Tutorial: Furoshiki Techniques

One of my fondest memories of Japan was watching our Saleswoman wrap our packages when we bought gifts to take home.
She was so talented! She didn't even need tape! It was like taking a master class in origami.
The nice people at Spoonflower have a lesson in wrapping with cloth here, just in time for the holiday season.
  Wrapping a bottle of wine or fancy olive oil with this technique would make your gift even more special. There are so many cute quilting fabrics with unique designs, so you could truly customize even the wrapping to the recipient. I can hardly wait to try it.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Halter Tops

Is this pattern magical? It says ONE SIZE, but please note: it does not say, "One size fits all", or "One top to rule them all", it just states: ONE SIZE.

At first I wondered, maybe it has additional pattern pieces included, because I know from living in the material world that not all women are the same ONE SIZE, no matter what clothing manufacturers and fashion magazines might think.

But no. There is ONE MAJOR PATTERN PIECE in ONE SIZE.
Then I realized that this must be from Simplicity's "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" Collection.
It's for stretch knits only.Magical stretch knits.
Imagine the practicality of having a pattern that truly was ONE SIZE - whatever size you were.
My guess is that this was left accidentally from a person from a parallel universe where either everyone is ONE SIZE or their patterns magically fit everyone.

Dress from 1957

My mother wore dresses like this, before I was around, of course. I used to peek in her closet when I was a kid and imagine wearing those big skirted floral pieces of fifties froth, with white gloves and those pointy toed pumps.

The Black dress for cocktails in the city, the flowered one for lunches at the country club.

I especially like the thought of going to my office in the black version. I'm the editor of Vogue, and i have the cool Miranda Priestly glasses, (the better to give cold condescending looks).

Where would you wear this lovely dress? Would you choose wool jersey, or silk shantung? Linen or pique? Wool crepe, or faille? Whatever your fantasy, if you are a size 16 (fifties sizing), bust 36 inches, find it here.