So in my last post I wrote about basically starting again with my wardrobe from scratch, as I had very few items that fit me, and I identified some gaps that I wanted to work on.
For pretty much the first time ever, I’ve followed through on my plans. In the past I’ve tried #makenine, I’ve tried jotting plans down with croquis in my sewing journal, and I typically find that I don’t follow through. It isn’t because I change my mind, but usually I get distracted by the next sewing idea (think “ooh, shiny!” levels of attention span) and the plans mount up.
So, how did I get on?
Since writing that post I sewed up a Tarlee tee in different sizing and I think that’s a T’n’T pattern for me now; I’m really happy with the fit throughout and it works perfectly in viscose jersey. I also sewed up a pair of Style Arc Barry pants, which were a shot in the dark using stash fabric, but which I’m really happy with; and I sewed two Cashmerette Roseclair dresses: one as a wearable toile, another as a final garment. Posts on those to follow when I get pictures. I also almost finished my SOI Sorrento jacket (it just needs buttons and waistband tabs).
Those five garments have really filled in some wardrobe gaps for me, to the extent that I was able to take a capsule wardrobe almost entirely consisting of handmade garments on holiday with me for a week. The only RTW I took was underwear, socks, swimwear, leggings, two tank tops and a pair of casual woven pants that are on their last legs and I plan to recreate at home. I don’t yet sew underwear or swimwear (or socks), so that’s a pretty good capsule!
So what was different and why did my plans work out? I think there are a few reasons:
1) I looked at my wardrobe, at what I wear, and at what I don’t have but I would wear. The Tarlee tee is a good example: I love my Tarlee tees and I wear them a lot, even though they’re a little small in the shoulders now. The Barry pants are another example, although I only wore them briefly; I know that I currently wear and enjoy wearing woven casual pants with elasticated waistbands, so I made something that fit in those parameters.
2) I also chose to make garments that could be worn year-round. I am beginning to really believe in transitional pieces as a priority (at least whilst I have a limited wardrobe to choose from) so that I don’t enter a new season and find I have barely anything to wear. Once I have a solid basis, then it will be time for seasonal garments.
3) I made short term plans. Attempting to plan far in advance (like with #makenine) is tricky for me because I’m easily distracted and my priorities change. I still want to make the things that are on my 2021 make nine, but they’re not priorities – at the time I thought hard about long term goals and advanced projects, rather than about reasonably making what I needed as I needed it. I think I put three coats on, for example – I’ll be amazed if I make more than one or two this year because there is so much more that I want to make and need in my wardrobe.
4) Taking (3) a step further, I had some really short term goals that focused me. I knew I was going on holiday, and I knew that I wanted new garments to choose from on that holiday. I wanted pieces that I could mix and match with existing items to get more choices, and I knew that I wanted a new smart-casual outfit. I also knew that we were going to be celebrating a special family birthday and would likely be dressing up one night, so I specifically planned a dress that I thought would meet the fancy requirements (and I’ll post separately on this dress later, as it was a journey and I’m very pleased with it!).
Once I have photos, I’d like to share my capsule wardrobe (at least the handmade items) because I really did feel prepared for almost every eventuality, and I had plenty of items that didn’t get worn. But I now feel a lot less anxious about the state of my wardrobe as I now know that I have good building blocks to work with.
Sew Pippa 