I Became a Clothing Designer in Another World - Chapter 23

There are truly many types of outerwear that go well with a dress.

With an empire silhouette, it is often combined with a shawl, Spencer jacket, or bolero jacket.

A shawl is a blanket-like piece of fabric that, if the colors are well-matched, feels like a national dish that goes well over any dress.

A Spencer jacket or bolero jacket is a short outerwear that reaches just above the waist, like a crop top; it is slightly less warm than a shawl and covers less area, but it is pretty.

Because the unique short length matches the empire silhouette's high waistline so well, it can be considered the optimal combination.

If only considering prettiness, I would like to give her a jacket, but the problem was that there wasn't much time.

Even if the area is small, a jacket is still a jacket, so it can't be made quickly in just two or three days.

It would take at least a week to make it carefully, and since I don't know the size, I can't make it.

A jacket would be a disaster if it were loose.

So, should I give my sister-in-law a shawl?

A shawl is just a piece of cloth, so it's okay even if I don't know the size, and it's a common outerwear that men and women often use for warmth, so I can go out and buy it right now.

But I still have lingering feelings about the jacket.

In a situation where this is ambiguous and that is ambiguous, the compromise that came out after much deliberation was the cardigan.

The idea is to make it similar in shape to a Spencer jacket, but shorten the time by making it with knitting.

Because it's knit, it can be worn comfortably even if the size is roughly matched, it's easy to throw on, and it's not something to wear in a formal place, so it's okay even if it's not a jacket.

Since it can be made quickly thanks to the machine, it can be said to be the best choice right now.

The material of the cardigan is silk, and the color is black to match the sky blue.

Ivory or gray also go well with it, but.

Considering that she will become a Countess in a few years, I thought black, which gives a slightly calm and mature feeling, would be good.

After deciding what to make, everything proceeded smoothly.

Half a day from pulling out the fabric to organizing the yarn.

There were still two days left before my sister-in-law arrived, so there was plenty of time to wash it and give it to her.

"Hmm~ nice."

I feel good with the relaxed schedule.

Muttering to myself, I pick up a button made of horn and place it on the front of the cardigan.

"Why is this sweater split in the front?"

As I was estimating where to attach the buttons to the cardigan, Emily, who had carefully approached, put a teacup on the desk and asked a question.

"Because it's not a sweater."

"Yes?"

"Um... there's an article of clothing called a cardigan, which is a sweater that is split in the front and has buttons."

The name of the clothing was taken from the Earl of Cardigan, who was the producer in my past life, so I was wondering if I should give it a new name, but I just said the name that was in my past life.

At least there is no title of Cardigan in this country and surrounding countries.

I can just make an excuse that I made it up randomly.

"That's a piece of clothing I've never heard of before."

"Well, because it's a piece of clothing that didn't exist until now."

Sweaters are such old clothes that I don't even know their exact origin, but cardigans, which are derived from sweaters, are clothes that were made relatively recently.

Roughly around the mid to late 19th century?

I don't even know why it didn't exist before then.

I guess they didn't make it because they thought there was no need to make it.

In this world, it might exist in a distant foreign country, but at least I had never seen it even once until now.

Not even once in books or newspapers.

"Isn't it a little short?"

As I was attaching the second button, Emily pointed out the short length.

Sweaters cover at least up to the hips, but this one is so short that it barely covers the upper abdomen, so it must look strange.

"That's right, it's originally longer than this, but it has to be short to look pretty when worn with the dress I made yesterday."

"Wouldn't it be cold if it's that short?"

"It's summer now, and my sister-in-law might not like it because it's a piece of clothing she's never seen before, so I'm going to give it to her with a shawl."

It was like a small insurance.

I like the jacket shape better, but some people might like shawls more.

"Then that's okay."

Emily, who nodded at my answer, quietly took two steps back, as if there was no longer anything awkward about it.

"Hmm~ it's well made."

I took a sip of the tea that Emily had brought and completely sewed on the third button, then picked up the cardigan and spread it out wide.

There are no frayed parts, and there are no parts where the pattern is engraved incorrectly.

The buttons are properly attached at the correct intervals, and the thickness is not too thick, so it is easy to throw on even in summer.

I can just wash it lightly like this and then give it to my sister-in-law.

I gave a proud smile and looked at Emily standing nearby.

"Emily, please wash this."

"Yes, should I do it the same way you asked me to before?"

"Yes, lightly in cold water, okay?"

"Yes, yes~"

_

My sister-in-law arrived at the mansion in the afternoon two days later.

My sister-in-law, who carefully got out of the carriage with her red hair swaying, slightly lifted the hem of her skirt and bowed slightly as soon as she saw my mother.

"Mother, it's been three months since I saw you last. Have you been well?"

"I've been well, Wilhelmina. Were you uncomfortable on the way here?"

"It only takes four hours to get here from the Imperial City, so that's nothing."

"It's not nothing, don't act strong when you're not even in a healthy state."

"Hehe~ don't worry too much, I don't even have morning sickness, you know?"

"Okay, let's not stand outside for too long and go inside for a cup of tea."

"Yes."

"Butler."

"Yes."

The butler, who had been waiting nearby, slightly bowed his head at my mother's call and approached the carriage.

After watching the butler talking to my sister-in-law's maid, Charlotte, and the coachman and taking the luggage out of the carriage for a while, my mother gestured for us to follow her and turned around.

My sister-in-law and I stood side by side and quietly followed my mother.

"...?"

While walking into the mansion and down the hallway in silence, I suddenly felt a stinging gaze from the side.

Wondering what it was, I glanced to the side and saw my sister-in-law staring at me with her green eyes fixed on me.

"Sister-in-law, is there anything wrong?"

"Young master, you look much better."

"Yes?"

What is she talking about?

I'm no different than usual?

As I blinked my eyes with a puzzled expression, my sister-in-law smiled bashfully and added.

"Could it be that you've found a source of vitality in life? You used to have a bored look on your face, but now you have a smile on the corners of your lips."

"I have developed a new hobby, and it suits me better than I thought."

"Oh my, what kind of hobby is it?"

"I'm learning sewing a little bit."

"Sewing?"

My sister-in-law's eyes widened slightly.

"Are you making clothes?"

"Yes."

"Dresses? Or suits? What are you learning?"

"I'm trying everything. Recently, I've been working on dresses a lot."

"Dresses... that's amazing. If you've made anything, can you show it to me later?"

"Of course, I'll show it to you soon."

"Really?"

Maybe in 10 minutes, or 30 minutes if it's a little late, I can show it to you.

"Yes, you can look forward to it."

"Then I'll really be looking forward to it."

My sister-in-law nodded with a smiling look at my confident answer.

_

"Sister-in-law! Welcome!"

"Hello, Miss~"

The room we arrived at to have tea.

As soon as Hayes, who had been waiting there in advance, saw my sister-in-law, she smiled brightly and walked up to her with quick steps, exchanging a light hug.

Then, after taking a step back and holding hands, the two smiled sheepishly and looked at each other's faces.

"Miss, you've become more beautiful these days?"

"Hehe~ really?"

Hayes, who was holding her cheek with her left hand, smiled shyly and blushed slightly.

Looking at Hayes with a smiling look, my sister-in-law gently stroked Hayes' cheek and continued to speak.

"Hehe~ of course, your skin has become so smooth. Your atmosphere has also become like a mature woman. Now, men won't leave our pretty Miss alone, will they?"

"Actually, there's been talk of an engagement with a certain young master for a while now."

"Oh my, really? What kind of person is he? He must be a wonderful young master since he likes you, Miss, right?"

"Yes... he's very, wonderful, and kind..."

"Oh my~ I'm getting excited, too. Can you tell me more about him later?"

"Of course, sister, let's not stand here like this and sit down quickly."

Hayes, who was excitedly chatting with my sister-in-law, led my sister-in-law to the table.

My mother and I, who were watching that scene with a pleased look, moved our steps to the table only after Hayes sat down at the table and looked at us with sparkling eyes.

When all four of us sat at the table, Emily carefully approached with a tea tray and a basket, and placed the tray on the table and the basket next to me.

While Emily was pouring tea into the teacups, my mother, who glanced at the basket that Emily had put down, pointed to the basket and asked me a question.

"What is that basket?"

"It's a gift I'm going to give to my sister-in-law."

"Huh? I didn't prepare anything?"

"For me?"

Hayes and my sister-in-law turned their heads to me at the sound of the word "gift" and were startled.

"Haa..."

My mother narrowed her eyes and looked at me sharply before letting out a small sigh.

"William, didn't I tell you not to make a fuss and do useless things?"

"Mother, this is not what you said back then. I'm giving it to my sister-in-law for her to use."

"What is it? Can you show it to me?"

"Of course."

I got up from my seat with a confident smile and took out the dress in the basket and held it up.

"Oh my...!"

"Wow..."

"......"

As the sky-blue dress stretched out and the hem fluttered, small exclamations came from the mouths of my sister-in-law and Hayes.

As soon as I heard that sound, I could immediately feel that this dress was a success.