A Zippy Jacket

I bought this fabric  from Emma One Sock a few years ago . It is a medium weight denim with a little cross way stretch . It has an allover embroidered pattern of flowers a leaves. I felt that there was a risk of it looking a bit fussy and pretty for my taste and look so I decided it needed zippers and so I used some Burda pics and another denim jacket by MEL which  I bought years ago to inspire my design. I have a large bust and always feel annoyed by the tent like effect which can be the result of doing an FBA without doing some shaping below the bust . This was particularly true of using denim which even after washing was a bit stiff . This might have been because of the embroidery?
To deal with this I decided to use my bodice blocks to make a princess line jacket and to get some shaping in via the princess seam. I did this and then found I wanted still more shape so added in the vertical tucks which run into the waistband and release under the bust.
The back has a yoke and a centre back seam. The sleeve is a normal jacket sleeve with a zippered vent and a fold back cuff which has a flare in it. I decided that the front needed some more red so added a strip of cotton braid to the welt pockets.
I will wear this with Black cotton pants and a red cotton shirt which in the pipeline. I always find it difficult to layer garments . How layered necklines and hemlines go together is an issue I often ponder on.
Its easy to do it OK but hard to do it really well I think Any secrets I should know about out there??

Chelos Tunic

This is my latest project . A tunic made with a self drafted pattern. I took inspiration from the design of the Swiss Voile which is from the 1960s and decided to make something which didn't cut up the design too much and was in keeping with the "look " of the era. The fabric was given to me by my friend Chelo who worked in fashion industry for many years . She had her own label and deigned and made all her own patterns as well as making up herself with the help of a small staff . In chatting with her she was telling me that she graduated from the Couture school set up by the Haute Couture Houses in Paris and that she was handed her graduation certificate by one Coco Chanel!! Chelo has now retired and has offered to teach me some of what she knows each Tuesday morning . I will be doing exercise which she will devise . I will take my trusty camera and take note so dear reader you may also benefit from this rare privilege am offered.
This is my first blog entry and I am learning how to integrate photographs so be patient