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....

_____________________________

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. ;-)

Design Lessons from Play Wonder Part Two

Just FYI -- we'll be traveling for awhile in the coming weeks -- so we probably won't have any new blog posts during that time. But it will only be a brief hiatus. 

Also, we'll start a new photo contest (a small one) when we return with a $20 AG gift card as a prize. :-)

In the last "Design Lessons from Play Wonder" post we showed you all the items laid out from the three outfits. Today Arista and Kenna are showing you some of those pieces mixed and matched together. It was fun to mix florals and stripes for Kenna's outfit, and Arista's floral tank top and denim capris combo is perfect for late spring/early summer. And also, we liked experimenting with how belts looked with the outfits. Yay for belts!

So......The capris just barely fit Arista as we previously stated, but they work okay for photo shoots. The sizing is mostly alright -- just the waistline is too tight. We guess Play Wonder dolls don't really have rumps. Also, the ruffles skirt is very tight on Kenna, but we managed to get it on her. 

The white fishnets are not quite pulled up all the way and they are bunched a bit around her ankle area. So Play Wonder leggings will work well on AGs, but not the tights that start at the feeties. Hopefully that makes sense. The tights are not long enough and wide enough to make it past her calves.

But in general, our girls look pretty good.

Once we return from our voyage we'll have more looks from these three Play Wonder outfits, the continuation of Needa and Nichelle's story, and a lot more fun stuff!! 

Stay tuned friends!!

Design Lessons from Play Wonder Part One

One of our posts about the Target Play Wonder doll line is actually quite popular. 

Who would have guessed? 

So we decided to go out and get three of their newest outfits and do a little investigative reporting for y'alls.

What does that mean?

Well, we'll talk about fit, quality, and design. And we'll pay special attention to neat things we think seamstresses should try out for their handmade doll clothing, as well as things that we think they should avoid doing.

So it will be a series of tips, advice, do's and don'ts all connected to these three Play Wonder doll outfits from Target.  We hope it will be useful!

(We are also marking this under "Trends to Sew," fyi.)

For Part One we'll just show you the outfits laid out, so we can discuss the different pieces briefly, and we'll show you the Play Wonder tags for the outfits. They show you each item that comes with the outfit and two possible ways to "style" it on your doll.

First Outfit:

Things that impress us about the first outfit:

1) Applique tunic top (with heart)

2) Shredded graphic crop top

3) Reversible skirt with bow

4) Striped headband that can also be a belt

5) Twistable layered scarf that can be also be used as headband

6) "Canvas" cargo Nehru-esque jacket with little pockets and tabbed cuffs

Things that don't impress us 100%:

1) Leggings/cropped tights are just "okay" as far as quality

2) Pink shirt is made of very thin fabric - we know that is the point of modern shirts but this one just looks kinda cheap

3) Skirt doesn't fit around the AGs waist (bummer)

4) Jacket features velcro circles instead of snaps or buttons (you'll see shots of this soon) - and the velcro catches on everything

5) Jacket is not lined

6) Jacket doesn't really fit AGs very well

7) Scarf is rather puffy and never lays flat

__________

Second Outfit:

Things that impress us about the second outfit:

1) Sharkbite hem on tank top

2) Tiny striped fabrics used for tank, scarves, and shirt

3) Floral cuffs on the jean capris

4) Capris are lined with nylon so they slide onto the dolls easier and 

it protects their vinyl from the dark fabrics

5) Fabric cuff bracelet with lace bow

6) Hooded vest that is lined

Things that don't impress us 100%:

1) Top doesn't really have a well-finished neckline

2) Vest has printed gold "buttons" on the pocket tabs

3) Vest's lining is a better-quality fabric than the "outside"

4) Capris barely fit the AGs

__________________________

Third Outfit:

Things that impress us about the third outfit:

1) Tiny striped fabric of the short-sleeve top

2) Cropped jean jacket with floral embellishment

3) Inclusion of 3 belts/ headbands

4) Style of the clutch (size and shape)

5) Tiered floral ruffle skirt

6) Reversible bodice top - ingeniously simple design and looks great on the dolls

7) White fishnet tights

Things that don't impress us 100%:

1) Neckline of short-sleeve top is finished, but in a clunky, non-trendy way - we don't like neckline ribbing unless it is a baseball-style shirt

2) Jean jacket feels quite cheap and isn't lined

3) Some of the belts are rather flashy

4) The clutch fabrics don't really "go" with the rest of the outfit - black and white leopard print? really?

5) Ruffle skirt is built on a very tight, thin cotton that does not give at all.
Could barely get it on the AGs.

6) White fishnets were very tight and we weren't able to pull them all the way up to the AGs waistline. 

Obviously the Play Wonder dolls are simply slimmer in the legs and waist than the AGs.

_________________

Part Two will feature Arista and Kenna modeling some of the pieces 

mix and matched together.

Feel free to ask any questions you may have. :-)

Stay tuned for more bloggy goodness!