Thursday, 8 October 2015

Style Arc Elle Pants and a Couple of Coco Tunics

Way back in May I made another pair of Style Arc Elle Pants. I have been working on the fit, and in addition to raising the waistline and a large calf adjustment tried previously here, I have added a Flat Seat Adjustment. I was trying to reduce the amount of wrinkles at the back, upper thigh area. Here is the photo I posted during Me Made May 15.

I am wearing them here with another Tilly and the Buttons Coco Tunic. This one is without pockets and has the retro funnel neck collar. I love this tunic but I do find it difficult to style. The collar gets in the way of a scarf and necklaces just don't sit right at all.


The fabric is chocolate brown stretch bengaline purchased online from Style Arc, and is good quality. These pants have been worn all day at work and are now quite wrinkled unfortunately for the photos. The fit at the front is quite good. 

I think the flat seat adjustment did improve the fit at the back, compared to my previous Elle's, but there is still room for improvement. I suppose some wrinkles are necessary or you wouldn't be able to sit down.

 I had some more of the cream ponte in the stash so I made another Coco Tunic, this time with the scoop neckline borrowed from the Sewaholic Renfrew.

This one has been much easier to style with scarves and necklaces. My daughter gave me this necklace and I love how it ties in with the colours of the outfit. I don't usually wear autumn tones, but I don't mind this outfit on me. Maybe my colours are changing as I am getting older.

I have a fairly rectangular figure with little waist definition, but I love how this tunic gives the illusion of a waist and hips. 

 Does anyone else wish they had a stylist when taking blog photos? I find is so hard to get good photos with the garment sitting just right, when I am using the tripod and remote on my own. So often, it's not until I'm editing the photos that I notice all the faults. I guess most of us have this problem.
Happy Sewing
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24 comments:

  1. Diane9 October 2015 at 00:51

    I think both outfits are lovely!

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  2. Anonymous9 October 2015 at 07:23

    These are such classics and m sure you will and have worn them a lot. I wonder about 'my colours' changing too as I age. Either that or I'm more tolerant.

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    1. Sew, Jean Margaret9 October 2015 at 20:26

      Thanks Sewingelle. These garments do fit into my lifestyle well and are worn often.

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  3. Megan O9 October 2015 at 10:18

    Lovely outfits. I lived in my Elle pants all winter and I think I might be wearing Lolas most of summer! I totally agree about the photos. I once got my sister to photograph me in jeans and she was fantastic telling me exactly how to stand to get the most flattering pictures. My husband doesn't notice if there's a big wrinkle in my dress for pictures and mostly, like you, I'm on my own hoping for the best!

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    1. Sew, Jean Margaret9 October 2015 at 20:28

      Thank you Megan. I haven't tried the Lola pants yet. Getting decent blog photos is a bit hit and miss for sure.

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  4. Wendy9 October 2015 at 15:08

    Have you read what Sandra Betzina has written on rear wrinkles? I have the opposite problem with my butt, but her instructions worked perfectly.

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    1. Sew, Jean Margaret9 October 2015 at 20:29

      Thanks for the suggestion Wendy. I will check it out.

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  5. Paola9 October 2015 at 15:44

    Hi Jean, I have exactly the same issues with photography. Problems only seem to be apparent once I've taken the photo and am editing the photo for the blog.
    I'm definitely finding my colour palette is changing as I get older. The strong colours I used to favour don't seem to work as well.
    I've also found the Style Arc bengaline to be good quality. I really should give the Elle pattern a try as they look to be grips additions to the wardrobe.

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    1. Sew, Jean Margaret9 October 2015 at 20:34

      Glad I'm not alone with the photography issues, Paola. I am always drawn to bright jewel tone colours but I am now becoming a little more flexible. I have found all the fabric I have purchased from Style Arc to be really good quality including the bengaline and the jersey. You have me wanting to try the Misty Jeans.

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  6. Rhonda Buss9 October 2015 at 23:12

    The "perfect" fit for pants is such an illusive little animal. On a daily basis, our bodies change and can be so different from even just the previous day. I think you've done a great job and your pairing of the tops is just spot on.
    As for pictures, whew, my husband usually helps with the pictures, but there have been some tense moments ;) Enjoy your tripod!!!

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    1. Sew, Jean Margaret10 October 2015 at 09:30

      Thanks so much Rhonda. I know what you mean about our changing bodies and the illusive perfect fit. My husband (who is a great photographer and has done professional wedding photography) is not very helpful. When I do ask him to help he let's out a big sigh, and I know it's not going to be fun. He just has no interest in clothing or fashion. I am slowly getting better at using my tripod and remote.

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  7. Sharon11 October 2015 at 18:18

    Pants are the elusive fit and fabric also has a lot to do with it. I really like the coco without the collar and the way you have styled both pieces looks very smart.

    Oh tripod photos do mean that there are some not so perfect styling going on, but we are all doing it so don't stress about it.

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    1. Sew, Jean Margaret11 October 2015 at 21:29

      Thanks Sharon. I have worked out that a scoop neckline suits me far better than a crew neckline, and it's very easy to change the neckline on a pattern. I'm glad to hear that most people have similar issues as myself with styling and taking blog photos. At least it keeps things real.

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  8. Sarah Liz11 October 2015 at 19:09

    I think all rectangles have flat bottoms and wrinkles underneath their tail. I do. I think tunic tops are great for this sort of problem - it enhances the shape and hides the problem areas of the pants until a solution is found.

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    1. Sew, Jean Margaret11 October 2015 at 21:31

      I am a big fan of tunic tops. Thanks for your comment Sarah Liz.

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  9. @velvetribbon_sews11 October 2015 at 20:08

    They are lovely garments. I love scoop neck in your coco, it looks so nice on you. I am using tripod as well for my blog post and I am still learning how to take better photos. Don't worry about the photos, just keep sewing and taking pictures :)

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    1. Sew, Jean Margaret11 October 2015 at 21:34

      Thanks so much Hana. I have always admired your beautiful blog photos. You do a great job. I intend to keep sewing and keep taking pictures, and hopefully show some improvement as time goes on.

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  10. Emma13 October 2015 at 22:08

    Nice work on the alterations, the pants looks fantastic! I am looking into a tripod attachment for my iPad as I am finding the front camera and timer setting good for taking pics as I can get a good look at what the photo is going to look like. At the moment I am using improvised furniture to hold up the iPad at different heights and angles!

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    1. Sew, Jean Margaret14 October 2015 at 21:09

      Thanks so much Emma. Your iPad sounds great for blog photos if you can see what the camera is seeing as you take photos. I am forever running back and forth from the posing position to behind the camera to check what I have captured (or not got in the shot) and it's all rather tedious.

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  11. Gabrielle14 October 2015 at 09:30

    The fit on these pants is looking good - you must be very close to getting it spot on! I can see what you mean about the first coco top - with the collar, it feels to me as though it might look good tucked in, though maybe that would be too bulky? The second top looks so easy to.wear though - the Renfrew neckline really suits it!

    Ha, yes, a personal stylist would be great - someone to say 'just wait, your facing haa flipped out', or 'something strange is happening with your hair' (obviously they're my own styling issues, not yours!).

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    1. Sew, Jean Margaret14 October 2015 at 21:16

      Thanks for your comments Gabrielle. The tops would be far too bulky to tuck in especially at tunic length. The Renfrew neckline is definitely a winner. Yes, we all dream of a personal stylist. No wonder all those garments modelled in the fashion magazines look so great with all the other people involved in the photo shoots.

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  12. fabric epiphanies14 October 2015 at 20:07

    Oh yes I know what you mean! I photographed a pair of pants yesterday and they turned out so bad I think I may need to do it again!

    I like the colour of your new pants . The whole outfit goes very well together.

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    1. Sew, Jean Margaret14 October 2015 at 21:20

      Yes Andrea, I know just what you mean. I have had to redo photos too. The colour of my pants was an accident. I had ordered khaki green bengaline but I received this chocolate brown and I couldn't be bothered to send it back and complain. Brown is not a colour I usually wear, but I am warming to it.

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