Rediscovering some old favorites and a new combination

Let's see, when last I posted semi-regularly on this blog I was fretting about clothes that fit and clothes that didn't fit.  That situation hasn't really changed much.  I am  much the same size as before and I still haven't gone through my closets in any organized fashion. Things that fit still cohabit with things that are either too big (the larger pile) or too small (the smaller pile) and there is still much sorting out to do.  There is a growing pile of things I need to do "something" about.

All in all I would say things are normal.

What I have come to terms with is the fact that I love to look at fashion magazines and pictures of clothes and I love shopping but I am not interested in being "in fashion".  And although I love looking at fashion magazines, I love it for looking at the clothes as objects but not necessarily as something I must have.  The clothes I wear are things that I love in and of themselves, and because I love them for themselves I will wear them.  And if something is perfect it is perfect. -- it cannot be knocked off.  This is perhaps part of the reason why I am not interested in making all my own clothes.  I love shopping and looking.  I love finding the perfect thing, be it simple or complex, expensive or inexpensive.  Now I also recognize that few things live up to that image of "perfect" as it exists in my mind, so there is plenty of room for snoop-shopping and inspiration gathering and the making of clothes that are my own interpretations of those inspiration garments

I don't exactly know where I am going with this except that I want to explore what I buy, what I make, what inspires me and how and why I make the choices I do.  Probably this is all boring self-indulgent stuff, but then what is a blog but a place to explore all these random thoughts running around my brain?  In the end it comes back to sewing, and even though I don't want to sew everything, the idea that I don't have to sew everything is somewhat liberating and allows me to hold those things I do make, that turn out to be perfect in their own ways, in a special place.

Take this photo, taken in the afternoon on Christmas Eve, with the old camera.  

The pleated skirt.  This is a pleated Pendleton skirt that is a few years old (3-4). I tried it on in early December and it was too big.  I hemmed and hawed a bit, because I have several pleated skirts that just don't seem to be me -- but they are longer, lower calf length, and I don't think I will be keeping them although I may repurpose the fabric.  

This skirt however is different.  The length, just at the bottom of the knee is flattering, and I absolutely love the shades of blue and olive in this skirt.  So although I was not completely certain about the style, I took it up anyway.  I still have lingering doubts that it is too preppy, but I do actually like this outfit and these pieces have given me new ideas about the skirt and perhaps new ways to wear it that I hadn't considered before.  If I do grow tired of the skirt I can always use the fabric for something else. In fact I love the fabric so much that I bought more of the fabric when Ann first posted it over at Gorgeous Fabrics in case I decided not to save the skirt or I wanted to make a dress or something. I have no trouble with having more of this fabric in my stash.  I love plaids, or more exactly I often love the idea of plaids but rarely find a plaid fabric that I actually love.  For me this one is a must have, and I am surprised there is still a small piece left, but then it is not really typical plaid colors.

The turtleneck is a soft blue-green which matches the skirt pretty closely.  It is from J Crew and is at least 10 years old, probably older. It had been retired for a few years as it had become a little too snug.  I have a collection of turtlenecks in all the variations of shades of soft to medium blue-green, and all about this size, so I am happy to be able to wear them again as they are among my favorite colors.  

The flat teal boots I bought at Zappos a couple of years ago, after having them on my wish list for a while and watching the price steadily go down.   In the end I am glad I got them; they are long enough to go up over my knee if I turn the cuff up, and I wear this color a lot.  I did not plan on wearing them with this skirt, that just worked out, but it plays perfectly into my theory that if you buy and make things you really love, the combinations will become evident.

Comments

[Alice]

I'm glad G is feeling better and you've been able to get back to your love. The photo is incredibly beautiful with the light softly falling across you. I too love the skirt and am partial to your favored blue/greens.

[Towanda]

I think that you look great.

[Carolyn]

I love this look! I love the skirt and was wondering if you had made it! You look good in this and should make more.