Buffi's Dress Design

December 16, 2013
Jashanmal is a former Project Runway contestant, and her first book is in tune with that program’s DIY aesthetic. She thoroughly explains the process for drafting and using patterns based on one’s measurements, and provides an overview of tools, fabrics, and sewing techniques. Then variations on three basic dress patterns— the shift, the sheath, and the princess seam— are provided, with clearly illustrated instructions. In total, the book provides a reasonable facsimile of a beginning dressmaking course such as one might find at FIT or Parsons School of Design. Unfortunately, the photos— many of which include Jashanmal modeling her own designs— that illustrate the pattern variations can be off-putting. Jashanmal favors a “crafty” style that can look sloppy, and she too often uses fabrics that seem garish, especially when posed next to busy backdrops. Some simpler designs— a strapless number or a cute sailor’s style outfit— are more broadly appealing. Buy this one for the instructions, not the design inspiration. Color photos and illustrations.

November 15, 2013

Fashion designer Jashanmal has been designing for over ten years, but she made a name for herself as a contestant on the reality show Project Runway. In her first book, she shares tips and tricks for sewing dresses to fit and flatter women of all shapes and sizes. The key is taking precise body measurements and using those measurements to create a sloper, or a type of pattern template that can be used accurately to draft dress patterns. Each of the dress designs falls into one of three basic categories (shift, sheath, or princess-seam), and a number of variations are presented, allowing sewists to choose the style, length, and embellishment that work best for their body type and their personal preference. Jashanmal's own style is flirty and feminine, and she injects her personality into the whole book--even the rundown of basic sewing supplies. VERDICT Patternmaking is an essential skill for sewists who want to make the step toward designing their own clothing, and Jashanmal's advice and guidance is top-notch.

Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.