Make Designer Pieces At Home With Existing Patterns

Fall/Winter 26 fashion month has just ended and as always, it fills me with so much inspiration. I'm inspired to try new ways of styling garments and new silhouettes to sew. As I was watching the runway looks come out everyday, I couldn't help but notice that there were looks that were similar to existing patterns. With the right pattern sourcing and some minor pattern manipulations, you could make a very similar runway look.

Here are 5 runway looks with corresponding patterns and manipulation suggestions to help you recreate the runway looks from Chloe, Prada, Tom Ford, Gucci, and Simone Rocha. My highest recommended patterns are listed first, and the others are optional.

The opening look from the runway is this beautiful voluminous skirt with a frilly cotton blouse and oversized blazer. The blazer, sunnies, and slouchy boots could be thrifted but the cotton blouse and skirt can be made at home. My suggestions are:

• Blouse
  •  Grasser No 426: 
    • shorten the length to top of hip
    • slash and spread the bottom front and back pieces to create a piece 1.5-2 times the original
    • gather the top of your new piece
    • sew it into yoke
  • Lagertha Blouse
  • Keith Frilled Blouse
  • Pauline Alice Sorolla Top
• Skirt
  • Tammy Handmade Amelia Skirt:
    • slash and spread middle tier 1.5-2 times larger
    • slash and spread bottom tier 3 times larger
    • add a short ruffle to bottom tier - sew to bottom tier before gathering
    • the goal is VOLUME!

This Prada show was all about the layering. They had only 15 models but 60 looks. Every time the model came out they shed a layer, slowly revealing a new layer, a new look, and a new item or two of clothing. One of the looks I loved was worn by Bella Hadid. There were so many key pieces that are very relevant to today but styled in a fresh way. 

First the two layers of outerwear:

• Workwear Jacket
  • Grasser No 1213:
    • this is menswear so it will fit a bit oversized
    • remove the chest pocket and it's good!
      
  • Denim Jacket 114 (women's jacket)
• Trench
  • Car Coat:
    • Remove the buttons
    • No lining
    • Wide facing along the whole front placket
    • Match sleeve hem size to jacket hem
  • Mackintosh Coat

When the show continued she came out again with a dress, and then lastly with long shorts and tank top. The tank top I would thrift, or if you know how to knit you could knit it but the shorts would be a great beginner project!

• Dress
  • Josie Dress:
    
    • Lengthen
    • Remove centre back zipper and make it into a elongated keyhole.
    • Add waist channel and drawcord
    • I suggest to make a size larger for a more loose look like the runway!
  • Doris Dress
• Shorts
  • Yarrow Shorts:
    
    • Lengthen
    • Straighten hem
    • Add contrast panel to bottom
    • Add ties along hem
      

Bonus pattern: I came across this pencil skirt pattern and it felt SO Prada! It's the Skirt Pattern 1259 from Grasser.

The runway had a lot of rainwear this season which is fun to see. We need more exciting outerwear for the elements. The skirt is a bold choice but could be a statement piece!

• Trenchcoat
  • Mysaria Coat:
    
    • Add patch pockets instead of the welt pockets
    • Add black piping along seams
      
• Skirt
  • Wrap Skirt:
    
    • Remove slit on front panel, sew it shut
    • Add black piping along all seams

Gucci was a whole new vibe this season. The new Gucci is a lot different than when Alessandro Michele was creative director. Back then it was very colourful and patterned but now with Demna, the new creative director, it's going back to tight and sexy. This look might already partially exist in your wardrobe but if not, here's the patterns you need!

• Turtleneck
  • Hylda Turtleneck:
    
    • Make it tight
    • Choose a black knit with a shine
• Denim
  • Sage Pants:
    
    • Good as is!
• Fur Stole
  • This you can make yourself!
    
    • Measure around your upper body at your upper arm
    • Divide by two
      
    • Choose the height you want. You can make it thinner than the runway look or just as wide!
    • Make a rectangle pattern with these measurements.
    • You can add a little bit of width only on the bottom to allow some more movement for your arms.
    • Add seams allowances all around.
    • Sew up the side seams
    • Hem the top and bottom

I love love love Simone Rocha, definitely one of my favourite designers. She mixes sporty and feminine vibes together so effortlessly. This look is so cute and on my project list!! I would love to bring this suggestion to reality.

• Tunic
  • Basic Dress No 570:
    
    • Shorten to hip length
    • Change the bust dart from the side to come from the shoulder seam
      • line it up with the back pleat in the same spot
    • Turn this dart and body dart into a full princess seam all the way to the hem on the front and back so you end up with a panelled dress
    • Add seam in the sleeve on top of arm
    • Add grossgrain ribbon with grommets along each of these new seamlines
      
    • Sew the dress ONLY on the side seam, shoulder seam, centre back (with zipper), underarm seam, and sleeve in armhole
    • The rest of the dress will be connected by the rings through all the grommets so make sure they are lined up!
    • If you want the bow details like Simone Rocha, you can add ribbon bows to clips so you can clip them on and off where ever you want
• Shorts
  • Millie Shorts:
    • Make the shorts with the short frill option along the hem
    • Use a flowy delicate fabric to contrast the hard look of the tunic

If you choose to make any of these projects I would love to see it! You can also hear more about why I chose these looks and patterns in my video below.