Laura’s Chandlers Pants and Flor Top
I don’t know about you, but I am soooooo ready to shed the dark layers of winter clothing. I am pining for some poppy, spring colours to brighten my wardrobe and get me excited for the (hopefully!) warmer months ahead.
The luxury fabric this month is hard to describe just how absolutely stunning it is. It is so vibrant; the pink is almost neon that pops so beautifully against the blue background. These colours are just what I have been craving.
I have never made (or really thought about making) a special garment for Valentines Day, but the fabric is just calling out to be made into a cute, flirty little set. Not overly Valentines themed, but perfect for a date or a Springtime wedding guest outfit.
I am still absolutely loving the matching sets trend. It’s so much fun playing mix and match with different garments in my wardrobe and how versatile two items can be. So, when I am treated to 3.5 metres of fabric, another matching set it is!
I continued with the trousers and a top theme and went with the Untitled Thoughts Chandler trousers paired with the Bella Loves Patterns Flor top.
The fabric has such gorgeous drape, it was perfect for a pair of pants that had a soft silhouette, elastic backed for comfort, but I could still wear with a belt for a more tailored look. And I just fell in love with the ginormous frills of the Flor top that I think just epitomises the flirty vibe.
As the fabric is quite light weight with a busy print, I omitted the faux fly front and cut for a flat front. The pattern also offers the choice of either pleats or darts on the front – I decided on the pleats as I wanted a softer, romantic look.
The trousers were very straightforward to construct. There is no front waistband, instead the front is finished with a facing. I find this a particularly flattering cut on me, especially for the days at the end of the month I’m feeling a bit bloated as there is nothing cutting into my middle and the fabric just skims without accentuating anything I don’t want to.
I did find the trousers a little oversized for me. I was in between two sizes so I opted for the size up to emphasise the floaty style I was after, but in hindsight I should have sized down. Luckily, I could cinch just enough in with the elastic back to make them fit at the waist and still get them on without having to put in a side zip (this is suggested by the pattern if you have a considerable waist to hip ratio). Of course, the pattern also has belt loops that you can add on so can wear with a belt to keep them drooping!
The leg length is also very long. For reference, I am 5’4” and I have very rarely had to shorten patterns before, but these needed a good 2” taking off in addition to the 1” SA for the hem. In complete fairness to the pattern however, they did clearly state in the instructions that the pattern is drafted for someone who is 5’8”, and pattern piece itself has marked points for the hip, knee, thigh, and calf, plus 3 different lengthen/shorten lines to get the right proportionate fit as the pattern is designed.
So, I was completely at fault for cutting corners and making them straight out of the packet. I want to make these again and will be taking the extra time and care to get the fit right.
For the Flor top, this was my first time trying anything from Bella Loves Patterns and it will definitely not be my last. I found the whole experience very enjoyable; the construction and instructions all felt very thoughtful and well-considered, and the finish was wonderfully neat.
Knowing how notorious wrap style tops are to fit on me, I really should have made a toile. But time was against me, so I just dived straight in. Disappointingly (but expectedly) the fit across the bust was not good. A whole of indecent gaping. My saving grace was the addition of a small snap at the critical point that made it fall much nicer… and safer!
So even with my slight fitting issues, I really love the finished pieces. They look so cute together and exactly how I envisioned it. I am looking forward to mixing these with other items in my wardrobe.