Hey y’all! Long time no speak, or write should I say? I’ve been really busy lately (isn’t that always the excuse?), but wanted to drop by and say that my book, #OOTD (Outfit of the Day) Sew & Style: Make Your Dream Wardrobe with Angela, is officially out TODAY!! The book I’ve been talking about for months and keeping all the details to share “when the time is right.” I guess now is the “right time!”
I’ll be splitting this into 2 or 3 posts because I have so much to share, including the journey of writing, photo shoot mishaps, behind-the-scene photos, working with my lovely publisher, funny stories, peaks inside the book, and more. To kick off this series will be today’s introduction post. If you want to follow along this series and never miss a post, I suggest you follow me on Bloglovin’ HERE.
Now onto the fun stuff!
In a Nutshell
#OOTD Sew & Style: Make Your Dream Wardrobe with Angela is a book I wrote starting from the age of 11 until now, at 14. In a nutshell, it’s a book teaching teens the basics of sewing while creating garments at the same time. My goal with this book in particular is to teach girls how to make store-bought looking clothes in the easiest way possible, step-by-step. After a making a couple of projects, they can learn how to modify basic patterns to create different looks of a “dream wardrobe.”
#OOTD Sew and Style is not only a sewing book for teens, it’s a complete guide on garment sewing basics. Dedicated to teaching beginning sewists how to sew their own clothes, it combines the best of kids’ sewing and professional garment-making books.
The Deets
(Images to come soon! For now, you can view a preview the book HERE on Amazon.)
The book starts off with the foundations of sewing, such as fabric types, types of stitches, basic sewing techniques, and then moves on into more garment-based techniques such as zippers and darts.
From cutting fabric to zippers to french seams, it’s a skill-building book that teaches the reader new techniques and helps her to practices these skills by making a new clothing item at the end of each chapter. There are 6 step-by-step designs , but I also included instructions on how to modify these projects to create a totally different look, such as turning a shorts pattern into a pair of pants for a total of 10 looks.
Full size patterns are included as a pullout at the back of the book!
The Story
When I first started making my own clothes, I was still a relatively beginning and young sewer. I was mostly teaching myself, reading books and watching Youtube videos. However, while I wanted to dive into the world of self-made fashion, there was no “go-to” book or resource that could teach me the basics of sewing while creating clothes at the same time. There were the kid sewing books that taught me how to make potholders and pillows, but I wanted to make, well, clothes. Something that I could wear on a daily basis and show off. Then there were the beginner garment sewing books that were geared towards adults, so none of the included patterns were in my size and the wording was too complicated for my 10 year old brain. A couple years after my experience, I realized that the huge market of sewing books still lacks a complete, from start to finish, “design and sew your own clothes while learning how to sew” kind of book targeted towards teens.
I started writing this book in the fall of 6th grade, even before I starting homeschooling and had my English teacher proofread parts for me. Though most of it is scrapped now, it was the start of something big for me. I got a book deal with a publisher in the following summer and spend the next 2 years (then to right now) pouring my heart into this book, whether it be writing or staying up late to sew. I can proudly say that I’m a published author at 14, but there are many people along the way whom I have to thank for their love, support, and encouragement.
I plan to do another post on the exact details/ timeline of my writing journey (ie how I got a book deal, the writing process, etc.) so be on the lookout for that if you’re interested! Also if you have any specific question about any part of writing a book, let me know in the comments below. I will be sure to include them in my “tell it all” post!
From Me to You
At the end of the day, whether you have an interest in fashion or a passion for something else, I hope to inspire teens to pursue their passion. Just go for it! You’ll never know if you don’t try, and if you do, you may end up with some amazing opportunities or accomplishments you can be proud of.
Buy the Book
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/OOTD-Outfit-Day-Sew-Style/dp/1617451363/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1457917750&sr=8-1&keywords=ootd+sewing
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ootd-sew-style-angela-lan/1122639259?ean=9781617451362
C&T Publishing: http://www.ctpub.com/ootd-outfit-of-the-day-sew-style/
Indigo: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/ootd-outfit-of-the-day/9781617451362-item.html?ikwid=angela+lan&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=0
ALSO!!
I’ll be at these events during the upcoming weeks!
Book Launch Party
Saturday, April 23
12:30- 2:00 pm
To thank everyone for all the support and the launch of my book, we’re having a party to celebrate. There will be a book signing, a Q&A session, $50 value giveaway, sewing demo, and more! Anyone is invited, no RSVP needed, just hope to see you there! I’d love to just talk and catch up with everyone! xx
Eddie’s Quilting Bee
480 S. Mathilda Ave
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Book Signing and Talk
Saturday, May 7
1:30- 2:30 pm
Presentation on my journey of fashion design, writing the book, how to find your personal style, tips on pursing your passion, and more! (Limited seating, please arrive early!)
Campbell Library
77 Harrison Ave
Campbell, CA 95008
Book Signing
Come hang out with me and get your copy of “#OOTD Sew & Style” signed!
Saturday, May 14
11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Barnes & Noble Almaden Plaza
5353 Almaden Expy
San Jose, CA 95118
Bio
Angela Lan is a teen fashion designer and lifestyle blogger from Northern California. Self-taught, she is an artsy girl who wants to pursue a career in design and is the author of the teen sewing book “#OOTD Sew & Style- Make Your Dream Wardrobe with Angela”. At only 14, Angela has been featured in newspapers and on national television, sponsored by companies such as Fabric.com, and has had her designs and garments shown in exhibits country-wide.
Angela writes regularly at lovespunk.com, sharing fashion and style inspiration and DIYs, as well as a look into her personal life living in California. Reaching teens worldwide, she hopes to inspire others to follow their passion.
