My slim brocade pants made from fabric I coveted in the Mood NYC store. There are a few yards left of this same fabric in a lighter colorway, $40/yd. Call or email the silk department (silk@moodfabrics.com) and ask them to recommend similar brocades if this is gone.

Oh how I love these pants! Can’t you see them paired with a boxy cashmere sweater or a crisp white shirt? These pants are proof that the right fabric is everything when it comes to making your own clothes.

The details:

• Inspiration: a pair of Stella McCartney silk brocade pants I saw at Saks ($965)
• Pattern: a vintage pattern from my stash, but you can find this design from just about any big pattern company. I made a muslin first and found I needed to lengthen them by about two inches so they’d hit my ankle (I’m 5’7″). No waistband, slim-leg pants, very basic design that works well on just about every body
• Construction:  Incredibly easy. Invisible zip in the side seam; faced waistband. Pants are so easy to make I’m not sure why I don’t make more of them. Must ponder this.

I love everything about this fabric. It was wonderful to sew with, and look at how sharp that pressed crease is.

I used petersham ribbon from my stash to edge the waistband facing for a neat finish.

Can’t make it to our NYC or LA stores to look for fabric like the one I used here? These are some brocades from MoodFabrics.com that I think would make an equally cool pair of pants: 300714, 300687, 300738, 300747, and FP19599C.

What I am sewing now: I love the Prada fall 2012 collection, with its bold brocade fabrics and boxy jackets with matching pants. (Have you noticed I have a thing for brocade?) I found a stunning Carolina Herrera brocade here in the store and I’m making a long jacket out of it. More to come…