Yellow Dress Challenge: Interview with Vogue Patternmaker, Carlos Correa

How are your Yellow Dress Challenge dresses coming along? Between the extended deadline of April 10, 2020 and the fact that many of you are probably stuck at home, those sewing machines must be running on overdrive. 

We've been seeing some finished projects show up on Instagram. Just use #yellowdresschallenge in the search area to see all the entries thus far. They are all amazing and will give you LOTS of inspiration. 

With the news being so serious lately, I thought it would be fun to share some behind the scenes info about the designer behind Vogue 1671 -- Carlos Correa! 

If you follow McCall Pattern Company on social media, Carlos is not a stranger to you. Periodically he shares info about some of his popular designs. (I love the little extra tid bits he shares about the patterns!)

Enjoy our Q & A!

What is a typical work day like? 

A typical work day starts with checking e-mails and looking at my schedule for the day. I also go online to check out any breaking fashion stories at Vogue.com. 

What made you want to be a designer? 

What made me want to be a designer was being interested in clothes and fashion very early on. My mother and sisters all sewed so I grew learning about the craft and loving it. 

Did you go to school for fashion? If so, where? 

I studied fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. It was very helpful for me to get training and to be around other creative people. 

What do you use for inspiration? 

Inspiration comes from many sources. Runway shows, online retailers and fashion magazines are very important sources. I also get inspired by watching the very stylish people in and about New York City.

Who is your all-time favorite designer? 

My all time favorite designer is Dior.  So much glamour!

Do you sew? If so, when did you start? 

I started sewing as a teenager. I’ve always loved customizing clothes to fit my size and creating original looks. 

Click here to be directed to a video of this amazing shirt with an attached scarf!

What is your favorite hobby outside of designing? 

These days my favorite hobby outside of designing is cooking! I find it very rewarding to create a dish from scratch. 

Favorite fabric to use? 

Hard to pick a favorite fabric to use but I love wool and cotton fabrics the best. 

Favorite Food? 

My favorite food is Italian. 

Favorite place you’ve traveled? 

Favorite place I’ve traveled was Iceland. The landscape there is wild and unpolluted. I live in New York City so going on vacations where I can explore nature relaxes me. 

Any advice or words of wisdom for the sewing community? 

If you don’t have a lot of time to sew, just set aside an hour or to a day for sewing. Also do not rush to finish the project if speed is not your strength.

Carlos, thanks again for taking the time to answer some of our questions! Follow Carlos on Instagram.

If you want to learn even more about Carlos, check out the Love to Sew podcast. 

Learn more about the Yellow Dress Challenge, see our website.