In 2001, my family and I took a cruise to the Caribbean which left from Miami. I happened to see a Lilly store in Miami the night before our cruise left and I was smitten. I love color and clothing doesn’t get more colorful than Lilly Pulitzer. I have loved their garments ever since. When I had my 50th birthday party 10 years ago, it was the same year that the Lilly Pulitzer company tuned 50 so I threw a green and pink Lilly Pullitzer themed party. From there my obsession with Lilly Pulitzer continued, and I have purchased a number of pieces of Lilly fabric over the years.
I was in Florida in August and found a copy of the Lilly Pulitzer book published by Assoulin. The book is the ultimate inspiration for all fans of Lilly Pulitzer. It is filled with magnificent photos of her tunics and shift dresses as well has her very interesting life story and how her business began in Palm Beach. The styles are timeless and can be recreated today. I also visited her Flagship store in Palm Beach which is just as I would have imagined a Lilly store to be. Bright, colorful and happy.
I was in Florida in August and found a copy of the Lilly Pulitzer book published by Assoulin. The book is the ultimate inspiration for all fans of Lilly Pulitzer. It is filled with magnificent photos of her tunics and shift dresses as well has her very interesting life story and how her business began in Palm Beach. The styles are timeless and can be recreated today. I also visited her Flagship store in Palm Beach which is just as I would have imagined a Lilly store to be. Bright, colorful and happy.
I cut this tunic out over a year ago and it then got stuffed in a bag and into the unfinished pile - as all sewers can relate to and know that it is impossible to just work on one garment at a time. By the time I finished cutting the tunic out, I was already thinking about the next project and so it goes. When I knew I was going to Cape Town and that it would be summer there, I decided to finish it to wear. I used an OOP Simplicity Pattern 2584 for the placket pattern.
I lined the placket piece so that I could get perfect curves. In the pattern, they use a single piece and turn the edges in. I did not think that method would give me perfect curves, so for the body of the tunic, I used my TNT tunic pattern from the Tunic Bible. Which is definitely my Bible and reference when I am sewing tunics. I changed the sleeves and added a contrast band to match the contrasting placket. This has become one of my favorite tunics. There is definitely another Lilly tunic coming off my sewing machine soon. Unfortunately the tunic will have to be put back in the closet till summer as it is freezing in Chicago.
I recently wore the tunic to the meetup of Instagram sewers from Cape Town. My friend Karen so generously opened up her home and hosted us all and fed us a wonderful dinner. I gave all the ladies a copy of the new wonderful book, A Stylish Guide to Classic Sewing. We exchanged ideas and I was given names of the fabric stores in Cape Town which of course I had to visit and managed to purchase some wonderful pieces of fabrics and trims. I hope to meet up with them soon. Either back in Cape Town or when they visit New York, so I can take them to all the wonderful fabric stores there.
I wish all my sewing friends and followers a wonderful Holiday season. I hope you find lots of sewing related gifts under your Christmas tree or for one of the eight days of Chanukah!
Until next time Happy Sewing!
Until next time Happy Sewing!