Stitcher's Guild

I went looking through the online Vogue catalog today.  I needed to take a break from forums, email and new-site design...and reading about sewing lately made me think I might get some inspiration there.

But I'm alway severly disappointed by the choices available.  Not because there aren't plenty of nice clothes -there always are.  But because there's not that much in the way of simple slip-on-and-look-good-clothes.

I live in t-shirts and jeans.  I mean literally -my whole day is spent at home, in front of my computer or puttering around house and garden.  I might leave the house once a week; my tiny community once a month.

I get tired of the same wardrobe day after day.  But I don't want to spend a fortune for patterns I'll never make up or making clothes I'll rarely -if ever- wear.  So, I have a few tried and true patterns that I make over and over -and they all look like t-shirts and jeans.

So I'd love to see some ideas for things that are practical and durable (but not too trendy or 'young'), but are a little more formal? attractive? upbeat. 

And why is every 'wardrobe' pattern a jacket (never wear) a tank (rarely wear) a button-down blouse (occasionally wear) and pants or a skirt?  I end up making the most appropriate item several times, and the others not at all.  ::)

Since I'm now living in Asia, I have more of an Asian influence in my clothing.  I've taken to wearing a lot of shalwaar kameez.  Shalwaar are the pants, while kameez is the top.  The kameez is a tunic that's traditionally down to the knees or longer with side slits from the hips down.  They can get very fancy and ornate, or they can be simple and daily wear, or anything in between. 

I like wearing them because they're comfortable (pants) but dressy (sort of a long, less formal version of a dress) and they look nice, even on frumpy bodies like mine.  Here, they're traditionally worn with a dhupatta (shawl), but not always and not necessarily so.

You can see some examples at Kaneesha (http://www.kaneesha.com/suit_index.cfm), Salwaar Kameez India (http://www.salwarkameezindia.com/buy-salwar-kameez.htm), more Salwaar Kameez India (http://www.salwarkameezindia.com/ready-to-wear-salwar-kameez.htm), Home India (http://www.homeindia.com/catalogue/apparel/salwar/index.shtml), eShakti (http://www.eshakti.com/clothsrpage.asp?catalog=Clothes&cate=Wash+N+Wear+Trendsetters&pagecount=1&from=TS),  Priyanka's / India Garment (http://www.indiangarment.com/myshop/nu_searchsitemap.php3?category_id=1%7CSalwar+Kameez&section_id=1&sn=Women+Wear&SearchType=SEARCH_ALL).

The beauty of a shalwaar kameez is that there's a lot of variation built in to the style.  It can be any type of fabric, it can be formal or casual, plain or elaborate, close fitting or loose...

How about stretch skirts?  They are so comfortable - like the T's.  There are so many around at the moment, in shops and in patterns.  Most have an elastic waist.  The only problem (if it is a problem) is the feet.  I like to wear comfortable shoes and the look is better with pants.  Ballet type shoes do however look good with skirts.  So you could wear the comfy skirt, the just as comfy knit top and a shrug if it is chilly!  :)

I do have a couple of comfy skirts.



They're both in my daughter's closet. 



There's a very good chance I'll never see them again. :)


I do plan to make some more; but I know I do so at my own risk.  ;D

I'm a stay-at-home mom too.  I find I wear a lot of capri pants in the spring (and summer too) and dress the up or down depending on the fabric I choose.  In the summer I'm mostly a short wearer.  We spend a lot of time outdoors (ballfield, etc.) and we just sweat otherwise.  I'm attempting to make some casual summer dresses and skirts this year. 

I'de be interested in reading what other SAHM make too - I love the 'dressier' wardrobes, but just don't have enough places to wear them.  We need a casual SWAP for summer!

I used to wear capris occasionally. I don't think I have any now...and I don't know why.  Honestly, that would probably be a good idea.

I wear shorts in the summer too; but only indoors.  The Arizona sun burns me to a crispy critter.  And sunblock really bothers my skin if I use much of it.  So I wear the shorts inside & change into jeans if I'm going to be outside longer than a half hour.

I'm jeans and t-shirt kinda gal - farmer stock- so that's my usual SAHM Uniform.  In the summer it's shorts.  When I leave home it's usually for the day, shopping, library, bank, bible study, etc..... so then I dress up in dress slacks, casual dresses, skorts (cute alternative to shorts).  In the summer after dinner and shower, it's a loose dress, comfy , cool yet ready for anything type of dress.  In the winter I"m at the gym until 8 pm (son on swim team) so my evening wear there is workout gear.  I haven't made many clothes for casual things, I destroy them too quickly, I shop at the Salvation Army and Goodwill for those items.
Most of what I sew clothing wise are historical items as my family camps 1770s style through the summer.

They aren't for everyone, but gauchos seem to be making a comeback this spring, and they make a nice alternative to capris.  Simplicity has a pair: http://www.simplicity.com/assets/4237/4237.jpg[/url].
I'm also pretty jazzed about the new HotPatterns collection.  They have a couple of pants that I really like with higher waistbands, and they have a really cute hoodie suit that I ordered.  Those would be good for both creative office and home-office work, IMO.  Here's the collection: [url]http://www.hotpatternsstore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=HP&Category_Code=cn

Ann

Ann, I've loved living in gauchos this past winter, with knee high boots, but am wondering how the look will translate with simple heels for the spring.  I'm thinking they would cut me in thirds unless I wore color-matching opaque tights and shoes. 

There are plenty of lightweignt knit gauchos out there, though, which are more drapey than the wool pairs that I have been wearing, and they would look cute with sandals.

Kathryn, I'd wear them with Espadrilles, and make them from either  a lightweight knit or a drapey cotton that you wash the heck out of to soften it even more.  ;D  If you have the legs, and I suspect you do, sandals that wrap up the ankle and lower leg would look great with them.

Ann

Funny you should mention espadrilles, Ann.  I'm in the market for a new neutral-colored pair.  I owned a pair for years, pulling them out when only that "resort look" would do with a certain outfit.  The last time I wore them, last August, I was out erranding, and about an inch of the platform sole started flapping as the whole sole began to unglue from the shoe!  OHMIGOSH!  I had to duck into a nearby shoe store and buy a pair of shoes to finish my errands in!  I came home and reglued the soles, but they are looking pretty sad.  It was funny, unwrapping the straps and wrapping them around the shoe and my toes all at once to hold them together as I walked into the shoe store  ;D.  Coach has some really cute ones that I've been eyeballing.

However, in yesterday's paper there was a whole thing about why wedges, especially those with platforms, are bad for one's feet because they allow no flexibility and force all of the weight exactly on the ball of the foot.  I'm a stiletto-wearer from way back, and love high heels, but of course my DH had to make sure I read all the "warnings" about the Spring wedge shoes.

Oh drat, i'm sorry to read that about wedges.  I've been eyeing some of these from Banana Republic:
http://www.bananarepublic.com/browse/category.do?cid=11979&mlink=5674,202533&clink=202533
I'm short, I love all my heels, though 3" is my limit.  ;D

I'm a SAHM.  During the winter I wear jeans or knit pants (like LH Euros or yoga pants), and long sleeve v-neck tees.  I also have a few zippered sweaters that I put on when I'm cold.  I have a great pair of Dansko mary jane styles shoes that are purple suede, or I wear boots.  I also wear long skirts.

In the summer, I wear knee length skirts (straight or bias cut) mostly, with fitted tees.  I sometimes wear capris, but I like skirts better (dh thinks capris are ugly anyway).  I'm hoping to branch out into more tailored/fitted blouses, instead of so many tees.  I also want to finally make the infamous Burda WOF 4/05 twist top.  I do like dresses, and wear them when I don't have a younger nursling. 

I'm still not sold on gauchos....

There was an article about wedges in the Weekend edition of the Wall Street Journal.  I don't think all wedges are bad.  They were talking about the dangers lurking in some of the wedges that have very narrow heels.  I wouldn't want to wear those all the time, but I think that if you have a wedge that is not too high and has a wide enough heel to support you when walking you will be okay.  It's like everything else... moderation is key!  If only I had moderated more when I was younger....

:)

Ann