Appleton Dance

 by Linda Theil "Franken-plector" back slip-pocket in Tuscan scene fabric When I decided to make a new Spencer-Ogg "Amplector" cross body bag, I intended to use the Tuscan-scene fabric from the  "Bella Toscana"   collection by Whistler Studios for Windham Fabrics as the featured slip-pocket on the front of the bag.  For the lining, I chose a floral from the same collection from a fat-quarter bundle I purchased in 2019. For accents I found a brick-red solid in a box of "Ten Vintage Crayola Colors" in a box of fat quarters by Riley Blake Designs. I intended to use a tan webbing I had on hand for the long strap, and a bright orange #5 zip from YKK. But by the time the bag was birthed, it bore no resemblance to my original plan; instead, a Frankenstein's monster emerged. The trouble began when I decided to add a credit-card holder to the inside pocket of the bag. Since the "Amplector" doesn't have a credit-card holder, I sought adv...

by Linda Theil I was inspired after reading Jamie Waters' stylish promotion of cross-body bags for men in the January 14  WSJ: "How Men's Hype Bags Became the New Sneakers -- Once a punchline, men's cross-body bags by brands like Gucci and Off-White have emerged as must-have status accessories, eliminating back-pocket bulges and any outdated stigma in convenient, hands-free ways". Waters said: "Recently, another men's accessory has begun to inspire a sneaker-level spirit; a sling bag that clings to the body like a baby monkey. Sold by brands such as Fendi, Prada, and Stussy, the bags convey a sense of smart and elan like a new pair of Salomons." His description perfectly defined my favorite Spencer Ogg "Amplector" cross-body design, so I decided to venture into men's fashion. If Fendi, Prada, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Botega Veneta can create practical, cross-body bags for men at meaningful price points, so can I. My menswear cross-bod...