This is not an outfit for the faint of heart! But oh man, it’s a fun one!

One of the fun things about shopping at Cali Fabrics is that they sometimes carry designer fabrics, like this “7 For All Mankind” leopard twill. Right now they only have it in orange, but they have some great stretch twills from Hudson Jeans. How fabulous would a blazer or pant be in that vertical pinstripe or red plaid for fall?

What caught my eye about this particular twill though is that is has two sizes of leopard running half and half down the length of the yardage. I used the larger print to make the shorts, and the smaller print to make the jacket! I think they make a great statement outfit, but realistically, I’ll probably wear them separately most of the time.

Speaking of which, here are the shorts in a more subdued outfit! They are the Closet Case Pattern Jenny short/pant/overall pattern, modified to have an elastic waist. Combined with the stretch twill, they are so comfortable! I have to say, I’ve worn these several times before taking pictures, and the fabric holds it’s shape beautifully.

On top, I used the Decades of Style 3’s A Charm jacket pattern, which I’ve made several times before. Each time I fall back in love with the drafting! It looks like a simple cropped modern jacket, but it actually has 10 darts giving it shape, including shoulder and elbow darts. I’ve seen it work on a whole variety of figures and sizes, and I think it’s the perfect easy-to-sew autumn layer!

As we transition from summer to fall, I think it’s still important to have fun with prints and fabric, and not to lose that summer sense of joyful fashion. I’m looking forward to pairing this jacket with trousers or dresses, even after I have to pack the shorts away!

Do you have any transitional projects on the sewing table yet? Or shall we all just sew one more sundress?