Trends to Sew: A Better 'Aztec' Shirt for Lea

So Lea's collection has been released now, 

and I can innocently post pics of her outfits and stuff.

Innocently.

I swear.

Cough. Cough.

So we start with the Bahia Outfit.

That Lea got in Bahia.

Thrilling story, right?

The shoes and shorts aren't really anything to write home about.

At least the shorts are sort of a normal color that 

you could mix and match with other doll clothing 

items you might own.

(They are labeled as "chambray.")

The shirt however.

The shirt...

The shirt...

The shirt...

Is it just me or does this shirt look like it is crying?

Okay, first off -- you don't mix dip-dye fabric 

with this busy applique/iron-on thing.

You guys can argue with me all you want in the comments,

but this is my opinion and I'm sticking to it.

If one searches for dip-dyed shirts - this is what you get:

Shockingly! Shockingly! : There is nothing on top of the fabric, 

messing with the beautiful shifting colors.

Duh.

And whose idea was it to put pink and yellow together as a dip-dye?

Yuck.

And then the Aztec/tribal/geometric/abstract/whatever...

pattern on top of the dip-dye thing....

Well, you can search for all or 

any of those words...southwestern, geo, boho, etc. etc.

(I'm lumping all of these things together, not in a 'I'm trying to be racist and culturally insensitive'-way, but because a) most of these patterns don't really come from anything culturally-specific - they are at most, culturally-derivative, and also b) I'm not really sure what you would label Lea's shirt design as....)

The list goes on and on for possible labels - but while doing an online search you will rarely find something as hideous as Lea's shirt.

So try all-over patterned shirts instead.

Tank tops.

^^^ Nice contrast neckline and straps

Yells: "BEACH!!!"

^^^Check out those flouncy tassels!

Screams: "SUNSHINE!!!"

More tassels below!!!

And all-over patterning.

Or you could just use one simple color 

with an embroidered or applique pattern along the neckline.

^^^Simple, cheerful, bold, not ugly

Or you can go with peasant tops.

^^^They are very "in" right now.

And you can go the all-over pattern method, as seen above.

(But don't make a dip-dye peasant top.

I'll have to kill you.

I mean...Maple will have to kill you.

She's the fashion-assassin around here.)

More peasant tops...

^^^I especially like the tie/un-tie option on this one, 

and how it makes a beautiful V-necklne

^^^ There's something very visually pleasing about the embroidered 

pattern just being on top of the white or cream gauze fabric.

Right?

(Not on top of pink-yellow dip-dyed fabric...)

Short sleeve, slightly cropped peasant tops.

^^^ Notice how the banding of the fabric can really change the "weight" of the shirt from focused around the neckline and shoulders versus focused on the bottom hem and sleeve hems.

Experiment with different approaches!

And onto something a bit less peasanty.

^^^ Beautiful high-contrast designs.

Two different style shirts -- but both are way more appealing than this....

Even this bizarre combination of "Aztec" print on 

a bomber jacket appeals to me more than Lea's shirt.

Yes, Roxy made that ^^^ and you can buy it from PacSun right now for like 50% off.

Honestly, if I could pull it off, I would totally wear that.

(But I'm not cool enough.)

And I think it would be completely awesome to have it in doll-size.

But I think it would be awesome to have any of the above shirts in doll-size!

Alright, I think I'm done whining about Lea's shirt.....sigh. Siiiighhhh.

Siiiiiggghhhh.

________

Thanks for visiting us today friends!!!