Four New Arias For Spring

…Adding to My Coastal Preppy Wardrobe with the Love Notions Aria

The Aria Button Down is on sale today, Friday 4/4/2025 for just $6! If you purchase the Aria on-demand course for $25 today, you get the pattern for free. My code LOVEMARY10LN, can be used if purchasing the course or just the pattern. The course is regularly $30.

A classic button down is always a staple in any coastal preppy wardrobe. Worn open over a tee is such a classic coastal thing to do! It can also be worn under a cardigan or blazer. In the NorthEast by the coast, our mornings and evenings are often cool. Long sleeve shirts are really worn year round! I wear mine all Spring and Summer! When the weather gets hot I simply roll up my sleevesI My linen and seersucker Arias are some of my most worn! Want to read more about my “Coastal Preppy Wardrobe” and which Love Notions patterns I use to create it? Check out this blog post!

Nervous about sewing a button down shirt? No need to be! There is an awesome sewing course you can purchase that holds your hand every step of the way. Detailed information on the course can be found below. I have personally viewed the entire course and must say it is amazing!

These are the four new Arias button downs that I added to my closet these past 2 weeks. When I have several garments from the same pattern planned, I often batch cut, batch prep and batch sew.

I had to empty my sewing room last month in order to have it painted and a new floor installed. So before that “mess” began, I cut out all 4 of these Arias. Not only did I cut the fabric, I cut all the interfacing pieces and attached them to all the fabric pieces. Then I did all the pinning and sewing on all 4! I did have to change threads a few times, especially for my color blocked version. So these 4 new Arias were sewn in my kitchen in March. They did however, just get their buttonholes and buttons just last night. Now they are all ready and waiting for Spring to decide to come back!

If you want more details on the Aria button down be sure to visit this blog post. Here you can find general info on the Aria as well as find out how I altered it to fit my petite pear shape. I’ve also included some sewing tips for the Aria.

Aria #1~ Lightweight Denim Chambray

Last year, my most worn Aria was my linen/rayon chambray version. (You can see that in this blog post.). I decided to raid my stash and found this lightweight denim chambray with pineapples, I knew this would be a perfect Aria. It’s soft and will just keep getting softer the more I wash and wear it.

If you’re new to sewing the Aria, a chambray is a great fabric to begin with. It’s stable not shifty, doesn’t fray and is easy to sew with. This was purchased about 5 years ago, and I don’t remember where I got it from. You can find chambray at most online fabric retailers.

Aria #2~ Pink Stripe Cotton/Linen blend Stripe

This fabric was simply a dream to work with! It doesn’t wrinkle as much as 100% linen but is just as cool to wear. When making an Aria in a striped fabric, I love to play around with the direction of the stripes as shown in the photos below.

This fabric was purchased from one of my favorite fabric stores in the NYC Garment District. MetroTextiles always has a changing selection of fabric to choose from at amazing prices. (I in fact was there today and picked up a green and white stripe cotton poplin for another Aria!!). If you ever happen to be in NYC, it is a place you must stop in!

Aria #3~ ColorBlocked Linen

I’ve had this on my “to-sew” list for a couple of years now. I admit~ I simply LOVE colorblocking! What a perfect combination~ the Aria color blocked in 100% linen! I put it on for photos just earlier and I already know it will be one of my most worn Arias this Spring and Summer.

The handkerchief linen is from GrayLines Linen in the NYC Garment District as well. This is another great shop~ it only sells LINEN!

Want to know more about sewing the Aria in linen? Well, lucky for you I wrote a whole blog post about the Aria and linen. You can read that blog post HERE.

Aria #4~ Embroidered Seersucker

I am a sucker for seersucker!!! There are a lot of reasons to love seersucker. One of the best things about the preppy puckered fabric is that it doesn’t wrinkle. It doesn’t need to be ironed, which makes it great for traveling.

This fabric is actually from Joann Fabrics. My sister had given me a gift card that I was planning on using for thread and other notions (because my Joann is mostly quilting cotton and fleece). I happened to be in the store with my sister when we saw this fabric being unboxed. My sister commented that she thought this fabric looked like something I would wear~ so it came home with me!

Want to know more about seersucker? Yes, I am a fabric nerd and love reading about origins of different fabrics. Visit this blog post for some interesting facts about seersucker!

Don’t forget~ the Aria button down also includes an awesome dress! I made this bright pink linen version when the pattern first released. Yesterday, I bought this green cotton madras plaid in NYC to copy a dress I saw in Brooks Brothers.

Sew MaryMac’s Tips for Sewing the Aria

• Note on the Cutting page (page 7) there are Piece Prep instructions at the bottom of that page. Don’t skip the stay stitching step!!!!
• On page 13, step #4~ I found it helpful to use a water soluble marking pen to draw my stitching line for the collar notch area. 
• Page 13, step #5~ PRESS!!! When topstitching this step, I found it helpful to begin at the center back of the collar/yoke and work my way around.
• PRESSING!!! This can really make a difference in your completed garment. I am definitely team press as you go. There are times when you just can’t wait until the end to press everything. Making a classic shirt like the Aria really calls for pressing. It truly can make the difference between handmade and homemade.
• Remember that the button placement markings on the front band piece are just a suggestion. I rarely follow these. I try on my garment and start by placing a button at my bustline to avoid gaping. I actually used 8 buttons on my shirt instead of 6. This is the advantage of sewing our own clothes. I have NEVER been able to buy a classic button-down shirt that I can button or wear comfortably.
• If making your Aria in a plaid or stripe, cut plackets on the bias so you don’t need to work about matching them.

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Thanks for stopping by! I truly appreciate all of you that visit!  If you enjoyed this blog post, consider subscribing to my blog to stay up to date with all my posts!  

Mary Anne 🙂

Remember to follow me over on Instagram to see all my latest makes!  @sewmarymac

You can also follow my Facebook Page~ Sew Mary Mac. On this page you will find information on my makes from all pattern companies. If I know of any good sales(pattern or fabric) I will also feature this information. I have had many of my loyal followers send me friend requests on Facebook. I do post in the Love Notions group under Mary Anne MacLean, however this Facebook account is private. There is no sewing content on that Facebook Account.

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You can purchase the Aria Button Down pattern HERE.

You can purchase the Aria Button Down Course HERE. 

These are affiliate links. It costs you nothing to purchase from these links, it just helps fund my fabric addiction which allows me to test and review more patterns.

To receive an additional 10% off the pattern price, use this coupon code LOVEMARY10LN. This coupon code can be used at anytime on any pattern….even a $6 Feature Friday pattern.  My code does change quarterly, so please always check the newest blog post for an update if you find a code isn’t working.

The Aria Course Info

This on demand course is a complete step-by-step video course that shows you every single step at your own pace. You can view or purchase the Aria Course Here.

The course is divided into 7 lessons: 

• Fabrics and Notions
• Taking Measurements and Choosing Your Size
• Using the Pattern Files
• Common Pattern Adjustments
• Cutting the Pattern Out
• Preparing Your Pattern Pieces
• Sewing~ 12 topics