Here's the next steps and the finished jacket. I will reply to any questions or comments. I love to teach.
Monday, December 10, 2018
Wednesday, December 05, 2018
Follow Shirley's Design Engineering
Let's have some fun and some learning. I have created, making/engineering the pattern, and constructing the new style. The following graphic shows the sketch, the Blazer Template used as a foundation and the new muslin pattern in a Raglan Sleeve, a size 16 and with the new unique collar over lapel idea. The jacket is being finished now and will show the next exciting steps this weekend - through all the pattern and construction steps. Please comment, ask questions and let me know your interest to help keep me going. Thank you my readers.
Monday, October 29, 2018
RED SOX, World Series Champs, from 2004 to 2018
In 2018 must show you this photo again. 2004 Red Sox Champs against the Cardinals being congratulated by 1967, when the Red Sox got into the World Series but didn’t win it. Shirley Willett in 1967 designed the outfit, inspired by the Red Sox. In 2004 she designed the outfit to show the World Series win, and both were shown in a fashion show that year. The photo is by Ron Ranere.
Saturday, November 11, 2017
"PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE: Fashion Memoir, 70 Years..."
My book is published. It is my legacy to all of you in fashion - of Design, Education, Engineering, Manufacturing & Technology. Remember that the past teaches the present how to redesign the future. Not only is it directed to help you develop and grow, but also the proceeds will go to scholarships in fashion. You can buy it at http://www.pastpresentfuturebook.com
Please come to the next great event of my Boston Fashion Meetup, at WeWork, 625 Mass Ave. Cambridge, Aug. 22, 2018. First I will read and demo my book, then we will have great networking with ten well-known and in diverse aspects of the fashion industry. It is free, but you need an ID to get in to the building. More info. at https://www.meetup.com/BostonFashion/
We look forward to seeing you all there. Best wishes to all, Shirley
We look forward to seeing you all there. Best wishes to all, Shirley
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
MY FAMOUS BALL COAT IN 1968
As I was searching through some recent folders I came across this ball coat worn by Vogue Italia editor, Franca Sozzani - in a photo of the Boston Globe, March 29, 2012. I certainly beat the timing of her ball coat with my ball coat designed in a collection in 1968. I designed the white mink helmet and the "boottops over shoes" to go with - very 1960s.
Please remember we are still open to more students to learn fashion design patterns online free, and cooperate with us on a book. For more information email
Please remember we are still open to more students to learn fashion design patterns online free, and cooperate with us on a book. For more information email
And please comment.
Monday, April 24, 2017
“Making It “ In Fashion Design
After responses to our first brochure, we are sending a new brief one with photo explanations.
How Do You “Make It “ In Fashion Design?
Be a part of writing
an exciting fashion design book. Designers, consumers, students and
beginners (who sew), who would like to learn online free by
cooperating with Shirley Willett, www.shirleywillett.com, a well- known industry expert in creative design, pattern engineering,
manufacturing, and education. Her unique methods are needed to make it, have been tested over
60 years, and are easy, fun and rewarding. We start with brief and introductory
Foundation Design Skills that prepare you for our methods: Inner Visualization, Manual Skills,
Creativity in every step, Self-Evaluation
techniques, etc. Then we go to in depth lessons: Templates that make perfect first patterns ready for production,
simple Pattern manipulation techniques, methods for Draping creative styles, Truing
for accuracy, and many special lessons on Bodices, Skirts, Dresses, Sleeves,
Collars, Blazer, Pants, etc.
Email fashionclass@shirleywillett.com to request becoming
a part of our cooperative book effort, telling us about yourself, and what you
want to learn.
Wednesday, April 05, 2017
How Do You “Make It “ In Fashion design?
How Do You “Make It “ In Fashion design?
Be a part of writing a special book. You learn fashion design and pattern
making free online from Shirley Willett, a well- known industry expert
in creative design, pattern engineering and manufacturing. Website: www.shirleywillett.com.
We learn by cooperation and begin with Foundation Design Skills needed
in many industries: automobiles, aerospace, architecture, and fashion
clothing. They relate to the making of a creative product, are
easily achieved, and make learning and designing fun and rewarding. Then we
advance to specific fashion skills in depth: Templates, Pattern making,
Draping, Truing, Sleeves, Collars, etc.
Why a book?
Shirley Willett answers:
After selling my high fashion
design & manufacturing business in the early 80s, I went back to teaching and
wanted to share the knowledge and expertise from experiences. I wrote a book,
“Let’s Design A Dress”. It had to be taken off the market after using some of
its innovations in three engineering design grant awards from the National
Science Foundation.
Throughout these years I mentored
many protégés, some of whom have been very successful. I discovered that
certain approaches to fashion and technical design are needed to make it, but are not taught in
fashion schools and colleges – leading to another book idea.
The book will be cooperation with protégés,
designers, consumers, and even beginners (who sew). To those of you especially who
would like to become designers, possible protégés, & better consumers,
please become a part of producing our exciting, authentic book.
How do you start?
First,
email fashionclass@shirleywillett.com and subscribe to postings of lessons, to be sure you
get each posting as they are created. Each post will be a lesson, with the
first five being the FDS (Fundamental Design Skills). You can respond by email
to fashionclass@shirleywillett.com
with questions and comments, and let us know if there is anything more that
could help you with learning on this particular lesson. If you send pictures,
it is best by email. If a reply needs pictures and will be good for others as
well, it will go into the book with your name (if you choose). If it is more
personal and no pictures are needed we will reply to you personally. If
personal and requires pictures in the explanation, we will charge a small fee
to develop them specifically for you. We look forward to some great teamwork on
the book. Eventually we can work together to develop your ideas into beautiful,
producible, marketable styles at affordable prices – as the book is written.
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Pattern & Production Engineering in High Fashion Design -
See more: http://www.meetup.com/BostonFashion
You are invited - Host is SHIRLEY WILLETT
Thursday, August 25, 2016, 6:00 PM, FREE to attend.
The Charlesmark at Copley 655 Boylston Street, Boston, MA
Elements to be covered include:
1. Mass production solutions in 3D and 4D for creativity and quality
2. Creative 3D solutions in fashion design and engineering
3. Creating your fabric
4. Designing for consumers
Networking starting at 6pm: Bring
your business cards! Seminar starting at 6:30pm: Five experts in the field will
present their designs and share their knowledge of the technical side of
creation in the high fashion industry. Old world techniques work in
collaboration with modern technology to achieve impeccable results.
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