Thursday 7 April 2011

Two tops from Burda Style magazine

I do like how Burda Style magazine has, over the years, produced some interesting patterns for fairly easy to make tops. For my vacation in Miami I picked out two that I thought would make useful beach cover-up tops. This one is taken from the July 2009 issue, pattern no. 109B

I was inspired by the magazine photograph.

Burda describe it as “cool and seductive” and I liked that it looked kind of loose and carefree. I was definitely right about it being loose but it isn’t quite as carefree as I wanted it – one false move and it is very revealing! Burda magazine patterns are funny like that. I find that, mostly, the folks at Burda tend to favour a tight fit but every now and then they completely throw you and draft something like this. I normally make a Burda size 40 but for this I made a size 36 and still it was HUGE. The only thing that stops it falling off me completely is that the back neck is stabilized with Vilene bias tape and, therefore, can’t stretch. This top is fine for the beach because I am wearing a bikini underneath it but, to be honest, the front is so low that I can’t see me wearing it in respectable society without risking embarrassment!

I think I will get a lot more wear out of this one, which is pattern no. 110A from the February 2011 issue of Burda Style

It is meant to be a shirt but as it is quite boxy I think it also works nicely as a shirt-jacket. It has a convertible collar and nice little ties at the end of the sleeves. Here how it looks in the magazine: I used a Liberty print cotton lawn (expensive but very nice!). I should also mention the buttons

which I purchased in my favourite UK button store, called Duttons for Buttons. It is a lovely old-fashioned shop with very helpful staff but as it is in Harrogate, which is about 200 miles from London, I don’t get there very often. However, it is nearer than my absolute favourite button store, Tender Buttons, which is in New York, about 3,500 miles from where I live! I think getting the right buttons is very important but it is surprising how difficult it can be. Sometimes in London I find myself going to half a dozen places until I find exactly what I want. How picky are you when it comes to buttons and do you have trouble finding the right buttons where you live?

30 comments:

  1. Those are both great tops! I was thinking the first one has a lot of sex appeal, totally appropriate for the beach. I also really like the Liberty London fabric you chose!

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  2. i love your liberty blouse fabric. it looks great on you!

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  3. Both tops look pretty, but I appreciate that the first one isn't nearly as practical as the second. I agree that the second top makes a nice light jacket. I have a lot of trouble finding buttons in London. If you have a few favourite places for buttons here in London, do tell us!

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  4. Buttons are tricky. I find lately that if I am at a thrift store and I find something with cute buttons on it I will buy it just for the buttons, even if I don't need them at the moment because I know I will use them in the future. Cute vacation tops :)

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  5. Wow! The first one ooh lah lah. Both are gorgeous.

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  6. Eugenia, you have two terrific new tops. You definitely look cool and seductive in the first one. The second one is my favorite. You might have struggled with the buttons, but the ones you bought are perfect. I think buttons are a challenge for most of us.

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  7. both tops look great, and in the first photo, with your pose, you look like you are an advertisment for very chic guests at a a luxury resort, or maybe one of those fashion magazine spreads where they tell you how to make it through the weekend looking fabulous with 5 easy pieces,
    (ha).
    as for buttons, on really important garments, like coats or a suit, I do ponder many button choices, luckily here in SF we have a couple of shops with a wall of buttons to choose from.

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  8. I love both those blouses! I have the Burda with the 2nd one in it and was toying with idea of making that one. Cool...

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  9. Buttons are so important! And I live in Vermont, which has 3 fabric stores. In the whole state. Two are Jo-Ann's and one is a wildly expensive specialty that wants $15/yard for solid cotton. I shop online a lot, haha!
    PS I am using that trick montanachic!

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  10. Both tops are fabulous. The first one is so perfect for the beach or any summer activity. Great job.

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  11. Both tops are beautiful Eugenia especially on that white sandy beach.

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  12. Both tops are STUNNING!!!!!

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  13. Those tops are beautiful! You look like a model in the first picture :)

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  14. Both tops are so very pretty and love the Liberty fabric.

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  15. Both tops are gorgeous - great fabrics too! - and you really made me see that shirt pattern in a whole new light!

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  16. Well, I love the knit top - perfect for South Beach society:) I also love the fabric on your jacket/shirt - fantastic - and lovely buttons!

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  17. Both tops are superb! I have to say I love the knit top! That is one of my favorite colors. You really look great in it too! Buttons are so limited where I live. But this is one area where I haven't ordered online...yet!

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  18. Lovely tops! You'll enjoy wearing those for a long time to come.

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  19. The first top is so fun that it'd be a shame to wear it only over a bikini. Could you slip a slim tank or cami underneath to enable you to wear it casually?

    The fabric of the second shirt is just stunning. Is it a retro Liberty print? The colors and print make me think 1970's (in the best of ways!).

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  20. Fabulous tops! Just perfect for the beach. I am not too fussy about buttons. I bought bulk bags from Fabric Mart several years ago and generally make do with what's in there.

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  21. Great tops Eugenia! You look fabulous in them!

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  22. I love both tops Eugenia! Two totally different looks...one "super sexy" and the other very comfortable! (my favorite is the super sexy!)

    Buttons are a challenge for me too! The last dress I recently made was an expensive button dress! When I finally found what I wanted they were pricey and I had to go to two different stores just to get enough! Bot sooooo worth it.

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  23. Beautiful outfits! Love especially the flowered shirt, please .... continue to send photos of your vacation so that I die of envy.

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  24. Holy smokes! That first picture looks like it's taken from a resort ad in a magazine. You look HOT!! Both are great tops, but that first one is a real stunner. :)

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  25. That purple one is brilliant and SEXY, and the Liberty print top is a gorgeous combo with those buttons. Very, very nice work. You look perfect!

    SherryV

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  26. I love your vacation outfits. You look so wonderful in everything you sew!

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  27. Your garments are really great! You look fabulous in them and they're really well made and finished! I notice you buy alot of fabrics from US companies. How do you find shipping to here in the UK? Do you get clobbered for tax etc? Thanks Eugenia, and keep up the good work!

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  28. Hi Rachel, thanks for your nice comments. I do buy quite a lot of fabrics from US companies - I can't resist the lovely fabrics on offer! The sites that I use calculate the cost of the shipping before I check out - so I know that before I commit. I also, almost always, have to pay customs charges when the package arrives here. I never know how much that is going to be - and I still haven't worked out exactly how they calculate it. Parcelforce deal with the payment - what happens is they send me a letter saying they are holding the package, I then pay on the interenet and they deliver it. They charge a flat fee of £8.00 over and above the customs charges. Personally I am happy to pay for shipping and taxes because I like to be able to buy the nice fabrics on offer in the US.

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  29. Thanks for taking the time to answer, Eugenia. I will definitely check out the US sites a bit more closely. I was stung once when I ordered 22 metres of silk for a wedding dress, from the US. It worked out at a fraction of what it would have been here - until I was charged by the delivery company on delivery!!! Not so reasonable!! But I agree, for lovely fabrics it is worth it! Best wishes.

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  30. Both tops are super cute. Especially the BWOF top.

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