par Max Donos Having teenagers at home is a whirlwind of emotions! They surprise you with their energy, creativity, and ever-evolving sense of style. This fall, my son came home with a desire for a trendy high-fashion look: relaxed silhouettes and earth tones in soft wools and corduroys. While the designer brands sparked inspiration, the price tags sent shivers down my spine! This became a perfect opportunity to tap into my love for sewing and Fabricville’s amazing selection of fabrics for a corduroy capsule wardrobe.
Sources of inspiration for this capsule wardrobe: Hermes, Fear of God and Moncler
Fabricville to the Rescue! Their winter collection offered a treasure trove of possibilities. We settled on luxurious cotton NOMAD corduroy in rich taupe and chocolate brown for the pants and complemented it with CHARLES brown cotton shirting for a potential shacket.
For the pants, I revisited a tried-and-true Burda pattern, adding some personal touches like back darts, flap pockets, and deep pleats for a comfortable fit. I also incorporated construction techniques from Roberto Cabrera’s « Classic Tailoring Techniques for Menswear » (2015) to ensure clean finishes on all the internal elements.
Flap pockets, elastic back waistband and belt loops for versatility
Deep pleats and slanted pockets
Coordinating stripe shirting for pocket bags and waistband
Hand sewn waistband
Clean finishing on internal elements
The padded vest was a bit of an adventure. I used a vintage 90s pattern from an Italian magazine that wasn’t designed for padding. To achieve a modern puffer look, I opted for a larger size and high-loft polyester fill. Looking back, I would have cut the vest a tad longer, but the shorter length complements the wider-leg pant trend.
Quilting lines marked and basted.
Vest collar finishing
Quilted lines running horizontally
Pocket opening finishing.
Internal view of the vest’s pocket. Very clean finish
Versatility was key! We planned for a hybrid shirt-jacket that could be layered throughout the fall. Drawing inspiration from a Hermes design, I chose a pattern from a vintage Spanish magazine. However, I underestimated the fabric needed for the project (a common beginner’s mistake!). With careful fabric matching and limited yardage, the sleeves ended up shorter than intended. Despite the size adjustment, the shacket boasts a variety of sewing techniques like matching plaids, lap seams, in-seam pockets, and slotted pockets. What’s more, it is an excellent compliment to this corduroy capsule wardrobe.
Collar and yoke finishing
Matching seams and checks at the zipper closure
Internal finishing
Internal chest pocket finishing
Chest pocket
Slotted pockets
The initial reaction to the shacket’s extreme oversize was met with laughter! But once paired with the pants, the look « grew » on my son. While the jury’s still out on how often he’ll wear it, this project is a testament to the joy of DIY fashion. And hey, if he doesn’t wear it, there’s a good chance I’ll « steal » it for myself!
photography courtesy of @a.d_produces
