title: Modern Style for Girls: Sew a Boutique Wardrobe
author:  Mary Abreu 
description: Abreu (Little Girls, Big Style) was inspired by her daughter to create the designs in this collectionshe was too old for ruffles and frills and wanted something more sophisticated and mature, yet age-appropriate for school-age girls. The focus here is on sizes seven to 12an age in which girls want clothes that don't look babyish but are still appropriate for play. Designs include tops, dresses, pants, shorts, and skirts, and the style is charmingly retrothink pedal pushers and Peter Pan collars but in contemporary fabrics. Abreu does a good job of walking sewists through each step of the process, from fabric choice to cutting layout to garment construction, and a dictionary of techniques guides beginners through everything from sewing a curved seam to gathering to sewing a waistband. VERDICT Most pattern books for children's clothing concentrate on smaller-sized clothing for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, so the focus on school-aged children's clothing makes this a nice addition for sewing collections. (<i>Library Journal, November 1, 2015</i>)<br /><br />With this handy guide to creating endless wardrobe options, the young fashionista will be well on her way to developing a style all her own. Starting with three basic piecesa top/dress, a skirt, and pantsshe will learn how to modify simple patterns and rectangles to make twelve classic garments: four tops/dresses, four shorts/pants, and four skirts. Technique instructions include how to gather, create waistband casings, and insert zippers. Advice on choosing fabrics and adding embellishments is also included. (<i>Notions, Winter 2016</i>)<br /><br />This is a book of projects for girls with a bit of differencethe inspirations and ideas were guided with active creative input from Mary Abreu's young daughter. The result is a collection of patterns designed with the tastes of the tween (7-12 years old) firmly foregrounded, making this a great resource for ideas that girls will really love wearing, from a simple and stylish vintage-inspired A-line collared dress to a gorgeous panelled skirt. Even better, all of the projects can be easily tweaked or embellished to best reflect the tastes of the girl wearing them. Whether you're sewing for your own daughter or making a gift for the daughter of a friend, this book is guaranteed to help you up your game. (<i>Love Sewing, Issue 29</i>)
zlib_text: How to Be Feminine 
  Do you want to enhance your feminine side? If you really want to 
  embrace your inner lady, then you have to adopt the mindset of a more 
  traditional woman and know how to cultivate grace, politeness, and 
  capability. If you want to know how to be feminine, just follow these 
  steps 
  Method 1 of 3: Looking Feminine 
    
  1 
         
  Wear the correct clothes for your body shape and size - ones 
  which are pretty and modest. Start to wear skirts instead of 
  pants or jeans - nothing works better at defining you as a girl who 
  cherishes her femininity. A skirt looks cute paired with a blouse, 
  belt and flats. Don't wear them too short, the right length is just 
  above the knee so you look demure and nice. Don't fall for the 
  'girly' trap of wearing pink or baby blue, you'll look great in black or 
  
  navy blue or perhaps maroon. Nothing really beats a classic pencil 
  skirt while a pleated skirt can be both cute and comfortable. If 
  you've been wearing jeans for years, wearing a 