This kimono-style jacket is Simplicity 1318, and the fabric is from marcytilton.com. The edging fabric and the shell (self-drafted pattern) fabric are from an independent local fabric store. This is the outfit I wore to Naples, where the temps were in the 80's. The main fabric behaved beautifully, but the solid black must have contained some rayon, as it is pilling.
This is still one of my favorite tops. The fabric is from a locally-owned fabric store (rare!), and the pattern, Vogue 8636, has become a TNT (Tried and True). The fabric is a tissue knit, labeled cotton, but now having gone on two trips, it too has started to pill a little bit. I am starting to doubt all labels, and have vowed to do the "burn" test more often.
Here's what I wear out and about during the fall. Days are crisp in the mornings, warming up in the middle of the day. I wear layers, and carry a bag big enough to stash the top layer in when I take it off. Here's the animal print sweater coat I made from emmaonesock's online-fabric store. It's lightweight and fits well into a suitcase.
Here are two of the primary pieces for the original capsule, a jacket and pants. The fabrics are rayon/poly ponte from Marcy Tilton. The jacket is Simplicity 2229 and the pants are Vogue 8929. I particularly love the pockets in the pants, the perfect size for a passport and a small money purse.
So many times I have been asked to give up my purse when entering a museum. Since I panic when being separated from my passport, credit cards and cash, keeping them on me seems the obvious solution. Next time I'll add pockets to the jacket too.
Now that I have worn this outfit on two trips to Italy, I am more able to offer my reviews than when they first came off the sewing table. First of all, the concept of the capsule wardrobe is unbeatable. Secondly, the pockets, of course. Thirdly, I am disappointed in the ponte. While it traveled well, it shrank slightly, even though I have only dry cleaned it. And it is beginning to pill, which I hate. More, much more, later, on rayon, the culprit.
