Design Lessons from Play Wonder Part Three

Hola!

So we got some good poll ideas and "questions for us" from our last blog post -- but feel free to keep 'em coming -- we'll post the answers and the polls soon, but not for a couple more days. So you still have time to comment on that blog post: http://thedollwardrobe.blogspot.com/2012/06/questions-for-you-questions-for-us.html

Today we return to the Target Play Wonder doll clothing we purchased recently

and Maple ties it into her "Trends to Sew" posts.

So this is Maple here. Whattup peoples.

Warning: Longish Post.

Arista and Kenna are modeling the previously-discussed outfits for us (see Part Two), with two additions -- the jean jacket and the tan hooded vest. We actually turned the vest inside out and used the purple striped side. (We liked how it looked better, haha.)

Things to note for design purposes

1) Don't mess up the jean jacket. 

It is apparently easy to do. This one has little structure and detail. 

All it really has going for it is the denim flower. Which might have been awesome if it hadn't been so huge.

Light blue denim is actually "back" so this color should work, but it doesn't because it is low-quality faux denim that doesn't do the job.

We actually own Liberty Jane's Founder's Day jean jacket pictured below -- so we know a good doll-sized jean jacket is possible (though this one was not "inexpensive").

Check out these human examples for sewing inspiration. Hopefully Cinnamon will release a jean jacket pattern for y'alls soon, and you can start experimenting with this classic fashion staple yourself.

Madewell's Goldrush jacket

Old Navy

Urban Outfitters

Fashionista Jean Jackets from Yes Style

Our favoritest-est-est jacket eva

We want to order this one so badly....

And then rule the world!!!

And we also want to order the guy pictured in this jean jacket....

We don't need to order the clothing (though they are super-cool). 

Just the guy....

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2) Vests are difficult. 

They are like the Advanced Biochemistry of the Fashion World. 

Many clothing companies just make dress vests for men only and stay away from female vests. They are challenging. You have to go trendy or just go home.

This item doesn't work very well. 

The stripes help it to be quirky, but the shape and design don't do the doll any favors.

Look to Urban Outfitters for youthful trendy ideas.

Patchwork denim

Steal the men's dress vest, just cut it for a woman

Crochet it up baby!

Talk about a dramatic look

And trot on over to Nordstrom's Juniors department for 

a jean jacket/vest combo style that can really pull an outfit together.

But don't do what Play Wonder did. :'-(

Fashionista Vests from Yes Style

And because we couldn't resist adding him in....

My Korean boyfriend sporting a man's manly vest.

Can't you see the desperate look on his face?

"Where's Maple???" he is thinking, "She is going to be late for our date tonight!"

Though he would be thinking that in Korean, of course....

A girl can dream, can't she?

_________________

We recommend trying these doll-sized patterns to attain your vestie dreams:

The Cascade Vest over at Liberty Jane Clothing

http://www.libertyjanepatterns.com/2011/10/cascade-vest-and-jacket-pattern.html

LJC also has several other vest patterns available.

And at All Dolled Up: Sarah's Vest, available as a sold item and as a pattern

http://www.alldolledup-dollclothes.com/patterns.html

Okay, that's the end of today's Design Lesson.

Come back next time for some blog post on something awesome from someone..... oh wait, from us. Yes. Come back soon for something awesome from us,
here at The Doll Wardrobe Blog. ;-)

Kenna's Cardi and Ninjago Legos

(Activity Three photos were posted yesterday.

Please check those out and vote for your favs on or before March 11th. )

We wrap up our "Week of Kenna" today as we are prepping the "Week of Maple."

Kenna wanted to show off her Ninjago Lego items that she got from Penny for her birthday (which was last month). Kenna still hasn't found one of the girls here who wants to play Legos with her, but I am sure she will eventually. There are a lot of girls to meet here in Badger's Wood, and she's only been here for a little while.

Kenna's cardigan is from Etsy seller Knitted by Hand, and her tank top and jeans are from Liberty Jane Clothing.

We highly recommend Knitted by Hand's sweaters - they are very well-made, have a perfect, modern fit, and they are not super expensive. Most of them are priced about $24.50. You may be thinking "I can get a whole AG outfit for that!" But for a hand-knit doll sweater others are asking much, much more. So $24.50 is actually pretty good given the amount of work it takes to make one of these!

Kenna's birthday loot includes Lego Ninjago figure sets, playing cards, and books - including the Official Guide and a graphic novel. I told her there was also a Ninjago TV show, and she was pretty excited.

I have to admit, Legos look like fun. If Kenna doesn't find a fellow Legomaniac soon, I might become one myself. ;-)

Enjoy zee pics!
(We arranged the sweater in various ways throughout the photos, fyi.)

Thanks for visiting us today!

Kenna was super-excited to share her gifts with you. :-)

Stay tuned for more bloggy awesomeness!

Kenna's Rain Gear

Whattup peoples. The Week of Kenna continues. :-)

Today she shows off McKenna's rain gear - which is really just an umbrella and rain boots. No rain coat or anything like that required... in Seattle....Oh well.

If you are looking for an expensive doll umbrella and boots set - you have found it. ;-)

The boots should be bolder and more vivid - but the fabric is stretched inside the boots and loses its vibrancy. You can see in the pic below what the fabric should look like - look at the unstretched-out fabric inside the boot.

And here you can see how the fabric is stretched out. :-( 

AG really should have created these boots in a better manner.
They look "washed out" because of this fabric issue.
And as you see, as an extra insult, the fabric becomes see-through and the tag is visible.
Boo.

The umbrella is an umbrella. Not much really to say. It has a strap so your doll can hold it.

And two dolls can kinda fit under it for sharing purposes.

It is cute. But an umbrella with dots could have been pulled off better to look more fashionable.
For instance, the brown on brown dotted umbrella, and the brown and white dotted boots you see below. These would have been awesomeness in doll-scale.

But AG likes to think/say it isn't "fashion-forward" - 

And so we are stuck with McKenna's theme colors of green and purple.

:-/

Also appearing in this post is CeCe wearing McKenna's school sweater and skirt.

Her socks are from Aunt Bees Old Sew n Sew.

Her shoes are AG.

Kenna is wearing the same Ebay dress as the last post.

CeCe's hair has been re-styled via finger-curling after her various intro hairstyles we showed you. So that is proof that her hair can go back to its original style with some work after playing with it, just fyi. It may look a bit more frizzy at the tips, but we think it is pretty cute. :-)

Thanks for visiting us today!


Activity Three Pics will be posted soon, once we are done organizing them. :-)