Perfect Patterns: Spring & Summer

With Spring and Summer just around the corner, we teamed up with our friends at BurdaStyle to bring you some perfect patterns for Spring and Summer!

The Romantic Maxi Dress

The Romantic Maxi Dress may be the highlight of this collection with its revealing sweetheart neckline, cap sleeves, and flowing full skirt. Two different florals are beautifully feminine. We love turquoise blue floral lawn with a pink and blue floral lawn or the coral pink floral lawn with a larger floral lawn for the skirt. You could also go for a darker, bohemian look with solid teal blue lawn for the bodice and floral stripe lawn for the skirt. Keep the colors in the same family, and you can mix and match with ease!

fabric from left to right: Turquoise blue floral lawn, White/blue floral lawn, Teal blue lawn, White multi floral stripe lawn, Coral pink floral lawn, White floral lawn

Bustier Top Dress

This slim fitting Bustier Top Dress has an intricate top with set in bustier and shaped shoulder straps. The godets in the hemline also give this dress ample movement! This style needs fabric with a little structure and movement, and we also love that polka dot-esque print. In keeping with this theme, we think this design sewn in this white dot printed jacquard would really bring this dress into springtime style. If you are more taken with the dark nature of the fabric above we suggest a classic black and white polka dot cotton. The bustier style paired with that fabric would give this dress a real retro look. We also love this black and red printed sateen for the dress, the print is fun and the color is rich.

fabric from left to right: White dot jacquard, Black white dot cotton, Black red print sateen

Peasant Top

Gypsy and peasant styles inspired this folksy Peasant Top. It’s finished with asymmetrical ribbon closures and pretty fluted sleeves. Go bold with a patterned jacquard to highlight the fluted sleeves, or get a more casual look for the weekend in blue chambray. 90s trends are huge for summer, so we also picked out a whimsical black and white polka dot. This print would look great with dark wash jeans! Or, go for a romantic look in black and tan lace. This lacey print would look sophisticated with black cigarette pants for a summer date.

fabric from left to right: Turquoise blue chambray, White/black jacquard, Black/tan lace jacquard

Short Waisted Blazer

Here is a lovely short waisted Blazer with wide lapels, and a double breasted opening. This jacket is great for a suit style with matching skirt or pants, or can be worn as a little coverup for your spring dresses because of the short hemline. The main feature of this jacket is that beautiful eyelet fabric. You can find many eyelet fabrics herehere in a multitude of styles and colors. We would like to see the color played with a bit and sew this jacket in a deep dark chocolate eyelet gauze. Or you can brighten it up with this cheery blue embroidered eyelet and simplewhite eyelet. Eyelet is a classic fabric for spring, and makes a great spring jacket fabric because of the weight and holes in the texture.

fabric from left to right: Dark chocolate eyelet gauze, Dusty blue embroidered eyelet, White eyelet

Dress with Fluted Sleeves

The Dress with Fluted Sleeves has so many interesting details. The sleeves are pleated and ruffled at the cuff, and the bodice has a wraparound style. Make it a statement piece in printed silk satin like this navy blue floral, or show off the construction in a solid like this gorgeous gem toned hot pink satin. We also like mixing fabrics for the bodice and skirt of a structured dress, and might try a print like this black floral twill satin for the skirt and a black satin charmeuse for the top.

fabric from left to right: Navy blue floral satin back twill, Hot pink satin, Black satin charmeuse, Black floral twill satin

Summer Dress

The cut of this Dress was inspired by a classic men’s shirt, especially with the yoke and wide cuffs. An elastic band at the waist emphasizes the feminine silhouette, and the ruffles make the front neckline eye-catching. We love the print the print this dress is sewn in, and a similar print really flatters this dress design. This white floral striped lawn is a beautiful lightweight cotton fabric that has horizontal floral stripes in rich colors. Or we would switch up the color scheme a bit by sewing in this beige aqua print lawn with metallic accents, or this luxuriouscaramel print egyptian cotton.

fabric from left to right: White floral striped lawn, Beige aqua print lawn, Caramel print egyptian cotton

Pleated Eyelet Skirt

Every woman’s summer wardrobe needs a skirt, and this Pleated Eyelet Skirt is simply perfect. The pleats add just the right amount of fullness and movement without that added bulk. The sleek silhouette allows for a textured fabric like the eyelet pictured above. We would go classic and just like the in the photography with this black embroidered eyelet. If you are wanting it all in terms of texture and print this yellow medallion eyelet lawn has both the feel and look of the collection. Maybe you are visioning this skirt not in eyelet, if so we would suggest a bold and neutral print like this black and tan geometric embroidered cotton.

fabric from left to right: Black embroidered eyelet, Yellow medallion eyelet lawn, Black tan geometric embroidered cotton

Embroidered Peasant Top

This Embroidered Peasant Top has a wide square neckline and pretty ruffles at the waist and sleeves. White dotted swiss or soft blue floral eyelet are perfect choices for this lightweight spring top. The ruffled skirt and sleeves are lovely in textured fabrics. Embroidered batiste has instant folksy appeal, but we also like this top in a retro white and pink striped linen. Try this top with relaxed cutoffs or jeans.