Wardrobe Architect 4 -- Silhouettes

This is Week Four of the Wardrobe Architect Series from the Colletterie.  This week's task was to design your Silhouettes, or wardrobe templates.

I've designed five templates for my outfits.  I've picked two types of dresses, a simple full skirted dress with a fitted bodice, and a warp/faux-wrap dress.  I also chose pants and a top, a circle skirt and a top, or an A-line skirt and a top.

The stockings above are all from What Katie Did,  I haven't tried them personally, but I've heard wonderful things about them from around the blogosphere, and they're definitely on my wish list!

I've got a few patterns in mind for the dresses, particularly the ones on the Pinterest Board.

I've got quite a few top patterns to use as well. There are the the two that I've made already, the Portrait Blouse and B6085, as well as the vintage S1590.  I'm sure I'll come across some others as I go, but that's what I've come up with so far.

For pants, I've been relatively happy with my latest rendition of B5682, but I would also like to try out my two Wearing History Patterns.

Circle skirts obviously will not need a pattern.  I'd love to do a tutorial, if anyone would be interested, in drafting and constructing a circle skirt.

There's one A-Line skirt I'd like to make up, from Sew News August / September of last year.  It has a cute sailor-style button front.  I haven't picked any other ones specifically, but A-line skirts are easy to draft as well, or to come across patterns for if I really need one.

And there we are, Silhouettes outlined!  Let me know in the comments if you'd be interested in a Circle Skirt Tutorial or Sew Along -- I'd love to arrange something.

Wardrobe Architect -- Week 3

Firstly, I have a confession.  It would appear that in my eagerness to get started with my wardrobe overhaul attempt number I've-lost-count, I've gotten ahead of the 2015 running of the Wardrobe Architect.  So, I'll be following the older version from last year, which you can find in a nice collection at the Colletterie.

Anyway... in week three we start to look at shapes that you like and feel comfortable in.  In the homework there is a pair of handy charts to fill out, ranking how you feel in a huge variety of garments.

My answers were:

I've been doing some pretty deep navel gazing for the past little while about my wardrobe, so none of this really came as a surprise to me.
I like dresses that are fitted in the bodice, and looser in the skirt for everyday where, with a waistline that sits right around my natural waist.
I like my skirts to be a little fuller, and my tops to be fitted.
I prefer necklines that elongate my chest. Jewel or high necklines leave me with a large (and broadening) expanse of fabric over the bust.
I don't like long sleeves (because they get in the way and I just push them up anyway), but three-quarter length is something that is under represented in my wardrobe.  Generally I prefer some variation of short sleeves.

Wardrobe Architect -- Weeks 1 and 2

I have decided to follow along with the Wardrobe Architect Series that is happening over at the Coletterie.  After a year of trying to get my wardrobe together by myself, I've decided I may need a better system.  Hopefully some proven steps will be easier to follow than my make-it-up-as-you-go plan (which is so very unlike me).

Week one is about making your style more personal.  The homework is some self-reflection on what make you comfortable, and what you like to wear.  And, since its the second week of January, I did Week Two as well.  In week two we continue to define our personal style, and we were tasked with finding 15-20 pictures of things that represent our style.  I've decided to go mostly with patterns (because I'm a seamstress, and this is a sewing blog, and  I want a mostly handmade wardrobe).  You can find the Pintrest board here.


Week 1 Homework:

The basis of my personal style stems from my high school days.  I was always behind the trends, and by my upper years, I'd given up on following them.  I wore jeans most days, but layered tops and wore heels frequently.  I took the time to do my hair and make up.  I didn't follow the trends, but I still looked like the average teenage.

In university I started swing dancing, and became more aware of vintage style.  The 40s and 50s have really inspired me, and since then, I have really started to explore that style.  A number of online vintage style blogs focus on wearing what suits your body, and not the latest style, and that is something I identify with fairly strongly. As I rebuild my wardrobe this year, I would like to focus on these two things.

My activities and location will play a fairly heavy roll in my wardrobe.  I currently work full time in retail.  I'm constantly on my feet and moving, which means my clothes need to be comfortable and not restrictive.  It also means that pockets are almost a necessity. And living in Ottawa, where it is currently negative a million degrees, I will either need a completely separate winter wardrobe, or a summer wardrobe that can layer well for winter.

I've noticed that I prefer to wear fuller skirts.  I feel like they flatter my figure more, and hide some of my flaws.  I would really like to be able to wear a figure-helping girdle and stockings every day, however, it isn't really feasible at the moment.  I've also realized that I prefer dresses to separates.  I like that you look instantly co-ordinated, without having to match pieces in the morning.  However, this may also stem from my lack of tops that I like and am comfortable in.  I will make some separates as part of my wardrobe, but I think I will focus primarily on dresses.