A couture sweatshirt looms on my horizon.

I am inspired by Anthropologie's "Subterfuge Jacket" featured above, which is really more of a couture sweatshirt than a jacket. The jacket is described on the website demurely as a disguised cozy sweatshirt promenading as a ladies-who-lunch blazer. The design is complete with 3/4 lantern sleeves and a thoughtfully detailed curved hem. I love it, it is so comfy, yet still embodies some structure and style. It is like a dream come true (honestly, I always envision myself going to the grocery store in well tailored trouser jeans, a structured sweatshirt jacket like this, and kitten heels rather than in athletic shorts and a t-shirt as I usually do. This could fulfill my dreams!).

I am hopeful that this Very Easy Vogue pattern can serve as a starting point. It has the sweeping low neckline and the single button closure. I will need to construct bell "lanterns" sleeves with gathers on my own though. I gave this Vogue blazer some serious thought, because I like the darting and the low neckline with collar. Wouldn't giant fabric covered buttons look so great buttoned up along that asymmetrical placket? Perhaps I could join the more uptight pointed collars to create a more rounded sweeping collar like this one, to keep the vibe casual? I also like this Vogue blazer pattern, and think it would be a striking contrast in casual sweatshirt material with a fun cotton trim with color and pattern.

For now, I am on the hunt for material. Any ideas where I can find thick sweatshirt style material, but in a high quality with natural fiber content? I want something that will hold it's structure, and it's color, as it is washed and worn. It does not need to stretch much, if at all, so I suppose what I am looking for is a very thick and heavy cotton woven.

I am also on the hunt for decorative bias tape to finish the inner seams, either for sale somewhere premade, or a means of making my own. One of the best parts about Anthropologie is the attention to finishing detail, and this sweatshirt is finished with the cutest striped bias tape. I want to do that to mine recreation. I understand there are tools out there to help in the process, and I plan to explore them.

Wish me luck, this looks like a project with minimal fitting issues, maximum personalization option, and something that can be worn frequently in the everyday wardrobe (as opposed to a few of the vintage dresses I want to make, but have nowhere to wear them to!).