The Inspiration for Modern Style for Girls
Posted by Lynn Merrill on Nov 13th 2015
What inspired Mary Abreu, author of the beloved book Little Girls, Big Style, to write a follow-up, Modern Style for Girls? One simple sentence from her then-in-second-grade daughter: "Do you have to put ruffles on everything?" As Mary, a self-proclaimed ruffle lover ("Ruffle all the things!"), says, "Ouch."
A couple of the very ruffly outfits from Little Girls, Big Style
But out of rejection came inspiration, because what Mary discovered as she began to involve her daughter in choosing patterns and fabrics was a whole new wardrobe of cute, age-appropriate, kid-approved clothing–a wardrobe she is now sharing with all of us!
From stylish shirts to patchwork skirts to sleek pedal pushers, the young girl(s) in your life are sure to find something they would love to wear!
There's even a few ruffles!
Never sewn a garment before? No worries! Mary provides an A to Z of techniques, from backstitching to invisible zippers, so that even a beginner can be sewing boutique-style clothes in no time. And all the instructions are written in her friendly, no-judgment style: "Always be sure to check the nap or the direction of your fabric print before cutting your pieces. I once cut an entire dress upside down because I laid out the pieces in the wrong direction on a one-way print!"
Plus, it turns out collaborating with your young critics can have some heartwarming benefits: not only is Mary's daughter happy with her new wardrobe, she's now busy sketching up her own outfit ideas, complete with fabric swatches. As Mary says, "I know it won’t be long before she’ll bypass me and sew her own wardrobe." And is there anything better than introducing a younger generation to wonders of creating something yourself?
You can pick up a copy of Modern Style for Girls right here!
