FINISHED! Denim Sorell Test Trousers

Pauline Alice has once again released some fantastic new patterns, a super cute shift dress, the Xerea dress that I will definitely be making up soon and a pair of wide leg pants, the Sorell.  Pauline asked me to test the Sorell trousers a couple of months ago, so I went all out and pushed myself with View A which has welt pockets and a cute little watch pocket.
The pattern description: The Sorell trousers feature a front zipper fly, wide legs with front pleats for more comfort, front slash pockets and a small watch pocket. The waistband sits at natural waist and has belt loops. View A has classical welt pockets, perfect for a chic pair of trousers.  View B is a more casual version with patch pockets.
You saw a sneak preview of these pants in my last post on my Caramel Sydney.  Originally I bought some wool, but while it was at the dry cleaners I realised that I probably didn't have enough time to wait for it to come back in time to meet the testing deadline, so cut into this denim from Addicted to Fabric that I had been saving for another pair of dungarees.
There are a lot of lovely little details on these pants that make them an interesting and slightly challenging sew.  I made up a straight 36 in the denim with no changes, except taking off a few inches initially for the length as the pattern is designed for heights of 5'5" (165cm).  The trousers look so great on Pauline long (and she is the same height as me I think) but for me I felt a bit swamped in them, and not my usual style, so no surprises I decided to chop them off to be more of culotte/gaucho length. 
I think the fit is pretty great around the waist and the bottom. I have a pretty 'flat ass' but these pants fit nicely.  I'm less happy with how I've got them sitting at the front - there's a bit of, well I'm not sure how you describe it, but it's not super flattering. I look at Pauline's version and they look just so great on her but not so super great on me. They seem to sit higher on me - I think my torso must be shorter. These are only a test version so I think I could get them better on the next version. I think partly my pleat isn't in the exact right place. 
Pauline is consistently putting out lovely patterns and this is definitely one of them! Are you thinking of making up any of the new Pauline Alice patterns? If you do there is a new blog for all the great Pauline Alice makes: Pauline Alice and You!

P.S. wearing Pattern W from Les Couleurs Francaise, in Liberty Wiltshire.

28 comments:

  1. These look brilliant, I love the fit at the back! and the short length looks brilliant, I've been seeing more trousers this length recently that I really like.

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  2. These pants look fabulous cropped. I have renewed interest in this pattern I had earlier dismissed. Will you make a wool version too?

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  3. These are so awesome. I loved the pattern long too, the moment I saw it, but these, ahhh....so cool. Perfect.

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  4. Thanks for the great review! I am 177cm and will probably need to add some length. Making them the cropped length is so you :) Don't feel too upset about things that did not work as good as you wanted to! I am sure you'll make more Sorells in the future, won't you?

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  5. These look great. Making proper trousers is on my list. Love your shirt too.

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  6. love love love this gaucho length!

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  7. The short is length is perfect for you! I'd love to make a long version of these in a grey wool. They're the perfect classic wide leg trouser.

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  8. That watch pocket! Perfection! And the cropped gaucho length in the dark denim is divine - you're beautifully styled as always ;)

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  9. I love all the details on these trousers! So great! And I love that you chopped them into a culotte to suit your tastes - they look great!

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  10. Wow! Great idea to shorten the trousers! They look great and the details are awesome. I'm in love with the pockets!...-and I'm very late with my own post, I think! ;)

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  11. They're awesome and exactly what I had in mind for a jeans alternative! I must admit that when I saw the Sorell patterm my thoughts turned to my TNT pants pattern (culottes and fancy pants anyone?). They are so similar to the trouser pattern included in that Vogue pattern. I really need these. What do you wear under your cropped trousers? Knee socks/knee highs?

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  12. So great in the denim and highly impressed by the welt pockets!

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  13. I love the wide leg pants and I love where you cut them (in length I mean) you added such an interesting contemporary vibe to them just by cutting them to that perfect length clever clever...!!!
    Every time somebody talks wide leg trousers in my mind pops up Ingrid Bergman and the stylish way she used to wear them. I think these have so many things going on in the front - the fly, the pleats the italian pockets the tiny flap pocket - details that add bulk and end up having a little tummy enhancing effect and they need a longer front crotch to compensate maybe...

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  14. Yes, a longer crotch is perhaps exactly what they need. I adore the long style on others - it is just so Ingrid Bergman and Katherine Hepburn! You will look great in these !

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  15. Thanks Sarah! I held my breath through each and every step!

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  16. Yes, your TNT is a fantastic pattern and works so well for you! I just wear knee highs as I don't really get that cold in Canberra (unless I'm at soccer on a Saturday morning) and would find stockings annoyingly clingy.

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  17. Yours look awesome - as I knew they would. It's a lovely pattern!

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  18. I'm a little bit in love with the watch pocket but it stretched my brain a lot to work out how to sew it!

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  19. Long and wide will look really great on you!

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  20. I love this length too but the longer length is just so stylish I wish that I could pull it off!

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  21. Thanks Barbara. I have so many variations of this shirt - with collars, bow, nothing it has been such a winner.

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  22. Yes, I think I'll make more in the future. My natural bias is to make tops and dresses but I have a gaping hole in my wardrobe for trousers so I really should make up some more!

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  23. I can't wait to see you make these up in Autumn! But enjoy the summer while it lasts.

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  24. You would look so super stylish in a pair of long ones.!

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  25. I'm not sure. I'd need to fix the front 'issue' before I go again. The wool is now sitting languishing at the dry cleaners. Thinking about a LilySage&Co wonderland skirt but not sure how I'd style it so it's still ruminating.

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  26. Thanks Kathryn! I see you in longer pair. I think you would look great in them.

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  27. You look super chic in these!

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