Wardrobe Architect Week 3: Exploring Shapes

Week Three of Wardrobe Architect was fun for me. There was a great form from the blog that helped me a lot, but I won't bore you with all the answers from that. 
I've got simple taste when it comes to shapes. I don't want anything too tight or loose (except for tops...I did just have a baby!). I don't want anything too long or too short. I like a rounded neck line. Maybe this is too boring for some but I think these simple shapes could look different and interesting with different colors, patterns, and details. 

Wardrobe Architect Week 2: Defining a Core Style

Using the Week 2 Worksheet from the Colette blog, I will try to identify my own core style. Follow along if you'd like to!

When you are wearing your favorite clothing, how do you feel? 

I feel pretty, comfortable, happy, fun, and at ease.

When you are wearing something not quite right, how do you feel? What are the feelings you want to avoid about the clothes you wear?

I feel frumpy, awkward, conspicuous, boring, homely, ragged, uncomfortable, out of style, garish, cheesy, cheap, and poor (I know one can still dress nicely and be poor, but I don't like looking impoverished if I can avoid it).

Who do you consider to be your style icons? What is it about them that appeals to you?

I love the style of Zooey Deschanel, Lauren Conrad, and yes, Betty Draper on Mad Men (pretty much everyone from that show actually). I think their clothes are fun and feminine. They are fresh yet have an old fashioned feel to them. 

What are some words that describe styles that you like in theory, but are not quite you?

Ultra-modern, bohemian, rustic, and simplistic styles I admire but don't like on myself. I hate neons and geometric prints on myself but think they can look nice on others. I would love to have light blonde hair and pale skin and wear pastels all the time, just because I love pastel colors, but that's also not quite me. 

 

  Look over your answers from last week. List at least 15 words you associate with your answers. Think about descriptive words, moods, and feelings you associate with these things.

Feminine, old fashioned, modest, comfortable, flattering, pretty, stylish, unique, subtle, happy, attractive, age appropriate, fresh, fun, and practical.

Are there other words that you would add to the list? What other words describe your core style?

Vintage, retro, sweet, demure, understated, classic, and a touch of whimsy?

Look over the answers to all the questions above. If you had to narrow the list to only 3-5 words to describe you, which words would you choose?

 Feminine, demure, classic, and pretty (at least, those are the goals).

 

 Visual Exercise- Collect 15-20 images that represent these 3-5 words for you:

Pinterest inspiration board here

Spring Dress Robe

 After I had my baby I kept seeing these glorious newborn photo shoots where the mother looks dewy, glamorous, and triumphant and I wanted to have photos like that too! In all of them, the mom is wearing a fancy, kimono-like robe and I decided I needed one.

I looked online and found an awesome free pattern from SewBon here.

Thankfully I had saved this beautiful rayon that Rochelle gave me in a giveaway years ago! So I made this beautiful, breezy robe for nothing! The cheapskate in me is beyond happy!

 

 I'm adding this post to Allie's Spring Shower's Social Sew because it is flowery and perfect to wear in the spring! And isn't my baby just perfect too? Well, I think so. He was talking to me the whole time. Giving me tips probably! ;)

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!  

 

Post Pregnancy Life

I really should be napping but I have written this post in my head so many times I need to actually write it! My sweet baby is here and we all feel very blessed. 

I haven't done much sewing however the little bit I have I want to share!

I made this hospital gown from fabric my aunt gave to me. I loved having something unique and comfortable to wear while I was there.

I knew I might run out of time to make a blessing outfit so I made sure to get it done before my baby was born. It's actually kind of exciting to make an outfit for a boy!

(Baby and I right before we left for home!)

Another reason I did not sew a lot- freezer meals. All my extra time I used making these. I made about 40 of them and it was well worth it! It's the best present I could've given myself.

Vintage Pregnancy Dress

     

My poor neglected blog! It's been too long. I've been consumed with moving, then Christmas, and now the last home stretch before baby is born. Also, my kids refuse to let me type! But I must share that before I moved I took the time to sew a dress! 

 My original plan was to use this beautiful floral fabric, but then when I got around to sewing the dress, it just seemed too Spring-like. I wanted something warmer and my aunt just happened to give me some warm plaid fabric. I had to use it.

Someone pointed out to me that the plaid is in "Hufflepuff" colors! Every time I take a Hogwarts quiz I get sorted into "Hufflepuff", and it makes sense! As much as I'd like to be in "Gryffindor" or "Ravenclaw", I'm just not that. At least I'm not in "Slytherin"! ;)

 Vintage patterns can be challenging! This one had a lot of room for error but I'm pretty sure (even after I made a decent muslin!) I made the shoulders too small! It somehow still works for me though!

I was debating if I should include this very cheesy photo! It was around Christmas time, I had this adorable baby deer, and I wanted to copy Zooey Deschanel on her Christmas "She and Him" album. Yes, I'm a total goofball!

Another Matroyshka Dress!

 I have been dreaming of making this dress for a couple months! I thought of it when I got the little matroyshka buttons this summer. I thought I would make it red and black because it seemed "Russian" to me and I was originally envisioning a small St. Peter's Basilica applique on one side. Then it finally occurred to me that little matroyshka pockets could be very cute.

My little girl loves it! I think the colors work well for her skin tone and she just looks very cute in it!

I used Simplicity 1211 for most of it!

My matroyshka obsession lives on! ;)