I couldn't find my camera—so I never
posted this...Got the car washed yesterday—and found my
camera—which had slipped under the seat. So, with photo's—it's
time to post!
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| The newest shirtdess |
The first thing to know is while I do
have some favorite colors, I love every color. I especially love
purple (from the deepest darkest, to the palest shades, from blue
violet to red violet, and the purest shades—I love them all.)
But purple isn't loved by everybody—and
it comes and goes in popularity when it comes to fabric. There are
years when you can't find anything in purple—and then a brief
flowering, and then back to nothing. In non purple years I wear every
color in the rainbow—Blues from pale to navy can always be found,
and turquoise, too. Browns, too, and there is no shortage of the
other 2 staples in every modern woman wardrobe—Black and denim!
There are fair amount of neutrals (grey taupe/kahki, and brown) and
there are always some wild and wacky colorful prints and knits.
Orange is the least common color (it really doesn't go well with my
pale skin) but there are some splashed of it—at least in some
prints.
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| An other (new too) collarles version |
The second thing to know is I
practically wear uniforms. For more than 40 years, my wardrobe has
always been made of a few staple styles. First—the shirt dress.
Some times waisted, sometimes not (and sometimes with a front only
waist feature or back only waist feature)-Shirt dresses are a
perennial favorite. The details change –simple collars, or
tailored ones, Yokes (front or back or shoulder) come and go, and
buttons are replaces with pearl snaps, or even on occations, zippers.
Most often they have sleeves (short) but some are sleeveless (and
summery) and some are shortish, and sleeveless (and worn as tunics with
leggings and turtle neck shirts!)--All--all the time, have
pockets... Usually side seam pockets, but some times patch pockets
(especially chest pockets!). At least 2 (the side seam ones)
sometimes more.
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| This version is a few years old. |
Part 2 of "uniform" are A line skirts with
VESTS. Sewn ones, or knitted-- I like the finished look a vest gives
to an simple skirt. I have a nice selection of blazers and
jackets—but these are often too formal—a vest finishes of a
simple skirt and top with out being too much –Besides, I have a
problem with sleeves--(I am very picky about the length, and
thickness, and fit) but of course, vests never present problems!)
This problem with sleeves makes if very difficult for me to find
outwear (jackets and coats) that I like—but that is a whole 'nother
topic!
I like jumpers, too. Simpler than
shirt dresses, with scooped necks and easy arm holes—Just pop them
on and you are dressed! (My grandchildren call them “Apron”dresses
(or more correctly “cooking clothes”-the word apron isn't
cemented into their vocabulary)
I go a few years wearing print skirts
with solid tops—and they I flip flop and only wear solid skirts and
print tops...and the same goes for the shirt dresses—a few years of
only prints used, followed by a few years of solid fabric ones...(I am about to switch from print dresses to solid ones.)
60% of my clothes (outer wear vs.
underwear) are home made—either hand sewn or hand knit—at times
in my life, the percentage was higher, and other times lower...but I
have never really stop sewing.
I try to make one or two new things a
year—clothes do wear out, and get damaged. A few(5?) years ago I was
very busy and sewed up a lot of new things—and now the time has
come again to add some new stuff--some of my older (20 years +) has worn out, and I need a new influx.
So first—a new shirt dress in a
bright summery print--done. Coming soon (already pinned out) a skirt and
vest in a coordinating blue solid. There is enough blue for left
over for a half skirt—and I will make one—a hip yoke of the blue,
and lower tier of the print. Left over scraps of both fabrics will
be come small appliques on T shirts- So I will have a shirt dress—to
wear as is, or with the blue vest (I also have a solid yellow vest,
too!) the blue skirt can be worn on its own, or with the blue vest,
same with the 2 toned skirt. The solid skirt & vest combo can be
dresses up with a nice shirt—or be more casual with T shirt (lots
of different color T's go with blue) or a store bought print knit
shirt—I have a few of those too.
Since I started this posts, (last week) the skirt and vest have been cut--and the linings and the interfaces, too. I have thread and buttons, and have made 2 bobbins set up too--Today I will overstitch the edgings, and iron on the interfacings..
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| A print(a vest to be) and some solids that will be skirts |
My second big set will be based on a
vest of this printed fabric(center) I love it! The solids, (all cotton twills) will become skirts that
are great go-withs—Reddish plum, a dark purple, dark grey and not
too common color for me, a bubble gum pink—Add a few T shirts that will
get some trimming with the print—and everything will go together—I
have a lot of purple accessories—so out fits can be dresses up (a
dark purple skirt with a pale lilac linen shirt and hand knit silk
lace scarf made from ombre yarn—will make a nice, some what dressy
outfit. But the same dark purple skirt with a white T that has a
purple dragon fly decal—and its a simple every day out fit.
I still have a large store of
fabric—But you can never have too much, can you? There are 2
lengths of blue (one indigo, one prussian blue) that will likely
become solid shirt dresses (I think I have enough print ones!) and
there is always a stock of denim—some heavy stiff ones, some soft
and drapy ones—that will turn into vests, and skirts and
jumpers—The denims range from black, to dark indigo, to medium
blue—one print remnants will become vest--(I already have 3 denim
vest—but the great thing is, I can always use another!) I even
stocked up on needles and thread—A few weeks of sewing, and I will
be bored and will put my sewing machine away—but by then my
wardrobe will have healthy injection of color!
