Book Review – Simple Chic

Here’s a book title that requires no translation. Simple Chic. It’s not a very new book, but I’ve been buying mostly books for girls, so it’s only lately that I started sewing for myself and started buying more adult pattern books.

Today was one of those days. Days when you just don’t feel like doing much, want to sleep in, need to go out but too lazy to dress up, and then you just picked out your most comfortable shirt that requires no ironing (or you just don’t care) and stepped out of the door looking like a bum. Well, this book is here to save you from looking like a bum on “those days”. Simple Chic is full of patterns for simple, easy to wear clothes that are non-restrictive (comfortable), but you can still look chic at the same time! Want to have a peek into the book?

Table of contents in English! Yay.

Item list with pictures.

Here are some of the pieces I like.

Cute but maybe I’m too old for this…. sigh…

Looks like something I can wear to bed and go out like this the next morning without anyone noticing. 😛

I really really like this dress, but I’m quite afraid that, with the wrong fabric choice (or even with the right fabric choice), people might start asking me when is my due date 😉

Another of my favourites. It’s actually a dress that can be worn two ways, although I would only wear it this way (top) and not the other (below). Can double up as a coat too if you use a heavier cotton like twill.

Another shapeless dress made into part of a chic outfit by throwing on something with a little more structure (the coat).

Camisole blouse. Definitely wearable but I might take in the bustline a little. It’s just a little too baggy for my liking.

This really reminds me of Takuya Kimura in Concerto (Japanese drama ;P) ! Something I watched like 15 years ago.

I like this too! The fabric is a cotton silk, I like the sheer floaty effect.

Just in case any of you are looking for a similar pattern. I can’t wear this because I have short legs. Lol.

I’ve seen so many nice patterns in all my books for both adults and kids using striped knits. I love stripes too, but I can never seem to find knits in stripes. Well, but it’s generally not easy to find knits in nice prints here.

The book includes patterns for bottoms as well. Both skirts and pants.

Flared pants.

Something new to learn. Round pockets on skirts.

Tucked cardigan.

Here is the size chart for the patterns included. It’s based on the Japanese sizes 7-13. Here’s a quick reference on Wiki to size conversion. The left most column indicates – Height, Bust, Waist, Hip measurements (all in cm).

Now to the how-to-make section. Well, this is the reason why I didn’t review the book earlier. It belongs to one of those books where instructions are written out in point form, and only the important steps are illustrated in diagrams. There are no photographic instructions in this book.

A close up of the instructions. There will be a diagram with the corresponding step numbers pointing to the different parts of the garment, so if you are not a beginner sewist it should not be very difficult.

For the steps that require further explanation, there are diagrams included. Note how certain steps are skipped (no diagram for points 2,3 and 4) as they are deemed basic steps and do not need explanation.

Back page.

Basically, this is not the book for beginners, but if you are looking for simple, relaxed styles that look stylish at the same time, this book has some pretty and wearable patterns. I hope I can find more time to sew for myself! Soon!

Title : Simple Chic シンプルシック
ISBN : 978-4-579-11345-3
Author : 大川友美
Publisher : Bunka