Newsflash: May Burda Early Preview Posted

The German Burda and Russian Burda websites have both posted early preview pictures for the May issue.  May is traditionally "the dress issue," but I was wondering how they were going to top all of the stellar designs from April.  Well, I guess I need not have worried - there are several photos here that have me swooning!  Even if the rest of the issue is a dud, there is enough in the early preview to keep me happy.  Can't wait for May!

This dress!!!  I know the color-block thing has been a trend for a while,
but this is the one that might push me over the top and actually inspire me to make something.
Love it.

Loves me a good wide legged trouser.
Bit hard to tell if there is any Burda crotch weirdness happening,
but frankenpatterns are always an option.

I know it is just a pencil skirt, but it is a pretty pencil skirt.
Garment photo inspiration might be more exciting than the actual pattern,
but I still like it.

The use of stripes on this top is divine.

This dress is sort of basic, but so wearable and cute!
Definitely something I would love to have in the closet.

Pockets!
The neckline might be a bit open for me, but the dress is still pretty.

I would definitely be more comfortable in this style.
Love the use of solid bands to break up the print and frame the neck.

Another dress I would file under "cute."
Again the open neckline might be uncomfortable to me.

Easy knit maxi dress.  Perfect for summer.  Plenty of coverage at the bust.
Done.

Will need to see the line drawings - can't see the top of the dress,
or the details on the jacket very well in this photo.

Another cross over top.  Meh.
The skirt is cute though!  I would totally wear it.

Oversized crop top... meh.
I am assuming the shorts are based on the above trouser pattern?
I see pockets and no weird crotch issues.  Here's hoping it doesn't have a back zip.

Another oversized blouse... practical, but kinda boring.
I hope these shorts are a pattern though!

Nice sheath dress for the plus sizes.
Fabric print might be hiding design details at the waist?
Will have to wait for the line drawings.

I think the blouse is cute, or at least very similar to a lot of RTW I have seen lately.

The WTF preview photo - that top looks like it belongs to an interstellar linebacker.

So, what do you all think?  Are we excited?  Or is everything sort of derivative and boring?  Also, is it me, or does it seem like Burda is trying to get more "fashion magazine-y" with their photography?  Some of the photos feel very Burda, but some feel like pictures I would see in a different fashion magazine.  Do we like this direction, or would we rather see clean shots of the garments?  Feel free to discuss in the comments!

Newsflash: New Vogue Patterns Announced

The latest collection from Vogue is here!  Overall I have to say it is a good collection, but maybe not a great one.  There are a lot of patterns here that I like, but there aren't a ton that I actually want to go out and buy.  I think a lot of the patterns I do like are very similar to patterns I already have in the stash, or I find them interesting, but just not my personal style.  There are a few boring/baggy/sack dress patterns, but overall I think the release has more good stuff than bad.  Let's take a look:

First up, the dresses:

V1398 - A Mark + James Badgley Mischka pattern.
I like the top, and the scalloped skirt is interesting.
Perhaps a bit sweet for my taste?
I can think of several other bloggers who would own this look though.

V1399 - A Badgley Mischka dress pattern.  Actually I think this is quite clean and chic.
Normally I am not a fan of peplums like this, but here the proportions work.

V1392 - A Kay Unger New York pattern.
I like the off the shoulder neckline, though in my experience,
they are the most practical the wear.  Skirt... meh, but it has pockets!

V1393 - Another Kay Unger pattern.  I really like the contrasting bands,
though I am not sure the seam line details show up well in this lace fabric.
Cute, but I feel like I have seen similar designs before.

V1394 - Rebecca Taylor pattern.  The gathering on this dress is cute,
but nothing sensational.  Not sure how comfortable/practical the button-up back is.

V1395 - Another Rebecca Taylor.  Nice to see a draped dress for wovens.
Again, nothing amazing, but it would be easy to wear during summer.

V1396 - A DKNY pattern.  I actually sort of like this,
but I also know it wouldn't look good on me.  Hoping someone else is inspired to make it...

V1402 - A Lialia pattern.  Interesting use of the print on the dress,
but the pattern itself isn't terribly exciting to me.

V1397 - Tracy Reese pattern.  This actually reminds me a lot of
the dress from the October 2012 Burda...

The deep-V back is the most exciting part, I think.

V8998 - A Vogue Easy Options Custom Fit dress.
I wasn't super excited by the photo...

...but I do like some of the variations on the line drawings.
The cup sizing options don't hurt either.

V8997 - Another Easy Options pattern.
I wasn't very excited by the photo of this dress at first either...

But the line drawings won me over again.
Especially for the sheath dresses.  And more cup sizing - yay!

V8995 - The drawing isn't super inspiring on this Very Easy Vogue pattern.
But imagine it color blocked (and sleeveless) and you have a total winner.

V8993 - Another Very Easy Vogue.
Actually I think this dress is quite cute.

V9001 - Not sure how I feel about where all the
bust seam lines are located on this one...

V8996 - Another Very Easy Vogue.
The basic shape of the dress is quite simple, but it has awesome pocket placement!

V8992 - I feel like this coat dress could be quite cute, especially if styled appropriately.
And the long-sleeved version could probably be re-worked into a coat if one was so inclined.

There were also some awesome non-dress patterns too:

V8991 - A Claire Shaeffer Custom Couture pattern.
Might have to get this one just for the instructions and the sleeves.

V9009 - I like the line drawings of this jacket pattern, but I don't know
if I like it more than other patterns I have in the stash.  The collar is interesting though.

V9013 - A Very Easy Vogue pattern.  I like the skirt, and I like the jacket,
but I don't know if I would like how this translates in real life.
Might have to wait and see if anyone else makes up the jacket in this pattern before I invest in it.

V9016 - An Elizabeth Gillett NYC pattern.  Love this little shrug!  So cute!

This slightly edgier version isn't too bad either.
And I know exactly what I would wear it with.  Might have to add this to the stash...

V9005 - A draped tank top for knits.  In theory it is pretty,
but I feel I might get annoyed wearing it.  I am sure 20 million versions will pop
up on the blog-o-sphere and I will be proven wrong though...

And I think the other versions look quite voluminous.

V9003 - I think the peplum is just a bit too full on this top.
The collar on he neck looks a bit small too...

V9004 - Color blocked blouse.  Not sure I am loving it.
Mismatched neck seam - cool or sloppy looking?
(I do like the more basic view A - but I feel I could draft it myself using a stash tank top pattern.)

V9002 - I could see this simple top with flutter sleeves becoming quite popular.
Not sure I really love it myself, but it seems like simple tops are all the rage on Pattern Review lately.

V9006 - A Cowl neck for wovens.  Usually we see this sort of thing for knits,
but I am still not particularly excited by this pattern for some reason.

V9008 - These shorts actually aren't too bad!

Actually there are some nice variations in style and length,
while still having classic lines and the sorts of details you would want in a pair of shorts.

V9015 - A lingerie/sleepwear set pattern.

Actually, I love how the belt is attached to the robes!
And I like the slip variations too.

A few new Vintage Vogue patterns:

V9000 - This shirt dress is fine, but not the most exciting vintage reprint ever.

V8999 - This dress looks deceptively basic in the photo...

...but actually consists of a million seams!

It wasn't all good - Vogue also had quite a few baggy, shapeless, sack-dress looks this time around:

V1401 - A KOOS Couture pattern.  It's just... so... big.

V1400 - A Guy Laroche pattern.
Normally I am a fan of the Guy Laroche pattern, but without the belt, this is just...

A large baggy sack.  Boring.

V1390 - A Today's Fit pattern.
Again, this is just sort of shapeless looking on the model.

V1391 - Another Today's Fit.  Not exactly baggy, but not exactly exciting, either.

V8994 - Two words: Potato Sack.

V9010 - The tunic top is just so big!
The pants aren't bad, but what is the sudden fascination with zip-back pants?

V9012 - Ok, I feel like I would wear the top, and I would wear the pants,
but I would never wear them together.  Too much volume all at once!
And again with the zip-back pants!
Shouldn't be too hard to change to a side-zip though...

So, what do you all think?  Does this pattern set have some hits?  Or is it a total snooze-fest?  I feel like a lot of these patterns have the potential to be cute, but also might have the potential to end up in the Frumpy Ghetto of Waddersville.  There are a lot of styles here I like, but wouldn't wear, and others that I would wear, but probably don't need, as they would replicate pre-stashed patterns.  It is making it quite difficult to decide which patterns I would actually want to add to the stash, if any.  Anyone else having these sorts of conundrums?  Is it a sign that my stash is getting too full?  Feel free to discuss the pattern release and your stash dilemmas in the comments!