Esther’s Winslow Culottes

Using the beautiful Atelier Brunette viscose twill from Septembers Luxury Box Esther made a pair of Helen’s Closet Winslow Culottes.

Whenever I get the Luxury box, I think of making a dress. I just always feel that a dress is the best thing to show off the fabric. And this time was no different, as soon as I saw the fabric, I thought, ‘I’m going to make a dress’. In fact I had a dress in mind. I was going to make the Deer and Doe Myosotis dress.

Over the course of the summer, I learnt my wardrobe is filled with clothes that are fitted around the waist and don’t really allow for weight fluctuations. In truth, that’s my style and my preferred way to dress. But when it’s 28 degrees outside and you have been eating takeaways all month because you moved house, you don’t really want to be wearing a fitted dress. Hence, my desire to make the Myosotis dress.

However, I like making the longer length Myosotis with the frilled hem and waist ties. And I was worried I may not have enough fabric. So I decided to make something that would align with my plan to have a garment that was appropriate for the warmer weather as well as would work with body changes. The next thing that came to mind were elastic waist trousers. The more I considered it though, the more I realised my preference was a flat front waist with elastic in the back. That way, you have business in front and comfort at the back.

As I was thinking about what pattern would work for this garment, I had a lightbulb moment and realised that there were instructions for a hack of the Helen’s Closet Winslow culottes that fit exactly what I wanted. The Winslow culottes are an old favourite of mine. I’ve made them a few times but I never got to actually wear them out – I made them during lockdown and my body changed so much that I could never wear them.

I got a sneak peak of this fabric before it was sent and the pictures and description on the website could not prepare me for this fabric. It’s a viscose twill which makes it so buttery (ha ha, the only way I can describe it). It has a lovely drape so it works perfectly for the Winslows as they have a lot of volume. The fabric was a dream to press. I find it so satisfying when a fabric takes to pressing beautifully.

The Winslow culottes are an easy make. The instructions to make them with elastic back were very clear and easy to understand. The trousers come together very quickly and they are very easy to fit. I added some length to the hem just because I like trousers just a bit longer.

I love the trousers and the elastic in the back make them very comfortable. I think the elastic I used is too wide so I’ll swap that for something smaller. Apart from that, I love these trousers so much and I think they will be great for layering as it gets colder.