As we flip through glossy fashion magazines like Vogue and In Style, watching celebrities strut down the red carpet at the Oscars and Grammy Awards, what we’re really doing is looking for fashion that acts as an inspiration to our own style sense. These fashions aren’t readily available or affordable, for that matter, so that is when we have to “Rock the Cloth”.

We’re always on the lookout for great fabrics, so there’s always a stash which we keep until we’re inspired to sew them. Occasionally we find the perfect style to complement a fabric we’ve had for a really long time and this week we’re showing one such outfit. It is made from a fabric we’ve had for over two years and is a kind of juvenile print, so we always knew it would be for Angelie’s daughter. Coincidentally, she had a grosgrain ribbon belt from an outfit she outgrew that matched the fabric perfectly, and I happened to find the perfect design to pair both fabric and belt at the store Monsoon–a box pleat skirt, paired with a sheath-styled top.

The interesting thing about the skirt is that the pattern runs vertically and to the side, instead of the obvious choice of running the pattern horizontally along the bottom. To make the skirt, you will need to:

1. Cut front and back pieces the width of the fabric and the height as skirt length plus hem allowance

2. Join front to back leaving opening to insert zipper and making sure patterns line up

3. Make four- inch box pleats at waistline

4. Add waistband

5. Add belt to waistband

6. Insert zipper and hem

The second inspiration dress today was a gift from her Dad, a colour block knit dress, and she loved it so much that I made her another in different colours. I won’t say which is which but can you spot the not?