We are thrilled to be participating in the Breaking Ground Blog Tour for March 2018! The Breaking Ground Blog Tour is all about experiencing a new pattern, designer, style, etc! For us, we instantly knew that the Winslow Culottes by Helen’s Closet would be the perfect pattern – it’s versatile, practical, and can take on a variety of lengths and shapes based on fabric selection. As you all may know, we are deep in basics sewing, and we plan to show you how this pattern can become an instant staple in your basics wardrobe!
Breaking Ground
Katie looks like the picture of cool in her Maker Tee and Helen’s Closet Winslow Culottes
These culottes were full of new experiences for us — new pattern, new silhouette, and for Mac, a new technique in drafting her own full facing for her tank (what an adventure THAT was – let’s just say, it is always best to look over a tutorial when executing a rusty skill)!
Mac paired the Helen’s Closet Winslow Culottes and the Made by Rae Gemma Tank for a “faux” maxi dress look!
Winslow Culottes
The Winslow Culottes are super wide leg flowy culottes with big box pleats at the waist (and most importantly, POCKETS). The intended ease in the pattern makes fitting a breeze (you really only need to fit the waist); but styling a challenge. We are both petite girls so wide culottes like these have the potential to look overwhelming on our small frames.
Katie’s Take on the Winslows
To show you the versatility of the pattern, we each took a different approach to our culottes. Let’s start with Katie:
Pairing a punchy royal blue pair of culottes with a gorgeous muted mint floral top
Katie’s culottes are an example of how simple fabric and styling choices really let this statement silhouette do the talking.
Perhaps contemplating when to make the next pair of Winslows?
She used a flowy royal blue rayon challis for her culottes and styled them simply–first with a fitted floral Stacia tank:
The blue is ELECTRIC!
And then with a simple graphic tee:
She kept jewelry and accessories to a minimum but threw on some heels to add some height to her small frame:
Mac’s Take on the Winslows
Mac took a very different approach:
A pop of mustard bumps this look up a notch
The Winslow Culottes have large pattern pieces and minimal seamlines, which makes them perfect for large scale prints. With just 4 pattern pieces, and a simple box pleat, your fabric can truly shine!
Two simple pieces paired for high impact!
Mac chose a gorgeous printed rayon challis for her maxi-length Winslows. The shape of the culottes really lets the print shine! She paired them with a mustard colored Mouse House Julia Cardigan (previously blogged here on Harper+Lu for last year’s Breaking Ground Tour) that adds the perfect pop of color on this punchy faux maxi dress!
Everything looks good with mustard!
She also made a Made By Rae Gemma Tank from the same rayon challis for a maxi dress effect. It is a two-piece spectacular with TWO new patterns she had never tried before!!
There is just something about the way this printed Gemma Tank and these Winslow Culottes come together with this print that reads dressy – wouldn’t you agree?
A simple black tank allows the culottes to shine!
Mac also shows us a more everyday way to wear the Winslows – paired with a simple black tank that allows the pants and print to shine!
Which version (and styling) for the Winslows suits you best??? Leave us a comment below, and thank you for stopping by!
