My bestie Pip recently travelled to Belgium for a pre-Christmas trip round the markets and spotted this for me on her way back through Eurotunnel Calais (the WH Smiths on the Calais side regularly stocks La Maison Victor, which is handy if you’ve got friends or family who regularly travel through there). This is their holiday issue but there are a surprising amount of casual patterns included, too.
First up, this is my absolute favourite pattern in this issue – check out the back on this dress!! It’s actually a really simple effect to sew, too, with two deep pleats in back and a simple hook and eye at the neckline. The front is very plain (wisely leaving the interest to the back) and the dress has an overall shape which is very trendy right now. Plus it’s offered up to size 56, and the silhouette would lend itself to disguising a few extra holiday mince pies, too.
LMV always include as many boys patterns as they do for girls, though this sweet little hoodie could easily work for either gender, depending on your fabric choice. (The men’s pattern this month is just a boring waistcoat).
Chessie is a cropped, dolman sleeved sweatshirt with ribbon detail on either shoulder, and they paired it with the knit pencil skirt for most of their photoshoots, where it just. looks. amazing! I don’t deal well with midriff-baring styles, but I am definitely tempted by this.
And to pair with the cropped sweatshirt we’ve got this very simple midi pencil skirt, which is essentially just a tube of fabric. You don’t really need a pattern for this, IMHO – just wrap your fabric around you and mark where you want the seam. But I liked the styling here and that it’s a pretty perfect partner for Chessie.
A cardigan isn’t exactly earth shattering, but this is a nice basic to include, and they finish the edges with bias tape, which I’ve seen on several pieces of RTW knitwear I own. There are loads of sweater knits around in the shops right now, and this would be fantastic in a lightweight merino for throwing on over a sleeveless top or dress.
And finally, have a look at the adorableness of this romper for babies! Omg, it’s like they weaponised cuteness! That cuddly sherpa fleece was enough already, but then adding the little teddy bear ears? Too cute.
So yeah, for me, it’s all about that first dress with the back interest, though I’m temped by the sweatshirt too!