Gardening Style

I've been all wrapped up in some yard clean up, sewing room clean up, and closet clean-up as well, and I hope to find my way out of it soon enough.

 

In the meantime, G has been practicing taking a few photos off and on over the summer, re-learning a bit of basic photography using my old point and shoot camera.

 

So I thought I would do a little post on gardening-style, or in my case lack of style.   Here I am doing a little early morning weeding with wet hair and G's old Mohonk sweatshirt, which I cut up and made my own after I found it in one of G's discard piles (finally) a year or two ago.  This thing is at least 30 years old, and it shows, but that makes it perfect for gardening, painting, or what have you because it is just warm enough and I don't worry about ruining it.

 

It seems to me, that despite the image we intentionally portray of ourselves when we are out in our "public" clothes, there is another whole self that is comfortable at home when we think no one will see, or we are comfortable enough with those who do see us, that we don't care.  But at home style is just as much a part of who we are, as what we wear in public, perhaps even more so.  

 

I have occasionally thought I would make some "gardening clothes" but I never quite get around to it, always finding something to co-opt that works perfectly at the moment, usually something that is just about to go to the recycle or trash bin such as these old worn-in and ripped jeans which have since become cut-offs.

 

Although I love fitted tees, they are not really my preferred gardening clothes.  I prefer something loose and baggy, something with no danger or riding up or baring some part of me I'd rather not bare (or which hide my tum)  This has been especially relevant this summer when there always seem to be workmen around.   But this is George's favorite gardening picture, and it shows my normal garden mode -- ripped jeans and big sun hat in the summer.

 

I used to wear big solumbra shirts but the ones I have finally wore out and were three sizes too big.  I didn't replace them and thought I would make something in a style I liked better (they were pretty ugly) and I even bought some fabric to do so.  But so far it is just sitting in my stash.  This summer I've been wearing a couple of old shirts culled G's seemingly endless supply. I think I have many years worth of gardening shirts hiding in his closets.

 

In the end, I think I've finally come to accept that my preferred gardening costume is the old, the comfortable, and the broken in.  Since I seem to be often kneeling or crawling on the ground, I like straight or loose jeans or pants, preferably cropped or rolled up to ankle length as shown here, but I will wear whatever is around.  

I tend to grow attached to things and hate to let them go even when I know they have seen better days.  I've come to accept that I am perfectly at home in the old, the worn, and the tattered.

 

Comments

[Tany]

Great post, Mardel!
(and I found out that we have something else in common: I also grow attached to things as you do!)

[materfamilias]

Oh, I love this post, the idea behind it -- that our home clothes, rarely featured outside those walls, reveal so much about our true style, that your husband nominated this photo. And it's interesting to me how it ties it with what I've been trying to think about in terms of portraits. And how the individual male gaze of one who loves us can be empowering yet uncomfortable all at the same time -- especially when subjected to the larger social gaze . . . I know I'm getting too theoretical here, but this is such a rich post. Love it! Thanks!

[Robin]

You look chic in your gardening clothes. Even the old Mohonk sweatshirt is artfully altered to have a flattering neckline. I have the same sort of painting pants Gigi has. Splattered with every color I've used over the years, and loose enough to slide right out of them without undoing the button /zipper. A woman needs to be able to move around!

[Duchesse]

Gardening clothes are *work* clothes, though CZ Guest wore gardening smocks made for her by Givenchy, can you imagine? You look strong and healthy.

[Tiffany]

Your outdoor clothes are very like mine :) I hang onto favourite jeans that simply can't be worn in public anymore, and t-shirts that have sentimental value ... I did finally ditch a hoodie that was a hideous colour on me, so I'm on the hunt for a flattering sweatshirt or the like, just so I don't feel completely revolting in gardening mode! And I'll join the chorus - that is lovely photo.

[Gigi]

I generally like things that are old for painting. People would die if they saw me painting in old yoga pants that are 3 sizes too big and covered with spatters of every paint color in my house. For gardening, I like old comfy pants and a long sleeved, loose shirt to protect my skin from the sun. I keep saying that I'm going to make some gardening clothes but, like you, I just never seem to get around to it. Maybe someday when I run out of pretty things to make.

[Mary Beth]

I love the G-nominated photo precisely because it shows an organic Venus you, a natural woman.

[metscan]

IMO you are wearing just the right outdoor/home clothes!

[Mardel]

Oh thank you Liana for your kind, kind words.

You know, a part of me can see why G loves that photo and a part of me is uncomfortable with it because it shows exactly those things I spend my life trying to hide, namely boobs and belly.    Talking about accepting ones own body and actually squelching those inner doubts are totally different things it seems.

[Liana]

Your garden style appears to be my garden style as well! I've thought about making things for gardening too, but it's just too easy to wear stuff that's already broken in, and that isn't good enough for anything else. Also, I LOVE that photo G likes too. It's quite something.