FAQ's – Le Bestiaire 2 Capsule
Le Bestiaire returns for a new chapter. New patterns, new fabrics, and the same wild spirit. The story continues against a backdrop of raw, untamed nature, where the Maison Fauve wardrobe plays with contrasts - strength and softness, boldness and timeless elegance. A collection of striking pieces, designed to captivate and made to be worn your way.
This capsule tells the story of our ever-renewed love for animal prints, reimagined through unexpected fabrics and colours.
The Savage print makes cotton gabardine roar, while its zebra version brings a bold, graphic edge.
The Tiger viscose jacquard continues to captivate, reinvented in two new shades: a wildly elegant navy blue and a luminous cumin.
The Fauve Woman never loses her boldness. She dares, experiments and explores new fabrics.
A suede-effect fabric joins the Maison Fauve fabric collection: beautifully velvety in both look and feel, with the perfect weight and drape. Easy to sew, it comes in a versatile, easy-to-pair palette of glazed brown, beige and khaki.
The 100% virgin wool lightweight flannel is wonderfully soft and fluid, while its heather grey shade is effortlessly elegant. It pairs just as beautifully with soft, powdery tones as it does with bolder colours. And the little black dress is reimagined as an iconic little dress in a stormy-sky grey!
The patterns also play with contrasts: the sensuality of the Cursive knit wrap top meets the relaxed ease of the Ex Libris overshirt - two pieces made to wrap yourself in as autumn arrives.
The spirit of Les Mots Bleus lives on: your creations speak for you. Through their boldness, their freedom or their softness, they tell the story of the Fauve Woman silhouette.
Follow me as we explore this new, spirited chapter of Le Bestiaire.
FAQ Summary
Questions about patterns
- Can the Ex Libris overshirt be lined?
- How does the Ex Libris overshirt fit?
- Which fabrics are suitable for the Ex Libris?
- Can the Cursive wrap top be sewn using a regular sewing machine?
- Can the wrap top be adapted into a faux wrap trop, dress or bodysuit?
- Is the wrap top cropped? Can it be lengthened?
- Is the wrap top flattering on different body shapes?
- Can the wrap top be worn on its own without a camisole underneath?
Questions about fabrics
- What’s the difference between the Fauve and Cumin shades of dupion?
- What types of projects are suitable for the lightweight wool flannel?
- What types of patterns are suitable for the suede fabric?
- What types of patterns are suitable for the new soft jersey knit?
- What can you sew with the Savage cotton gabardine?
- Are the motifs on the Savage gabardine identical to those of the viscose poplin?
Questions about patterns
Can the Ex Libris overshirt be lined?
It is certainly possible to line Ex Libris, although the pattern was not designed with a lining. Ex Libris is intended as an overshirt rather than a jacket or winter coat, and its construction has been designed with this in mind.
While the pattern works beautifully in a wide range of fabrics, we did not envisage it as a lined garment and there are currently no plans to offer a lining extension for the pattern.
How does the Ex Libris overshirt fit?
Ex Libris has a straight cut and comfortable ease, designed to be worn over T-shirts, lightweight shirts or thin sweaters. There’s no need to size up; if you’re between two sizes, choose the smaller size.
Vanina wears a UK 22 (FR 50), Julie a UK 12 (FR 40), and Deborah and Emilie a UK 8 (FR 36) - their usual sizes for Maison Fauve blouse and jacket patterns.
What fabrics are suitable for the overshirt?
We sewed Ex Libris in a poly-viscose suede-effect fabric with a lovely feel and good drape, a more structured cotton gabardine, and corduroy. All medium-weight fabrics are suitable.
For softer fabrics, we recommend reinforcing the rounded pocket opening on the front piece (1) with a strip of fusible interfacing to prevent it from sagging.
Can the Cursive wrap top be sewn on a regular sewing machine?
Yes, of course. The Cursive step-by-step video tutorial shows how to assemble the top using an overlocker, but we also have a dedicated video tutorial explaining how to sew knit fabrics with a standard sewing machine. The finish will, however, be less neat and durable than with an overlocker.
Can the Cursive wrap top be transformed into a faux wrap top, dress or bodysuit?
In sewing, anything is possible! However, these variations are not included in the pattern. Cursive does not have the volume or cut required to significantly lengthen it into a dress or transform it into a bodysuit, so pattern-making skills would be needed for these alterations. A faux wrap top also requires a different construction. If you’re looking for this style, our Ludmilla dress/top pattern includes a faux wrap variation.
Is the wrap top cropped? Can it be lengthened?
Inspired by ballet dancers’ wrap tops, Cursive is designed to be quite short, with the long tie belt sitting at the natural waist. The pattern includes lengthen/shorten lines so you can adjust it to your torso length, but these are not intended for significant alterations, such as lengthening the top to the hips.
Is the wrap top flattering on different body shapes?
The pattern has been tested and approved across the full size range. It looks just as beautiful on Vanina, who wears a UK 22 (FR 50) and has a fuller bust, as it does on Julie, who wears a UK 12 (FR 40) and also has a fuller bust. Déborah has a smaller bust and wears a UK 8 (FR 36), while Emilie, also a UK 8 (FR 36), has a narrower back and smaller bust. The cut is incredibly flattering across different body shapes, and the stretch in the recommended fabrics allows the garment to comfortably hug and adapt to your curves.
Can the wrap top be worn without a camisole underneath?
Yes, absolutely. If you’d prefer not to show your midriff, we recommend pairing it with high-waisted trousers or a skirt.
Questions about fabrics
What is the difference between the Fauve and Cumin shades of dupion?
The Fauve shade has warmer, more orange tones, while Cumin is more golden. The two work beautifully together for a colour-block look that plays with different tones from the same colour palette.
The Cumin dupion is also very close in colour to the background of the tiger-print Savage gabardine, making them perfect for pairing together.
What types of projects are suitable for sewing the light wool flannel?
This soft, supple fabric has a beautiful drape. Made from 100% virgin wool, its tightly woven construction also makes it highly crease-resistant. It’s ideal for tailored trousers such as Brooklyn, or for creating a more elegant, sophisticated version of the Andrea barrel-leg trousers or Synopsis Bermuda shorts.
Its fluid drape also works beautifully for dresses. Try Twist, where the fabric will really showcase the pleated detailing, Prose with its elegant pleats, or the Cosmopolitan pinafore dress. It’s also a great choice for Peacock or Grand Bain shorts. The Ex Libris overshirt would look beautiful in this fabric too; we simply recommend reinforcing the front pocket opening with a strip of fusible interfacing.
For jackets, choose styles that work well with fluid fabrics and where a softer drape complements the construction, such as the Mimosa blazer.
What types of patterns are suitable for the suede fabric?
The faux suede is a beautiful fabric with a very realistic suede finish. It’s soft and supple while still having enough structure to hold its shape. It would work beautifully for the Misfit biker jacket, Pilar jacket or Calypso coat, while the Ex Libris overshirt is another excellent choice.
It’s also perfect for trousers or shorts, with patterns such as Ronsard, Andrea, Synopsis or Peacock all working particularly well. We’ve also sewn it as the Prose skirt, with beautiful results. Its slightly weighty drape gives the skirt an elegant look and feel, very similar to genuine suede.
What types of patterns are suitable for the new soft jersey knit?
It’s a soft, fluid and fairly lightweight knit, perfect for the Cursive wrap top, as well as T-shirts and tank tops. However, it’s too lightweight for styles such as the Ludmilla dress or Pirate striped top.
What can you sew with the Savage cotton gabardine?
The Savage cotton gabardine is printed on the same 100% cotton base as our other plain and printed gabardines, making it suitable for a wide range of patterns.
- Jackets or overcoats (such as Roman, Ex Libris, Pilar or Misfit)
- Shorts and trousers (Worn, Andrea, Ronsard, or Peacock)
- A structured skirt like the Silvana pattern
As a general rule, if a pattern is suitable for denim, gabardine or chino, you can sew it in Savage gabardine too!
Are the Savage gabardine prints identical to those of the viscose poplin?
Almost, but not quite! The Zebra version is a true black and white, unlike the poplin version, which features very dark brown tones within the print.
The Cumin background also varies slightly between the poplin and the Tiger gabardine. This is due to the different fabrics and production techniques: the gabardine is yarn-dyed (the threads are dyed before the pattern is created), while the poplin is printed. But these subtle differences certainly won't stop you from mixing and matching the fabrics and prints. 😉
