Shirtdress Inspiration & Styling | Kalle Sewalong

Welcome to the first day of the Kalle Shirt + Shirtdress Sewalong! We'll be covering construction of the Kalle pattern from start to finish, but this week we'll be focusing on getting started with inspiration, fabric choices, choosing a size and making pattern alterations.

Today I want to talk about the genesis of this pattern, along with providing some styling inspiration. As I've mentioned, the earliest version of this design started as an oversized button down shirt. I drafted it a few years ago and then used it as the basis for my linen shirtdress. I have a stack of thrifted men's shirts in my closet and they are some of my favourite things to wear; I think they can look so effortless and chic, and wanted Kalle to feel the same way. My Pinterest board for this pattern was massive, and I love how many ways there are to make this style your own. Here are some of my favourite ideas.

KALLE SHIRTDRESS INSPO

What I love about the silhouette of the shirtdress option is how it plays with the concept and proportion of a traditional men's shirt. It's kind of sexy without trying too hard, and the volume and structure of the dress is balanced by a peek of leg. It's easy to dress up or down, and playing with length can make it feel even more surprising (something we'll be talking about in an upcoming blog post).

KALLE SHIRT INSPO

The tunic and cropped variation of this pattern are so flexible. Tuck it, tie it at the waist, or play around with different fabrics to get something soft and billowy or structured and architectural. I am desparate to make the perfect white shirt; the dramatic hem of the tunic would be so stiking in a crisp, beefy cotton.

KALLE IN PRINT

While almost all of the Kalles we've made in the studio have been in solid colours, I wanted to show some options in a bold print since I think it works equally well. Stripes are an especially  fun option since you can experiment with direction along the cuffs, pocket and placket.

How are you planning on wearing your Kalle?

See all posts in our Kalle Sewalong series. Get the pattern here.