Trapeze Tunic, similar to my slip dresses

TRAPEZE TUNIC in black cotton stripes

Over the past few years, I have created quite a number of slip dresses with adjustable, tie-any-which-a-way straps.  If you look around my Etsy shop you are sure to find a number of slip dresses, any of which could give you ideas for your own Dream Slip Dress.  And I would LOVE to make one for you on a custom basis, to fit your own style and shape!

This time, I am showing off my TUNIC-length version of the slip dress.  My black cotton-with-stripes tunic is about 28" from the top of the shoulder to the hem edge.  In the photos, I am showing the trapeze tunic with the V-neck in back, but the V can be worn in front just as nicely.

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Dark Ocean Blue Silk Top

Time for a new top?

I'd love to make some version of this beautiful top for you, on a custom basis.  I may be able to obtain more of this very fabric in dark ocean blue; there are uncountable various alternative fabrics as well.  Please contact me to initiate the process.  I am eager to make your custom top and will do so with your direction at every step.

You may contact me via my Etsy shop.

I provide care for the clothes you ALREADY own!

So many reasons to LET ME REMODEL THE GARMENTS YOU ALREADY OWN. I love all sorts of repair, alteration, re-sizing, and transformation projects, and after reading the attached article, I am going to enjoy economical garment rehabilitation even more! Please contact me from anywhere around the world about remodeling your too-small, too-large, damaged, and in-need-of-update garments. KathleenTempleTailor [at] gmail.com

https://www.businessinsider.sg/fast-fashion-environmental-impact-pollution-emissions-waste-water-2019-10/?fbclid=IwAR3Jflr8PcVrWIOV496SGgoLXiYEA_r1TvaWbNQUtpGtlIZ_eKQm7wJ7QEA#.XbsmNQPvsLp.facebook

Glad Legacy

Ever had this convo?

Mother: "Oh look sweetie, your grandmother's wool skirts! They'll fit you perfectly! She'd be sooo happy to know that you'll wear them now. How speeecial! Try them on!"

Daughter: "Oh. (gulp, eye roll) How ... nice."

I have. Sometimes what's precious to one generation, is truthfully only precious to that one generation.

A client recently brought us three wool skirts made from the family tartan design. After a bit of cutting and sewing, these skirts emerged as Christmas stockings. A charming re-purposing of a legacy gift! (For the record, this client's wool intolerance is the real reason behind the re-purposing of the skirts.)

At the studio today, we're thinking about all kinds of re-purposing possibilities.

A childhood blankie into a pillow?

A moth holed linen table cloth into everyday napkins?

Silk handkerchiefs into a sassy halter-top?

An old wool jacket into a stylish baseball cap?

A doily into a sexy bikini?

What can we help you re-imagine?

See our Etsy Shop at Kathleen Temple, Tailor
kathleenTempleTailor@gmail.com 

Then something happened

one + one = three

Really? Yes, we are professional tailors and we know math. Garment math. Seriously, it's a thing.

The story begins with two identical pairs of men’s dependable, hard-working pocket pants. 

After years of faithful service, a blotchy blue stain appeared. The knees were worn. Repeated hot washing and drying resulted in a bit of shrinkage. The owner cast them into the "give-away" bin.

Sad!

The pants had been washed and worn into a such a comfortable state of being ...

front

Then something happened. 

With a bit of addition and subtraction, the two pair of straight legged men's pants became one woman’s casual A-line skirt, with a touch of elastic to snug in the waist, and a front slit with matching topstitching.

back

"pocket" bags

And two playful shoulder bags for a couple of stylish school girls. 

Thankfully, advanced math wasn't necessary. But this is proof that just about anything can be recycled into a new life.

(No pockets were harmed in the transformation of these pants. In fact, almost everything from the original pants was used in the skirt and shoulder bags, or will be reused in other projects. Reuse, recycle, reduce ...)

What’s in your give-away bin?

Let us help you with some garment math!

See our Etsy Shop at Kathleen Temple, Tailor
kathleenTempleTailor@gmail.com 

Re-Model and Re-Love

We have a long time client who is super tall. Barefooted I think she’s about 6’3” (and she loves wearing heels, which puts her north of 6'6"). Recently she fell in love with a sundress. It floats, it’s silky, it’s all about casual summer beauty. And it’s about 9” too short for her. So, she bought two of them. Crazy, eh? Not at all.

We've suggested this idea many times over the years.

        We harvested fabric from one dress to add the necessary length to the other dress. The flouncy hem mirrors the neckline flounce. Now she has a remodeled dress that looks like it was designed that way from the beginning!






Another client found the dress of her dreams for her wedding. 

Hallelujah! Conundrum!

Her mother had saved her own wedding dress in the hopes that one day her daughter would wear it. Sweet, sentimental. 

Quick thinking, the bride suggested wearing her mother’s dress to the rehearsal dinner. Whew!

But the dress was a bit dated for her taste. Could we help her out?

Tailors are problem solvers at heart. To update this gown, we replaced the tulle sleeves with spaghetti straps, removed the waist sash, and added a thigh high slit to the skirt.

There may be other wedding catastrophes, but this isn’t one of them.

   

          

We'd love to help you remodel your garments. Please get in touch!

See our Etsy Shop at Kathleen Temple, Tailor
kathleenTempleTailor@gmail.com 

Silk Knit Poncho

Spring weather can be unpredictable. Summer too, depending on where you live.


Our client thought it might be a little on the cool side. To ward off the chill, we crafted this sumptuous silk knit poncho in magenta. Lightweight and drapey. Pair it with a dress, or skirt, or jeans. This poncho has super power!

The style is so loved by this client, that she requested a second poncho in white silk knit. They look wonderful worn individually or worn layered together as they're pictured here.

The estimated cost for a poncho like this is about $80; but a less expensive fabric could reduce the cost significantly.

The photos below illustrate some options with different fabrics.

Can we make a poncho for you?

For poncho like this, click!


See our Etsy Shop at Kathleen Temple, Tailor
kathleenTempleTailor@gmail.com







A woven fabric has a structured drape:

This open weave sweater knit drapes softly -- while showing off the under layer: