Wardrobe Architect Week 1: Making Style More Personal

 Whenever I watch Project Runway and see how each person has their own unique vision (or if they don't they get kicked off the show) it just makes me curious about what my own style could be described as, or if I have style!

Collette patterns made some wonderful worksheets and posts about helping people discover their own tastes and needs when it comes to clothes. I think it was meant for seamstresses but really anyone could put it to good use for tailoring their perfect wardrobe! 

To write about what I have learned I will be following the outline of this worksheet.

________________________

How has your personal history informed the way you dress? When did your tastes crystallize? Have they changed over the years, and why?

Certainly many people have lived with much worse, but I grew up very "clothes hungry". I didn't get many clothes the entire first 19 years of my life. Even though my family was pretty poor, what money we did have hardly ever went to my clothing. I can count four times my entire childhood where something was purchased for me to wear. I wore whatever hand me downs I could get, which often were too small, too big, and not flattering or stylish at all. I would like to say I saw past all of that but the truth is that it really affected the way I saw myself growing up. I didn't feel very good about who I was at all. For many years as an adult I had no idea what to wear and I would desperately try anything! I can say now that I have always liked old fashioned, feminine clothes, but I just didn't always know how to feel attractive in them, if that makes sense. Now I try to wear a bit more mature clothing! I look young so I cannot wear some younger trends or strangers think I'm in high school!

 How does your philosophy, spirituality, or religion affect your aesthetics and buying habits? Or, what aspects of those things would you like to see reflected?

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon) and modesty has always been important to me. I do feel better dressing modestly. I have always made it a priority even though doing so isn't always popular. I would like to wear more things that I have made, just for the fun of designing and to know that no one (except myself) suffered making the clothes on my back!

How has your cultural background shaped the way you look? How did the aesthetics and values you grew up with affect your tastes as you grew older?

The book "Madame Chic" made me very aware that jeans and a t-shirt are not what everyone wears in the Western world! I just took that for granted but relaxed American clothing has been what I usually wear and see. I love vintage clothes but I hate looking conspicuous and out of place. When I wear a nice dress on a weekday just around town, I feel too dressed up and fussy, even though I adore dresses! I should've been alive fifty years ago!

How are you influenced by the people around you, including friends, family, and other communities you're involved in?

Where I live people wear a lot of casual clothes. I am drawn to old fashioned motifs but like I said before, I personally don't want to look like I am wearing a costume on a non-Halloween day!

How do your day to day activities influence your choices?

Well to be perfectly frank I nurse my baby and have to wear something that I can accommodate that! I've read, in "Madame Chic", that one should wear their best clothes every day and just wear an apron while they have to cook or clean. I'm not always the best at doing this! As a mom that cooks and cleans a lot sometimes I just grab whatever looks easiest to wear!

Does the place you live inform the way you dress? How does climate factor in?

Where I live is practically a desert, but it can get cold! I stay inside most of the time anyways, but during the summer a t-shirt at least is a must!

In what way does body image affect your choices in clothing? What clothes make you feel good about the body you live in? What clothes make you feel uncomfortable or alienated from your body?

I've come a long way when it comes to body image, but I still don't like to display my body too much or wear anything too revealing or tight, for modesty's sake and also I am shy! I have one perfect set of jeans I feel make my legs look good and I like loose fitting things around my waist. I have had four kids and I will use that as an excuse! Anything that makes me look like I have a, excuse me, "front butt" or "muffin top" I avoid at all costs!