Project Run & Play Week Two - Sportswear

I'm going to be honest...the fashion term 'sportswear' is somewhat confusing to me.  Before I watched Project Runway, I thought sportswear was track pants & hoodies.  But when the designers created these sophisticated ensembles, I was introduced to what American Sportswear really is.  Well, maybe not exactly what it is, but more, what it is not.  It's not formal evening attire and it's not casual loungewear...it's basically anything in between.  I'm not entirely sure that's accurate, either, but that's my personal understanding of it.  If anyone wants to correct me, please do.  The more understanding the better!

For Project Run & Play's Sportswear Week, I decided to do something a little dressy, but also comfortable, and easy-to-wear: a trench coat, mock wrap dress, and leggings.

Here are the original sketches (you can see how much I change things as I sew).

The Trench

This season of PR&P, I really want to focus each week on doing something I've never done before, such as work with a different type of fabric (e.g last week's silk), or learn a new technique.  This week, I did french seams for the first time.  It's such a great way to achieve a finished and tidy look without having to line the inside of a garment.  It's also often used on sheer fabrics.  

The "Wrap" 

Reading this, inspired me to make the wrap dress:

"Diane Von Furstenberg’s wrap dress has become an icon of American sportswear. After all, only the most prestigious and truly innovative design pieces make it into the permanent fashion collection on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and DVF’s wrap dress is one of those pieces. It’s truly the one and only dress that never quits."

source

I'm so glad I came across Diane Von Furstenburg's designs in my research this week.  There are some incredibly gorgeous pieces in her collections.  This year, she launched a children's collection that is being sold at Gap.  If you haven't seen it, check it out.  There is definitely some cuteness there!  

The style of this toddler wrap dress inspired mine: 

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Normally, I wouldn't necessarily pair pink & red together, but the print in dress brought it all together.

The Leggings

 Elegance & Elephants

 I was so excited to receive my labels in the mail this week!  I ordered them from two different etsy shops.  I would like the highly recommend Michelle at inked papers for her twill labels.  

So, why Elegance & Elephants?  Well, Tobias' love for elephants started the idea, and the two words together came to me and just stuck.  

It's so neat to see 'real' looking labels in my garments!  And Tobias is so anxious to have little elephants attached to his clothes.  :)