Book Reviews

Book Review – Fashionable clothes girls like

March 7, 2012


Ok I’m really guessing the title here. The Japanese title is おしゃれが好きな女の子の服 which literally means Fashionable – like – girls’ clothes. Which doesn’t make sense right? So Google translate tells me it’s Girls like fashionable clothes. Which makes more sense but I prefer Fashionable clothes girls like 🙂

Whatever the title, this book is a really cute one. It is laid out in the standard fashion as most books are. Meaning, contents -> yummy photos -> Some instructions on how-to-make, and then the how-to-make for each project.

What I like about this book is the clothes are not the usual girl frilly stuff, but the quirky, minimalistic clothes that the Japanese are famous for. Think Muji! In fact, the clothes look like they are designed for adults but downsized for kids, which could be the reason why I like this book so much. I could wear one of these!

The book contains projects for spring+summer as well as autumn+winter, which means you’ve got the whole year covered!

At the end of each section, there are also suggestions on how you co-ordinate different pieces together in different combinations for different looks.

Unfortunately, this book does not include any step by step photos, and the how-to-makes are in the standard diagram format. Where the numbers pointing to the garment indicate the order of sewing.

A close up view of the diagrams. Not too difficult to understand right?

Here’s what I made from this book! (It’s dress B from the two diagrams above) I made some additional embroidery details but will post it on my other blog when I’ve taken photos with the model in the dress 🙂 Updated! I’ve added a new post with more pictures of the dress below. Go on and have a look!

Title : Fashionable clothes girls like おしゃれが好きな女の子の服
Author : まのあきこ (Akiko Mano)
Project sizes : Girls clothes sizes 100-130cm
ISBN : 978-4-579-11289-0

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20 Comments

  • Reply erin March 7, 2012 at 3:02 pm

    I’m sure your daughter likes the dress. I’ve always loved dresses like this with that yoke piece. The gingham fabric gives it a french chic look. The fabric looks like seersucker, really pretty. Looking forward to seeing the details in your other blog.

    • Reply admin March 12, 2012 at 2:25 pm

      Thanks Erin! 🙂 Unfortunately I’ve been really busy. Haven’t had time to take photos. Really hope to do it soon!

  • Reply Cotton Candy » The play dress March 14, 2012 at 8:41 am

    […] having a short one week term break. So here is an update. I recently updated my other blog with a book review, and this is what I made from that book. The dress is made out of blue gingham seersucker. The […]

  • Reply admin March 14, 2012 at 8:42 am

    I’ve finally updated my other blog 🙂 http://blog.cottoncandy.com.sg/2012/03/the-play-dress/

  • Reply sherry May 17, 2012 at 6:27 pm

    OOh I just received this book. I am in love with so many things.
    I have already made The “E” top and I’m almost finished the “I” dress.
    One think I like about this book is although it is targeted toward girls, a lot of the patterns can be used for boys, like the vests and jackets.
    It really is a fantastic book ♥

    • Reply Japanese Sewing Books May 17, 2012 at 9:10 pm

      Yes I love this book too. I keep telling myself I have to make the bubble dress on the cover but I can’t seem to find the right material that will give it that sort of “bubble look”. And I think the beauty of the patterns lies in the construction of the clothes and the simplicity of the fabrics. Doing the bubble dress in a print will just not be the same thing! Do show us your finished pieces! Pretty please?? 🙂

      • Reply An June 26, 2012 at 10:07 pm

        Hi Yifarn! I’ve made the dress several times in different fabrics. It looks very good in midweight quilting cotton, but I just made one in very fine lawn cotton, and I think that ‘falls’ even “better (see http://straightgrain.wordpress.com for pics). I’ve also made a bubble dress in double gauze (from a different pattern, though), and that also works very well.

        • Reply Japanese Sewing Books June 27, 2012 at 10:35 am

          wow! your balloon dresses look fab! I have not gotten around to making one. I can’t bear to cut my pretty double gauze fabrics 🙁 Love your blog! 🙂

          • An June 28, 2012 at 4:25 pm

            Thanks! But your double gauze fabrics will look even better when they’re turned into a gorgreous balloon dress, so take those scissors and cut! 😉

  • Reply Marianna July 24, 2012 at 7:55 pm

    I’ve just made the Bubble Dress for my daughter using blue linen and it worked splendidly. I think you’re right in that the simplicity of the fabric shows off the interesting design. And I agree with An above who pointed out in her blog that the dress looks just as good wrinkled (and being linen, wrinkle it does).

    I like your translation of the title; it captured the charm of the book!

    • Reply Japanese Sewing Books July 26, 2012 at 9:30 am

      Hi Marianna, I saw your dress, it’s really nice and well finished. I really need to get hold of some good linen and get down to tracing this pattern!

  • Reply Bubble Dress | Sew 2 Pro July 25, 2012 at 5:03 pm

    […] My favourite English title is provided by the blogger Japanese Sewing Books who in her review calls it: Fashionable Clothes Girls […]

  • Reply elena July 10, 2013 at 11:06 pm

    Just a question. Does the book includes paper patterns?
    Thank you 🙂

  • Reply Japanese Sewing Books July 11, 2013 at 11:28 am

    Hi Elena, Yes it does.

  • Reply June July 31, 2013 at 1:15 am

    I love that bubble dress on the cover.

    I have minimal Japanese language skills, but I think the title means “Clothes for Girls Who Like Fashion.”

  • Reply Book Review and Giveaway – Linen, Wool, Cotton Kids – Now in English » Japanese Sewing, Pattern, Craft Books and Fabrics November 21, 2014 at 8:17 am

    […] my site faithfully for the past few years, you may remember the balloon dress sew-along from this book two years ago? I know many of you purchased the Japanese version upon my recommendation and created […]

  • Reply Emily June 17, 2016 at 3:13 am

    I’ve got a copy of this book in French, and from the French the title translates as “Pretty clothes for pretty girls”. I’ve made a few things now – the skirt, hat, blouse, and a couple of dresses. The lining piece for the balloon dress also makes a pretty awesome shift dress by itself, so there’s a secret bonus pattern in there too!! In response to some of the other posters re fabrics for the balloon dress, I’ve made it in floral babycord and it looked pretty fine 🙂 I’ve not made the hat in fleece yet but used the pattern (with an extra triangular piece) to make hats in cottons (one Peppa Pig hat and one dinosaur hat… don’t ask!!)

  • Reply Sew-Along 2 – The Balloon Dress | Japanese Sewing, Pattern, Craft Books and Fabrics July 29, 2016 at 8:26 am

    […] this is the book that the pattern is from. I reviewed it previously but for those of you what want to buy it before the sew-along (or even after), the ISBN […]

  • Reply Lopka September 9, 2017 at 10:53 am

    Hello! I’ve been living in Japan for a few years now, and recently I’ve come across your lovely website, and well maybe more of a friendly community! It’s inspiring to start to sew and hopefully I will get to it soon enough^^ I would like to sew something for my niece, but guess it’s best to get some practice before jumping right into a dress or other piece of clothing, right??^^;

    As for the title of the book, I think it means “girl’s clothing we love made stylish”.

    • Reply Japanese Sewing Books September 21, 2017 at 9:19 am

      Thanks! As you can see my translation is usually quite literal, thanks for your input! 🙂 It is sometimes quite hard to gather what the original intent for the title might be, and it is always hard making sense in English.

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