Burda Style For people who sew

Hello BurdaStyle members, it is time for me to say goodbye, as BurdaStyle faces structural changes, I will no longer be the Creative Director and Editor of the website. I have been a part of the team intermittently since 2007 and it has been such a fruitful experience. I’ve created a bit of a retrospective of my favorite projects and experiences and would like to bid you farewell…

Rebecca Turbow is not only one of my best friends in the world, she’s also a designer, a DJ, this week’s Project of the Week model, a past BurdaStyle employee, and a wildly talented young lady. She designed some jersey patterns for McCall’s Next Generation label that are a bit athletic, totally wearable and very sweet—thre’s also a cape pattern to die for. And they happen to be on sale right now!

Coats? Check. Dresses? Check. Skirts? Check. We’ve got you covered. Read on the get the patterns…

It’s a moment many girls have dreamed of their entire lives; or it happens by chance; or love just simply inspired you to have one: a wedding. A public display of promising love. It can get pretty sappy, but there’s one aspect of weddings I adore: the gowns. Check out these stunning, inspiring + exciting ideas…

Cristóbal Balenciaga Eizaguirre was born in the Basque region of Spain in 1895. Like many of us, his mother was a seamstress and he learned the ins and outs of sewing and design from watching her at work. At the ripe young age of 12, he apprenticed for a tailor which led to the introduction to the Marchioness de Casa Torres— who soon became his patroness (what a fairy tale!), who sent him to design school in Madrid as a teenager and was to become his first customer. Read on for dozens of sketches and designs!

Whether homemade or store bought, do clothes tend to fit you well? If you’re like me, chances are you’ve had countless occasions in life where you’ve fallen in love with a gorgeous dress only to find that the fit is totally off. Or you’ve excitedly cut into your precious cloth with a sewing pattern you adore only to find there’s no way in the world the design is ever going to fit. That’s why we sew, I gather, to try to achieve perfection in fit and style, but there will always be those alterations which need to be done in order to achieve that close-to-perfect (if not flawless) fit. But there’s hope! Read on…

I once wrote an article on Which Fashion Era Are You and learned that a ton of our members adore the 30s and 40s, as do I. Today let’s get inspired by the infamous fashion house of Madame Grès and some stunning fashion photographers from her time. Read on…

Whether you are or are not familiar with artist Sonia Delaunay (November 14, 1885 – December 5, 1979), you are in for a treat. A forerunner of the Orphism Movement, Delaunay’s body of work spans from paintings in bright, bold Cubist colors to textile and set design. Thanks to the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, who recently housed a Delaunay exhibit, we can show those who can’t come to New York City an insider’s view of the retrospective!

Over the last couple of seasons I’ve noticed a lot of old-world crafts and handiwork incorporated into fashion. I appreciate that designers are leaning in the direction of clothing which appears to have been touched and delicately cared for by human hands. Do you incorporate any crafts into sewing? Like beading, crochet, or applique? Read on to see some beautiful examples of these techniques…

Trends. There are new trends each season, and sometimes we see things on the runways that just makes us utter aloud “Is that fashion? Would people really wear that in real life?” Sometimes a designer uses the runway as a prop— to parade down ensembles that are more fantastic than realistic just to make a splash. I want to hear your opinions of some of these questionable trends— read on + speak up!

Flatforms, platforms, wedges— are you for or against them? What do you think about the word "flatform?

The clock is ticking, I have something like 126 days until my wedding and I couldn’t be more calm. Maybe it’s all of the lavender I’ve been smelling, as I want to use it for table arrangements, it’s said to relax and calm you. I’m still making mood boards for my gown. I now plan to make two: a long, filmy ceremony gown, and a party dress that still says “bride”. Check out my latest inspiration from the 20s, 30s and 40s….

Designers say that they are often inspired by fabrics, which will then ignite an idea for a design. I must admit this happens to me quite often, when I’m perusing a fabric shop or swatch book, ideas pop into my mind inspired by the fabrics themselves. How do you begin you design process?

I mused today over braiding my hair with strips of printed fabric, as is the current trend, and upon researching this look I found some amazing photos of runway-ready hairdos that incorporate fabric, ribbon, lace and beading into the looks. Read on to see the glamour shots!