past couple of years.

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  21. Great review of the new releases! I like what I see, but sometimes I think these designers need a reality check. I love their style and vision, but often times it doesn't translate well into everyday life.

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  22. Make that red bag in green, and take it to work. It has an Android creature thing going on, with the straps etc. I can already see them in your company store. ;)

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  23. Oh, I've gotta agree with you on 9064, the last one you posted. Really bad to put a round patch of color on the midriff and bust! I've been awaiting this release because of Marcy's coat and tunic/top patterns. I love the coat, and will probably make it from a printed denim in my "resource center". The tops are ok, but not really exciting. I'll probably buy the pattern anyway, and use it as a starting point for more creative designs. I agree with you on the dresses. Lots of them. I never wear a dress!

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  24. yes those last two patterns were so weird. And first thing when I looked at the collection is - so many dresses! even for holiday when I am sure is a dress season, too many. I was waiting for some kind of sharp and interesting fitted jacket or blazer - total disappointment. Plus maybe I have been sewing too long but i just see a lot of pattern repeats.

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  25. Heh that last top is my favourite pattern in the whole collection! But I agree with you about the rest being a little lacklustre, and I'm a dress-wearer.

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  27. I'm lovin the last top 9064. I immediately put it on my must buy list. And that first dress is fabulous. Not that I have anywhere to wear it but a girl can always dream right! I didn't notice there weren't any pants though. Probably because I am always disappointed by the fit so I just overlook them now.

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  28. I'm loving your writing as much as your sewing, LOL! Keep up the great work.

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  29. I think they came out with some very pretty dresses but like you and your co-workers, I wear separates 100% of the time and I live in pants.

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  30. A kilt onesie! Now there's an innovation. The last top looked like a bullseye and the rest are not much different that previous iterations. The MT raincoat is interesting and the skirt is coming home with me. Maybe there is a huge market for sleeveless cocktail dresses in winter out there but not for me. At least the necklines are different.

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  31. I am pleased with the compliments on my first pattern for Vogue. Watch for more clothing and accessory patterns to come out in 2015

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    1. Kathryn, I love your bag! I really wish they would put your name right on the pattern, though! I am definitely interested in following your pattern designs. I miss you posting on your blog: http://finesewing.blogspot.com and very much enjoy the fabric posts you do for Emma One Sock! http://www.emmaonesock.com/guides/index.asp

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  32. Thanks Shams, my logo and name are now on the pattern. I'll try and update my blog soon. Between article writing for Vogue and emmaonesock.com, designing patterns, teaching and tours, time is a precious commodity. I'll try and update my blog and newsletter soon.

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  33. I've been wanting to get back into sewing for a while now, and any one of these looks like they'd be fun to make! I just need to get the fabric I need so I can start making things again. There won't be a lot of time for me to work on projects, but spending what free time I have on it should be fun.
    Keara | http://www.sewing.net/

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  34. I wish they wouldn't photograph things in dark colours / busy prints that obscure the style lines. Or they could at least photograph two version with one in a light colour or solid so we can see the actual garment. (I know this sometimes happen, but I would like to see it for every pattern.)
    Thanks for the interesting round-up :-)

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