Style Falcon Patterns: Designs for Mature Figures, with Diane Scarponi | Episode 74
Diane Scarponi is addressing the ageism issue head-on through Style Falcon, her independent pattern company. The founder of this online business and her team of experts do plenty of research, then design and create patterns and accompanying instructions with the older figure in mind. She shares her process and details about her patterns with Threads Editor Carol J. Fresia in this episode of Sewing With Threads.
Catering to the Mature Figure
Patterns sold today are based on the youthful hourglass figure. But Diane decided from the beginning to base Style Falcon patterns on extensive research and the measurements of a 60-year-old fit model who has a more mature figure. Mature figures often have a lower bust point, less definition in the bust-to-waist-to-hip ratio, more rounded shoulders, more flesh in the biceps and the thigh areas and other differences, which distinguishes them from younger figures, Diane explains.
“If something doesn’t fit properly in the shoulders it’s probably not going to fit properly anywhere,” she notes. “That is really key. Everything is hanging off that point. It is really important for that to be right.”
So her team created a pattern block from the measurements and with those many mature-figure characteristics in mind. The patterns go through extensive reviews and adjustments, plus they are tried out by Style Falcon’s dozens of testers.
Visually Accessible Patterns
She also has made the patterns and instructions more visually accessible. There are large-print versions of the instructions, and pattern pieces are printed with bolder fonts and lines, Diane says.
Style Falcon Style
In developing her patterns, Diane says she wanted “to have some style that’s inspired by this (mature) figure, as opposed to having to cope with it.” Listen in to find out how she did that and more about her pattern designs.
Be sure to look for the three new patterns she plans to release in 2024: stretch pants, a zero-waste cardigan, and a duster.
To sign up for the StyleFalcon newsletter and for a discount, go to StyleFalcon.net.
You can follow Diane and Style Falcon on Instagram and on Facebook.
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This topic is so ironic - Threads magazine uses almost exclusively very young and thin models, even though the majority of serious garment sewers are older women. Thanks for the podcast. Please use more diverse models, especially older ones, and average-sized ones!