It’s the first of the 2016 Burda magazines! Burda have been really hit and miss for me in 2015, but let’s take a peek inside and see what the future may hold…
On the left, we’ve got a slightly odd “dress that looks like separates” with a nice cowl back. Only thing is that there’s an extra layer underneath the cowl, which just kinda makes it look frumpy. On the right we see a casual sweatshirt cape that a lot of sewists have been going nuts over, but to me it just looks like it would be cold with that massive open bottom. Something more close fitting and longer like Paprika Patterns’ Zircon sweatshirt dress would be much warmer IMHO.
Burda are really getting into this separates-as-a-dress thing, as we see the top and skirt seen in this dress later in the issue as separates, too. Though in my opinion, they actually work better together as a dress. And on the right we’ve got another oversize sweatshirt, this time with an asymmetric bit of gathering at the hem.
Hands up who read this as “pizza” at first?? The dress is a nice enough design, but I feel like I’ve seen it a thousand times before. Again, it’d be a nice, flattering make, but nothing that excites me personally.
This gathered, jersey skirt has the special colour illustrated instructions this month, and it looks really comfortable if it’s your style. I couldn’t believe it when I saw that it calls for an invisible zipper though!! Seriously, WHAT?? Jersey stretches, people! There is no need.
No designer patterns this month, but we do get a vintage 1950s reissue pattern – this is a nice enough sheath dress with waist shaping and a concealed front placket. It’s definitely a conservative design with the long sleeves, long hem and high neck, but I like that it’s a silhouette you don’t usually associate with the 50s.
The Plus section was a bit lacklustre this month, but I mostly liked the top because of the cityscape digital print fabric! The trousers, on the other hand, are awesome! Great seaming with front and back leg seams to make for easier fitting, plus a side panel, pockets, and even some lower leg seaming too. I’d be all over this is if was in my size range!!
This was also the issue with the carnival costumes, which can sometimes be utterly bonkers (I’ll never forget you, crazy recycled water bottle lady! Nor you, human centipede, or off-brand Bat Person Superhero!), but this year it was just kids patterns and they were actually pretty normal. I even dressed up as a ladybird (lady bug) one year myself, so I can’t even really make fun of these.