The 3 Outfits I Designed and Created Specifically for my Trip to Turkey
Love traveling? Love fashion? Perfect fusion of the two? Are you ready to see the fashion designs made SPECIFICALLY to match amazing locations in Turkey?
Planning the Trip
We booked the tickets to Turkey very last minute. It’s the middle of a pandemic, flights were being canceled every ten seconds, borders were opening and closing before you had time to be updated. I wasn’t really sure if I was even going to be able to go. I hadn’t seen my boyfriend in over 5 months because of all the border closings, and so this was our chance. We had planned 5 trips and they all fell through, but now was time for Turkey.
Let’s just start by saying that Turkey is INCREDIBLE. I was always sooooooo excited to go to Turkey. It was a dream for a long time. I had only a few days before the trip to whip up an itinerary, book places to stay, flights, etc. AND to make outfits to match. Of course I could have just skipped the handmade outfits for this trip, there was too little time, I hadn’t seen my boyfriend in ages, a million excuses….but, I decided it was worth the rush. Turkey was too epic to miss out on amazing pictures with handmade items. I might never get to go again. I couldn’t miss out on the opportunity. And so the scramble began.
Design Process
Well there was certainly no time to go fabric shopping, but fortunately I always have a little stash of fabrics. Thrift store finds, gifts from friends, pieces I picked up here and there. I searched on Pinterest all the places that I would be visiting (Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Antalya), made a mental note of color schemes, and then went “fabric shopping” at home. Rummaging through my piles of fabric, I found three that, in my mind, would match Turkey perfectly. Bright colors, prints, florals, blues, and reds.
Then I picked three locations that I thought were the most epic. The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. Cappadocia (with all the hot air balloons!). Pamukkale (beautiful blue and white thermal pools). I looked at my three fabrics, matched them to location, and began
Outfit #1 – Striped 70s pants for the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul
Outfit #2 – Teal Maxi Dress (form fitted) for Pamukkale
Outfit #3 – Red Rose Dress for Cappadocia (hot air balloons)
Sewing and Creation
I only had three days to make all three items, make an itinerary for the trip, book everything, and pack. The time crunch was real. I started with the Striped 70s pants for the Grand Bazaar.
1. Striped 70s Flared Pants
Using a pattern that I made ages ago for my favorite pair of pants, I simply added 5-6 inches on each side of the bottom of the leg and tapered to the knee area to create that 70s style flare. Because the fabric was stretchy, I didn’t even have to add a zipper, just pull on and I was set! They only took me a few hours to complete so the same day I continued onto my second project.
View the full blog post where these pants are featured: EXPLORE THE GRAND BAZAAR IN ISTANBUL – THE OLDEST MARKET IN THE WORLD
2. Teal Maxi Dress
For my second project, I began to make the long teal form fitted dress I had in mind. Halter style, open backed, and some sort of gathered neck. I had made a bathing suit top similar in the past (see here) and so I used that as my pattern. Since this fabric too was stretchy, the skirt portion was very easily made. As I wanted it form fitting and long, it was only a few seams and then I was done! Adding a belt to cinch the waist and I was complete! All ready for Pamukkale!
View the full blog post where this dress is featured: VISITING PAMUKKALE? HERE’S EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO!
3. Red Rose Dress
Last but certainly not least, the STUNNING red rose fabric was waiting for me. When I originally found this fabric in the store, I had no idea what I would make out of it, but it was too beautiful to resist.
I knew this dress would take the longest, as there is a lot more detail, so I saved it for last. Perusing through Pinterest for some unique ideas, I got my inspiration, and began.
I wasn’t sure at first if the dress would be long or short. Originally I wanted long, but knew I wouldn’t have enough fabric. Figuring I’d just have to suffice with the short version I continued with the base of the dress (above) and started to add ruffles.
After one row I knew I needed the long version. It was lovely short, but long would be something else. Brooke saved the day and took a bus into Tel Aviv to check if maybe, hopefully, the fabric shop had more fabric to buy. WE WERE IN LUCK! She bought the extra few meters, I spent a veryyyyy long time gathering and pinning ruffles, and just in the nick of time……I finished the dress.
I packed everything up, boarded my flight, beyond thrilled for the trip, and super excited to see how all the handmade pieces would look in real life!
View the full blog post where these pants are featured: HOT AIR BALLOONS IN CAPPADOCIA – EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME
Photoshoots
And here are the end results!!! (At least some of them) All of the pictures turned out EXACTLY how I imagined them. The locations were incredible. And now I have some more amazing pieces to add to my wardrobe! Maybe one day to sell as well!
1. Striped 70s Flared Pants in the Grand Bazaar
2. Teal Maxi Dress at Pamukkale
3. Red Rose Dress at Cappadocia (Hot Air Balloons)
To check out the full posts on any of these locations check out our Turkey page here.
Lots of Love,
xoxoxoxo Danielle and Brooke, Colorful Sisters
33 Comments
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trumstravels
September 7, 2020 at 10:48 pmYou are so talented! Beautiful 😊
Colorful Sisters
September 8, 2020 at 6:49 amThank you so much!! That means so much! 🙂
arielaonthego
September 8, 2020 at 1:29 amSo beautiful, looks good on you!
Colorful Sisters
September 8, 2020 at 6:49 amThank you so much!! So happy you enjoyed! Thanks for stopping by!
BACK ROADS AND OTHER STORIES
September 8, 2020 at 12:36 pmGorgeous outfits! I am sure that in the 70s I had a pair of pants that looked just like the ones you made 🙂
Colorful Sisters
September 8, 2020 at 12:47 pmAhhh wow!! Thank you so much! And I’d love to see your pants!! Makes me so happy that the ones I made look authentic too 😍
BACK ROADS AND OTHER STORIES
September 8, 2020 at 12:52 pmOh, I wish I kept them (and all of the other clothes that I had from that time), they all slowly disappeared…but hey, you may find some of my clothes in one of the thrift stores in Israel 🙂
Colorful Sisters
September 8, 2020 at 1:04 pmI wish you kept them too! Hahahaa. I’ve definetly found some great Thrift stores here, but it’s more fun to make them sometimes! And also much cheaper hahah
BACK ROADS AND OTHER STORIES
September 8, 2020 at 1:05 pmHaha, true!
Vintage Mama
September 9, 2020 at 12:14 amThis is an absolutely incredible post!! I LOVE your blog. It’s so impressive with such great content. You are so creative!! 😊
Colorful Sisters
September 9, 2020 at 6:30 amOh my goodness!! How sweet of you! Thank you so much. It really means a lot 😍😍😍 we really love what we do so it’s so rewarding when people appreciate the hard work!!
Hot Air Balloons in Cappadocia - Experience of a Lifetime | Turkey Travel
September 9, 2020 at 5:45 pm[…] To see the full post of this dress that I made SPECIFICALLY for Cappadocia click here: THE 3 OUTFITS I DESIGNED AND CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR MY TRIP TO TURKEY […]
Aleesha Thomas
September 10, 2020 at 8:29 amWow 😍 Nice one ✨👏
Colorful Sisters
September 10, 2020 at 6:43 amThank you so much!! 😍
Image Earth Travel
September 16, 2020 at 11:02 pmAll 3 pieces are stunning! Your so talented. 🙂
Colorful Sisters
September 28, 2020 at 8:39 pmThank you so much!! So kind of you 🙂
Anne Sandler
October 3, 2020 at 3:57 pmThanks for visiting and following my blog! This post is amazing. I totally enjoyed seeing your process of creating outfits that match the surroundings of places you visit. You are very talented.
Colorful Sisters
October 3, 2020 at 4:19 pmThank you so much as well!!!! I’m happy you enjoyed. It’s something we truly love 😍😍😍
Ellen Shriner
October 3, 2020 at 10:37 pmFun to see your planning — impressive sewing! I sew, but rarely make clothing for myself (I’m not that good–everything looks too homemade!) Thanks for checking out WordSisters1
Colorful Sisters
October 4, 2020 at 6:44 amThanks so much, happy to hear. Maybe one day you’ll decide you want to take sewing to another level, never too late! We’re here for help 🙂
-Eugenia
October 4, 2020 at 1:40 pmWow! You are a very talented seamstress! I love all of the things you made, especially the red rose dress. Thank you so much for following my blog.
Colorful Sisters
October 5, 2020 at 6:48 amThank you so much!!! The fabric of the red rose dress is sooo beautiful! I was so happy when I found it! Thank you for your comment! 🙂
-Eugenia
October 5, 2020 at 6:06 pmYou’re welcome! 😉
Anna
November 2, 2020 at 6:50 pmWow, you guys are so talented. I love that last dress and I really like that you theme the clothes with the destination.
Colorful Sisters
November 2, 2020 at 7:01 pmThank you so much!! It’s really fun to be able to match it to the scenery. Our form of art 🙂
makaylajesalyn
November 26, 2020 at 4:49 pmI LOVE the red rose dress! 😍 You’re such a great designer!
Colorful Sisters
November 26, 2020 at 8:15 pmThank you soooo much!!! I love that one too. I wore it so many times on the rest of my trip in Turkey!
makaylajesalyn
November 27, 2020 at 3:55 pmSweet! I love wearing dresses but only if they feel ‘right’ on me. 😂
kerbey
December 13, 2020 at 9:50 pmBeautiful dress, beautiful lady.
Colorful Sisters
December 14, 2020 at 10:55 amAww thank you so much!!!
Kenya - The 2 Outfits I Designed Just for My Trip to Africa | Fashion Design
February 2, 2021 at 5:53 pm[…] If you want to see some of the other handmade items we’ve made for countries around the world, check out our posts on Israel: SOUTHERN ISRAEL: THE 4 OUTFITS WE MADE SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR TRIP TO THE DESERT and Turkey: THE 3 OUTFITS I DESIGNED AND CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR MY TRIP TO TURKEY […]
NM Hiker
October 4, 2021 at 7:36 pmOh how I love the red dress. So pretty!
Colorful Sisters
October 10, 2021 at 6:29 pmThank you!!!