Even though the idea of living in t-shirts, shorts and flip-flops all summer is tempting, there are always going to be some events that call for more formal attire during the warm weather months whether it be a wedding, garden party or other formal soiree. Luckily, Fashion Fabrics Club has a variety of breathable and lightweight fabrics that provide great summer suiting solutions, keeping you feeling cool in the summer heat without sacrificing a classy aesthetic.

Seersucker

Cotton seersucker is known for its light weight and super breathable characteristic, making it a favorite among summer and warm climate suiting designs. The traditional white background, thin pinstriped seersucker look like White/charcoal stripe seersucker, White/taupe stripe seersucker, and White/blush pink stripe seersucker is a classic pick for summer suiting.

More contemporary takes on the classic seersucker suit include solid neutrals like

Golden tan seersucker and wider pinstriped patterns like White/brown stripe seersucker and Pink/white seersucker.

Linen and Linen Blends

Linen, another warm weather favorite, is a great option for a summer suiting fabric due to its high moisture absorbency and wicking ability. 100% linen fabrics in solid colors like Olive/off white linen make wonderful, cool suits that teeter on the line between casual and formalwear.

Using a cotton/linen blend like the striped White/black linen suiting (70% cotton, 30% linen) is a great way to get the linen look while decreasing the likelihood of wrinkles.

Linen is also often blended with the synthetic fiber rayon, which gives the fabric more flexibility to stretch and an increased absorbency. For this summer’s suit looks, linen/rayon blends are popular in an array of patterns like plaid; Tan plaid linen suiting (55% linen, 45% rayon), Grey plaid linen (50% linen, 50% rayon), and check; Taupe check linen suiting (55% linen, 45% rayon), Ivory/grey check linen (55 % linen, 45% rayon), and solids like Tan linen suiting (55% linen, 45% rayon).

Poplin

The ever popular rib-weave poplin fabric in another wonderful suiting fabric for summer especially in light weight 100% wools like Dark navy wool poplin suiting.

For an even lighter weighted option, cotton poplins are the way to go. The addition of spandex like in the Soft beige stretch poplin (97% cotton, 3% lycra), Dark tan stretch poplin (97% cotton, 3% lycra), and Mocha brown stretch poplin (97% cotton, 3% lycra) gives the fabrics just enough stretch to make the suit super comfortable and breathable.

With summer just around the corner, it’s almost time to grab your favorite pair of sunnies, throw on your bathing suit and flip flops, and head to the beach to play in the waves and soak in some radiant sunshine. This summer, women’s bathing suit cover-ups are being seen in all kinds of shapes and styles, and in a variety of different fashion fabrics, from elegant eyelets to casual terry cloths.

Eyelet

The gauze-like, super light weight of eyelet gives the fabric a quick-drying ability, and with the added pattern of tiny eyelet holes, makes it a perfect pick for hot summer days at the beach. This summer, Blue Eyelet and White Eyelet are particularly popular in short dress styles of various sleeve lengths and necklines.

Linen

Airy, semi-sheer, loosely woven linen fabrics in natural colors like Olive/Off White Linen and Cream Stripe Linen are making a big splash in this summer’s swim cover-ups, particularly in slouchy, loose fitting styles.

Crochet

Crochet knits are light and airy fabrics, making them great for beach cover-ups. This summer, crochet knits in floral and geometric designs, particularly in shades of blue and blue/green like Teal Blue Crochet Knit, Jade Green Crochet Knit (a medallion design) Bright Turquoise Crochet Knit (a diamond design) Steel Blue Crochet Knit (a circular medallion design) in long tunic styles are the most popular.

Sheer Mesh

Black Mesh, Smoke Black Mesh, and Black/Gold Mesh give a sexy, yet sophisticated look to the classic short sleeved, tunic-style cover-up. Even though sheer mesh is an extremely lightweight and seemingly breathable material, it is made made from polyester, which does not allow for very much air flow, making the fabric better suited for cooler days, or indoor/outdoor pool parties.

Semi-sheer Chambray

Chambray, a classic summer fabric because of its light weight and breathability, is making its way into the beach attire category in semi-sheer variations. This summer, chambray will be seen in a variety of blues like Turquoise Blue Chambray and Medium Blue Chambray, particularly in over-sized, long-sleeved, collared button-ups.

Rayon/Spandex Blends

For those who prefer a non-sheer bathing suit cover-up, rayon/spandex blends like Dark Blue Jersey Knit are a great option. They are lightweight, very soft, drape well, and have just enough stretch to make them super comfortable. Rayon/spandex blends are not prone to wrinkling, which make them great for travel, and they are an opaque fabric, so they can even be worn off the beach as a casual day or evening dress.

Terry Cloth

Another great fabric choice for a non-sheer cover-up, terry cloth, is a durable, ultra-absorbent and breathable fabric, making it a mainstay choice for beach attire. This summer, terry cloth swim cover-ups are being seen in tube top styles, often with a smocked or draw string top, in White Terry Cloth and other light colors like Pink French Terry, Blue Terry Cloth, and Lilac Terry Cloth.

Plaid fabrics are a tried and true pattern that transcends both seasonality and context, making it a flexible and versatile choice. A mainstay favorite in both men’s and women’s wear alike, plaid is a prevalent pick for sleepwear, suiting and everything in-between. This season, plaid is seen in a plethora of color combinations from pastels to bold primaries, and in a variety of fabrics from lightweight sheer polyesters, to dress weight cotton flannels, to medium weight wool and linen blends. Here’s a look at popular ways plaid fabrics are being incorporated into this season’s collections.

Women’s

Button-up Shirts

Plaid is a popular pattern this season’s in women’s button-up shirts, from sleeveless to long sleeved styles. Dress weight fabrics like flannel and cotton are being used in fun, bright colors like Blue/Yellow Plaid Flannel, Pink/Brown Plaid Seersucker, and Fuschia/Gold Plaid Gauze to make breathable, super soft warm weather tops.

Lightweight, slightly sheer silk fabrics like the Sage Green Plaid Silk Taffeta are giving a dressy twist to the typical plaid button-up shirt this season.

Shorts

Crinkled cotton plaid fabrics like the White/Pink Plaid Seersucker and White/Beige Plaid Cotton are being used in loose-fitting styles to make comfortable, lightweight, and super breathable summer shorts.

Blazers

Linen blazers are great for maintaining a professional look while staying cool in the summer heat. This season, linen blazers are getting a makeover with brightly colored plaid designs like the Brown/Pink Plaid Linen Suiting.

Men’s

Button-up Shirts

Plaid button-ups are classic pieces, found in nearly every man’s wardrobe. This season, short-sleeved plaid cotton button-ups are ever popular, particularly in saturated colors like the Blue Plaid Cotton Shirting.

Boxer Shorts

Brightly colored men’s underwear is all the rage, so it’s no surprise to find plaid boxers in fun colors like Turquoise Green/Purple Plaid Shirting are a popular pick.

Shorts

Breathable cotton seersucker is a common fabric used in summer shorts, this year men’s seersucker pants will also have an added plaid pattern like in the Beige/Brown Plaid Seersucker and Brown Plaid Seersucker.

Pajama Bottoms

Super soft, dress weight cotton plaids like Gold/Purple Plaid Shirting are ever popular in the sleepwear category, especially in drawstring pajama bottoms

Men’s and women’s wear collections have a lot in common this spring and summer. Not only do they share many of the same trending colors, but they also have many of the same print trends in common. Three prints in particular have been found to be universally trending for both the men’s and women’s wear sectors: floral motifs, animal prints, and geometric patterns.

1. Floral

Floral motif, in both small and large design, is the number one trending print this spring/summer for both men and women. For women, floral patterns will be seen in strong stretch fabrics for leggings and pants and also in more lightweight cottons and synthetics for blouses and dresses. Flowing, draping slip dresses will be made in soft, lightweight cotton floral fabrics like the Mustard Yellow Floral Gauze and also rayon fabrics like the Black/Beige Floral Challis and Black/White Floral Challis. Floral patterns will be seen ornamenting the twill shorts of dapper men this spring/summer. 100% silk floral fabrics like the Ivory/Brown Silk Shirtingwill make an appearance in short sleeved camp shirts, Hawaiian shirts, polos and other short-sleeved men’s button-ups.

2. Animal Print

In women’s wear, snakeskin, zebra, tiger, alligator and giraffe patterns are catching up to their leopard and cheetah print craze predecessors. Lightweight polyester knits like Grey Snakeskin Jersey Knit and Brown Snakeskin Jersey Knit are going to be used for easy care, comfortable summer dresses. Animal prints will continue to appear in women’s skinny jeans in fabrics like Brown Snakeskin Stretch Canvas and Brown Snakeskin Stretch Twill and denim. Leopard print, snakeskin and alligator crepe (like Tan/White Voile Shirting) blouses, zebra and tiger print cotton shirting and giraffe printed accessories will also be popular. The leopard print obsession that usurped the women’s wear sphere seasons ago (or was it years?) is making its entrance as a full-fledged trend in the menswear arena.Men’s accessories like briefcases, bags, shoes, ties and tech cases will be ornamented with accents of leopard, snakeskin and giraffe prints this season. Cotton T-shirts and jersey tanks will be made in varying leopard print designs from more natural prints like the Brown/Black Leopard Jersey Knit to more stylized versions with pops of bold color like Tan/Blue Leopard Jersey Knit.

3. Geometric

Repetitive, colorful geometric designs are present in both men’s and women’s wear this spring/summer, but they each have their own twist. For women, the geometric patterns are reminiscent of the psychedelic-retro zeitgeist of the 1960s, perhaps a stylistic homage to TV show Mad Men. Symmetrical and balanced designs like Black/Orange Geometric Jersey Stretch Knit and Black/Blue Geometric Jersey Stretch Knit in slinky, body-hugging maxi and mini dresses and skirts will be prevalent. For men, geometric patterns are bright, colorful and symmetrical, and take design elements from Native American and desert prints. These prints will be present mostly in short and long-sleeved T-shirts and tanks of lightweight fabrics like 100% rayon Aqua Green/Black Jersey Knit.

You’ll find soft and dreamy dresses for every day, from long sleeved bib styles to flirty tanks. Plus, look for simple tops and pants! These patterns are from the April 2011 issue of Burda Style magazines.

Fabrics from left to right: Champagne beige twilled satin; Black pink floral chiffon; Violet blue stretch satin; White floral chiffon.

The look of this sheer Chiffon Shirt Dress over our Satin Slip Dress is simply perfect for this time of year. We love the look of a sheer patterned overlay for the shirt paired with a complimentary under fabric to keep the look bohemian. For a more neutral look we suggest sewing the the slip in a champagne twilled satin, and the overlaid shirt in a nice floral chiffon like this one that has great drapability. For a more springy colorful style sew up the shirt dress in a bright white floral chiffon with multicolored flowers and pick a tone within the pattern to make the under slip in. We think the beautiful blue is a great color to work with so try cutting the slip in this violet blue stretch satinwhich will give you a tight fit while still feeling comfortable.

Fabrics from left to right: White/red stripe shirting; Light blue batiste; Periwinkle blue floral lawn.

You’ll love the cut of this extra Long Blouse to go with all your leggings and skinny jeans. The tapered shape is feminine, but you can get a menswear look with this red and blue striped shirting. A solid color fabric like light blue batiste looks cute with patterned bottoms, like floral shorts or skirts. Or, keep all the interest in the cute top and its gathered neckline with a periwinkle blue floral lawn.

Fabrics from left to right:Khaki tan stretch fabric; Coral pink canvas; Taupe cream stripe linen.

Cover up those sundresses with our lightweight, unlined summer Cropped Blazer in a straight shape with covered buttons. To keep this jacket lightweight and wearable we suggest sewing it in medium weight canvas with or without stretch like this khaki tan stretch canvas or add a pop of color with this coral pink canvas. To add some dimension to the blazer you can even sew in a printed fabric like this taupe cream striped linen.

Fabrics from left to right: Aqua green/orange plaid chambray; Raspberry pink chambray; Ivory/bright red floral challis.

What’s more springy than a little Gathered Crop Top with a sweet gathered neckline? Ring in spring with a floral, like this ivory and bright red floral challis. You could also give this versatile tank a country vibe with a lightweight plaid. Green and orange plaid chambray has unexpected color for summer. Or, make it trendy with a little preppy style in solid raspberry pink chambray with high waisted white shorts and boat shoes.

Fabrics from left to right: Ivory bright red floral challis; Ivory crinkled lawn; Pale yellow floral stripe lawn.

This Dress is a modern prairie classic with a short collar, full skirt and frayed hems. It is perfect sewn in printed fabrics and especially florals like this ivory bright red floral challis or yellow floral stripe lawn. If you are not into the colorful florals try making this dress in a textured fabric like this golden ivory crinkled lawn.

Fabrics from left to right: Aqua blue zebra silk georgette; White/green silk chiffon; Black/pink floral challis.

Tiptoe through the tulips in this lovely Floral Wrap Dress with a tie belt and cuffed sleeves. Wrap dresses work so well to showcase fun spring prints. Make it modern and a little wild with a aqua blue zebra silk georgette. This fabric skims the body and we love the bright color. If animal prints aren’t for you, we recommend an abstract print, like this white and green chiffon. The confetti print is such a fun pop of color against rainy skies. A darker floral like this black and pink floral challis can take this style into the fall with black tights.

Fabrics from left to right: Ivory batiste; Apricot beige floral linen; White denim.

These Floral Flared Pants have a retro look with a little romance. We love that they have a seventies style with the bootcut and waistband. This apricot beige floral linen is a great floral fabric to sew these pants in and it has a great crisp hand. If you want a neutral pant you can use fabrics like ivory batiste and even white denim!

Fabrics from left to right: White stretch satin twill; Orchid purple silk georgette; Champagne brown satin; Pink/blue silk crepe de chine.

Diaphanous fabrics are dreamily romantic in this Sheer Wrap Dress with a kimono shape and little cap sleeves. For a demure look, make it in a solid pastel with pearl buttons, like this orchid purple silk georgette. So timeless! You could even make it in a rainbow of pastels for bridesmaid dresses. We also love the look of this 80s style pink and blue silk crepe de chine. This dress is meant to be sewn in sheer fabric, so get extra coverage with the Stretch Slip Dress in champagne brown satin or white stretch satin twill.

Filling up our closets with spring florals and pastels is one of the best things about warmer weather! We hope these fabric picks give you a little extra inspiration for all those fun dress patterns.

Happy sewing!

This blog post was originally featured on BurdaStyle.com

In anticipation of the nearing summer season, we’re dreaming of shedding the heavy, protective winter garb for cool, light weight materials that let us embrace the gorgeous weather elements.

Here are four cool, lightweight, easy to care summer fabrics that are perfect to use in summer collections:

Linen Fabrics

One of the most comfortable fabrics to wear in the summer, linen is an extremely breathable, natural fabric that absorbs moisture readily and keeps heat away from the body – keeping the wearer cool and dry. Linen fabrics are made of plant fiber, specifically a bast fiber called flax, which makes it very strong (even stronger than cotton!) and gives it a subtle luster. Linen fabric is very soft and cool and is also quite durable. Linen is perfect for daytime wear, men’s and women’s summer suits, shirts, dresses, skirts, blouses, and beach attire.

Seersucker Fabrics

A classic American summer fabric, seersucker fabric is a puckered, striped (usually white and blue), lightweight cotton fabric that is great for summer because the irregular structure keeps the fabric off the skin. The crinkled look (obtained by having one warp yarn tighter than the others) rids the need for ironing, making it the perfect travel material. The very thin vertical stripes of the seersucker weave are always made of one white and one colored stripe – pastels have been popular lately. Seersucker is generally found in men’s slacks, shorts, jackets and suits but has also made its way to women’s shorts, skirts and suits as well.

Chambray Fabrics

The lightweight cousin of denim, chambray fabric is made with colored warp yarns and white filling yarns in a plain weave construction making it durable, but not heavy. Usually woven from cotton or linen but sometimes also silk, synthetic fibers or blends, chambray is a popular, casual summer fabric often used in men’s shirts, tops, pants and shorts, women’s dresses, tops and skirts.

Eyelet Fabrics

The light and airy cotton of eyelet fabric is a girl’s best friend on the hottest, stickiest days of summer. The super breathable cotton fabric is so thin it is practically transparent, and the decorative eyelet holes keeps a constant flow of air circulation, giving a near feeling of wearing nothing at all. Eyelet is perfect for beach cover-ups, as it dries almost immediately and is often used in summer dresses, tops, skirts and even shorts.

An eclectic mix of elements will be seen meshing together in the outfits of the fashion conscious this summer. Lace overlays, sheer cutouts, pale pastels, a mini ‘90s revival, athletic aesthetics, floral patterns and iridescent fabrics were among the most trending features reported by the top fashion intelligence experts. Five clear dress styles are sure to become summer wardrobe staples, encompassing trending elements in a wide variety of breathable fabrics from romantic flowing silks to sporty jersey knits. FFC has been diligently researching and investigating the market to bring you this extensive breakdown of the top five essential dress styles for summer 2014.

1. The Menswear Inspired Shirtdress

The comfortable and versatile shirtdress is by far the number one top trending dress style for summer 2014. In lengths ranging from maxi to mini, the traditional shirtdress will be seen in pastel shirting fabrics like Raspberry Pink Chambray and all-white cottons like White Broadcloth. More formal versions will be made of elegant, slinky fabrics like Chambray Blue Slinky and Dusty Blue Crepe Sweater Knit Floral and geometric prints like the Blue Block Polyester Charmeuse will also be major themes in this particular dress style.

2. The Sexy Pencil Skirt

Pencil skirts that land just above to knee to calf-length are a big summer must-have. The body-hugging silhouette will be seen with lace overlays from bright red stretch lace, to pastels like Pink Peach Stretch Lace, Dark Blush Pink Lace, and Cream Stretch Lace Pencil skirts will also be made of light-weight jersey knits made of polyester/spandex or cotton/spandex blends for an exaggerated form-fitting look with this summer’s trending prints like animal print motifs: grey/black snakeskin jersey knit, Grey Snakeskin Jersey Knit, Grey Cheetah Jersey Knit, Grey/Purple Cheetah Jersey Knit, and tribal prints White/Orange Aztec Jersey Knit and Beige Aztec Stripe Jersey Knit. Pencil skirts with black stretch mesh
cutouts are also popular, adding an extra hint of sex appeal to the already sexy silhouette.

3. The Slinky Slip Dress

A staple of the ‘90s wardrobe, the slip dress is making a revival this summer in iridescent silks and metallic sheens like Violet Purple Shimmer and Pale Yellow Iridescent Silk Organza The slip dress, in various flowing fabrics of silk, blends and slinky synthetics like rayon, will also feature some of summer’s trending elements like floral prints – Black/White Floral Challis, Black Floral Challis, Ivory Floral Silk Chiffon, pastels – Blush Pink Crepe, Peach Silk Crepe de Chine, Baby Blue Crinkled Silk Chiffon, Pink/Blue Silk Crepe de Chine, Salmon Pink Satin Charmeuse, and bright pinks – Lipstick Pink Crepe

4. The Sporty Jersey Dress

A casual, athletic aesthetic is a major summer trend, and in terms of dresses this translates into sleeveless sheath styles in lightweight cotton/lycra jersey knits like Black Jersey Knit especially with thigh-high side slits.

The “athletic luxe” trend also brought the return of the super comfortable sweatshirt dress in thicker, yet soft and breathable, 100% cotton jersey knits like the Charcoal Grey Jersey Knit The sweatshirt dress will be seen in mini skirt lengths with short, three-quarter length, or long sleeves.

5. The Flirty Full Skirt

In lengths ranging from maxi to mini, full skirts will be seen flouncing around the legs of style mavens this summer in a wide range of shapes. The summer 2014 version of full skirts will be made in structured, A-line shapes with Black Tulle underlays, and also flowing styles with sheer overlays like accordion pleated Black Chiffon, black rosette tulle, and black floral lace
.

Spring 2014 is about transformative clothes. It’s about boiling down everything that was on the runways to the one thing (or 75-plus things) to buy next season that will instantly update a look. And the statements are simple: Try a longer skirt, one that hits midcalf or the upper ankle. Feel the power of flowers, whether they’re rendered as South American embroideries or giant South Pacific hibiscus. Take cues from your favorite gallery and wear something artful. This season, there is fashion for every personality.

To view the the slideshow, click here

Have you ever used a simple trick to do something clever? You may not always have the required tools or supplies needed to complete a task, but that shouldn’t stop you from doing it. Sometimes, you can use simple everyday tricks like the ones illustrated below to get things done efficiently. Not only will these tricks help you to be more productive, but they’ll make you look smart too.

Original blog post written by and posted on Lifehack

On Thursday, February 6th, Pantone published its Fashion Color Report Fall 2014 just as New York Fashion Week got underway.

To produce this semi-annual report, Pantone begins well before Fashion Week, interviewing today’s top fashion designers to find out what colors are on their minds, on their drawing tables and on their radar for next season. The Fashion Color Report hits the streets just as the fall collections hit the runaways, to give fashion fans in-depth insights into the color selections they are seeing in the shows.

Below is a roundup of some of the blog posts and features stories that covered the report’s colors palettes, designs and designers. You can also see the PANTONE Fashion Color Report Fall 2014 here.

Women’s Wear Daily, Rosemary Feitelberg

“Both sexes are breaking free from traditional autumnal hues in favor of more unexpected ones. The exotic red Sangria, the more sophisticated Aurora Red and the more adaptable Radiant Orchid ranked first, second and third, respectively, for both sexes. The only point of dispute was fourth place, with women banking on Mauve Mist (thanks perhaps to the ladies of “Downton Abbey”) and men opting for the slightly grayer Sea Fog.”
Read More

Huffington Post, Jamie Feldman

“Pantone announced its top 10 fall 2014 colors Thursday morning, and they are equally as bold for men as they are for women. It looks like designers are breaking away from gender specific colors more than ever and having a bit more fun with their collections. The reason behind this playful shift could be the fact that designers want their clothing to be perceived more like pieces of art.” Read More

Refinery 29, Gina Marinelli

“… As pointed out by Pantone, ladies and fellas have found common ground in their shared appreciation of colors. To be more specific, it’s sangria. Again, we’re talking about the shade. The deep purple-red hue is the most popular one used in the fall ’14 collections by men and women designers. And, as WWD points out, this means something greater than men and women dressing in a matchy-matchy fashion.” Read More

Vogue Australia

“Break away from black and embrace Pantone’s top ten colours for the cooler months.” See a Slideshow

Today, Eun Kyung Kim

“The shift away from gender-specific colors will have people seeing shades of crimson this autumn, including the bold Aurora Red, which Pantone said “adds a sophisticated spark to any winter wardrobe” to the more purple-infused Sangria, “an exotic red that evokes a sense of glamorous adventures.” Read More

Fed Scoop, Patra Wroten

“Make room in your closet for hints of Sea Fog, Sangria and Mauve Mist. Or, if you don’t speak Pantone, the color purple is going to be really popular this fall. Just in time for New York Fashion Week, the world leaders of chromo released its 2014 list of hot hues. Shades fall under the stem of Radiant Orchid — the 2014 Color of the Year — varying in tones of violet and red, with a dash of warm yellow for good measure.” Read More

The original blog post was written by PANTONE.

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.

I have always had an affinity for gingham fabric. It makes me think of Brigit Bardot, sunny days and picnics—a visual we could all use right about now. I like its playful vintage quality and also its versatility in projects. While the polar vortex has yet to loosen its grip, it’s never too early to start dreaming of spring.

If you’re a vintage-loving gal like me, a classic checkered dress might inspire you. But if you’re looking to utilize the textile in a fresh new way, try a full skirt with quilted pattern pieces like this one. Or jump right into the trend with a darling (and supremely practical) romper like this little number. Heck, you could go full-on Betty Draper with an easy-to-make apron or look like you stepped off the cat walk in a sassy cocktail dress.

If, on the other hand, you’d rather ditch the ultra-girly theme altogether, gingham fabric can be put to good use like any plaid. Maybe a basic pocketed button-up like this or this? Add a collar and it can also be pretty darn sophisticated. I couldn’t help but be charmed by these jacquard Bermuda shorts—I picture them fitting in just right at a delightful garden party.

So, what do you think? Are you in love with the retro print as much as I am?