I’ve been writing this blog for a year now and in that time I’ve made some clothes that I’m quite proud of and have worn a fair bit but when I look at the clothes in my wardrobe and drawers I’m thoroughly uninspired. I’ve never had what I would consider a ‘style’ I’m usually found in jeans and t-shirt and now I’m in my late 30s I feel its all wrong. Don’t get me wrong I’m not wanting to reach for the polyester slacks from M&S just yet but I’m fed up of looking like a Slummy Mummy and I want to be more Yummy Mummy! Where I really want to be is to have a capsule wardrobe based on some really great drafted patterns that I know SUIT me and FIT me so that I can go fabric shopping, see a fabric, think that will look great made into such and such dress, know how much fabric to buy and know that I have a reliable pattern at home waiting to turn this fabric loveliness into my next favourite garment.
So how do I go about doing this? I guess the biggest consideration is the right style for me, I’m most defiantly pear-shaped with large thighs, saddlebags and a wobbly tummy (alright I’m working on it but it takes a while, geez!) and ok boobs. The rules for me seem to be
- Fitted top half
- Empire waistline
- Princess Line cut
- A-line skirts
- Flared Skirts
- Wrap Dresses and Tops
- Jackets and tops should end at the hipline
- Avoid pleats and front zips on tummy
- No gathering on the waist
- No bias cut dresses or skirts
- Frilled hem on skirts (Yuk!)
- Slash-neck/Sweetheart/v-necks/boat neck/cowl necklines to widen the shoulder to balance hips
- Puffed/Gathered/Ruched/Fluted/Flared sleeves to draw the eye upwards
- Dark colours at the bottom, light colours at the top (exact opposite of what I’m wearing today, no wonder I don’t feel like I look good!)
- Nothing above the knee
- Dark wide legged trousers
- Bootleg trousers/jeans with minimal decoration on the butt
- Longer length trousers
- Wear Heels as much as possible (probably my biggest problem, I not a big shoe fan and heels defiantly not. I’m usually found in flat shoes and when I do buy nice clothes I find I haven’t got the shoes to go with it! Something major to work on….)
Sources (BBC, Shape Your Style, Women's Republic, Suite 101, Life tips, You Look Fab
Well I guess I need a list (love lists, I’m so Type A!) of what patterns I need and then work on drafting those patterns. I got loads of sewing books for Christmas so really I have no excuse but my own procrastination! I’ve also been browsing the Boden catalogue, which is always a source of inspiration to me, in fact it was looking at the lovely fabrics and the prices in there that made me start to sew clothes anyway.
- Shirt pattern (can be easily adapted for seasons and styles, fitted, loose, long sleeved, short sleeved etc.)
- Tunic pattern? (not sure about this one, often think I will look pregnant in most tunics on the high street atm)
- Dress pattern
- Wrap Dress (Everyone says for my pear shaped body types this is the best shape, I’m not convinced myself as they always seem to be made of clingy jersey which drapes on my wobbly bits in the wrong way)
- Cotton summer dress (have one in my wardrobe I can copy and use Rivera Dress as inspiration!!)
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- Skirt Pattern (already have an reliable a-line skirt pattern, what else do I need? Circle? )
So what's my plan? Well I think I should start with shirts. I think I can smarten up my appearance quickly and easily by making some shirts that I can wear with my existing jeans & flat shoes. A few months ago I started using Cal Patch’s Design-It-Yourself Clothes to draft a shirt pattern but when it came to making it up the armholes were very wrong. It all got put aside and no more progress was made on it. So I shall get it out again and see if I can get to the bottom of the problem, I might scrap it and start again!
So what about you? Are you happy with your style and your wardrobe, what changes would you like to make, what clothes would you like to see in your wardrobe?
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