Dear Wonderful & Amazing Quilter, March is the month we celebrate you! Your brave, creative spirit. Your passion for the art of quilting and piecing. Your dedication to fine fabrics and modern block designs. The innovation and passion you show as you delight in making each quilt your very own. But today I’d like to invite you to step outside the borders of your quilt for a moment and absorb a little inspiration from a trend in the world of fashion. Find a comfy chair, settle in with a latte or a cup of soothing tea and take a long, slow breath. You see, my deepest passion in sewing is for clothing, fashion and wearable art. I know quilters do not often cross-over into the world of sewing clothing, but have you noticed how much piecing (they call it color blocking), patchwork (they call it Bohemian) and quilting (they call it puffy) you see in modern fashions? Come along with me. I’ve prepared a gentle Quilted Fashion journey, I know you will love! Fashion often refers to quilted jackets as puffy, but . . . Quilting on a jacket can also be a sleek, striking accent or . . . The detailing that makes it chic. And, then again . . . Quilting can be just playful, bold and fun. Or it can be classic . . . And set a standard for all the world. The classic, yet updated Chanel handbag will never, never go out of style. Do you think Coco was a quilter? Are there other’s out there in the land of accessories . . . Like this bit of Modern piecing from Rag and Bone and , , , A fabulous strip pieced Prada tote. But piecing doesn’t have to be just for totes and handbags . . . Fabulous dresses are pieced and stand on their own and . . . Handkerchief hem sundresses with coordinating jackets are pieced and fashionable from Jean Paul Gaultier this year. Along with . . . Jean Paul’s artfully inspired jackets. For another look . . . Neiman Marcus pieced suede into a stunning vest. And as Spring creeps around the corner, you may want . . . A monochromatic styling from designer Johnny Was or maybe . . . Johnny’s vintage piecing is more your style. But, again, there’s just nothing like . . . Chanel! Karl Lagerfeld’s designs for Chanel’s 2016 Resort Show are full of patchwork inspiration. Would you like to see more? Click here to view the slides from the show. They’re pretty amazing! And, if you’ve enjoyed our journey, you may also enjoy walking through The Inspired Trend Addict Blog. Click here. So, think about this. Maybe you could sew clothing. Maybe you could use your quilting and piecing skills to embellish or upcycle something you already own. And, maybe, just maybe, you could find inspiration for a quilt in a fabulous piece of Quilted Fashion clothing!
