Actually, the attitude is not completely new.  For the past couple of years I’ve been having this, I don’t know, almost suffocating feeling towards my stuff.

Don’t get me wrong, I like my stuff.  Although I feel nostalgic about the days when everything I owned fit into the back of a pick-up, I enjoy my comfortable home and part of that comfort comes from the stuff.  (OMG, I’ve eaten so much chocolate today, WHY?!)

(Oh, and hi by the way!  Happy New Year!  Long time no blog!)

This post is a response to a comment on the Colette Patterns blog.  A comment, that Sarai mentioned in a tweet, wondering what is a reasonable amount of clothes.  I was going to respond on her blog but then decided it was rude to leave such a long(-winded) comment, or mini-blog post if you will, and figured I should just post my thoughts here (and then some) for everyone’s reading enjoyment.*  (By the way, if you ever want to leave a relevant and super nice but super long comment on this blog, feel free.)

Okay, what am I talking about?  Oh, stuff…I mean clothing.  Last year I purged my closet twice.  The last time I did it I was pretty merciless.    Meaning, I got rid of stuff I thought I’d never get rid of.  You know, that stuff you keep out of emotional attachment, mainly guilt.  Let me tell you, telling an expensive and unflattering clothing item that you wore that one time “f— you for making me feel guilty and/or fat” and shoving it into the Goodwill bag is extremely satisfying.  With such an attitude I managed to pare down my wardrobe to mostly items that I love and feel good in, or absolutely need.  (I have to admit I still have a few things in my wardrobe that I don’t wear, primarily beautiful vintage things.)

Instead of trying to fill my closet back up, I’ve spent some time trying to figure out what I actually need (if anything at all).  I’ve realized that I’m not really outfitted for cold weather.   Since I’ve been living in L.A. for most of the last 12 years I’ve been fine overall though I continually find myself “freezing” in 50 degree weather.    As I write this post I cannot feel my toes.  (I’m in my office wearing socks AND slippers.)  I generally don’t spend a lot of time outdoors in the winter because of this which sucks because I do love the cold weather, I just don’t like being cold.   So I’ve been saving up and slowly picking out a couple of things that will keep my comfortable when it’s chilly.

But before I started buying up new clothes to fill my closet to then angrily purge later I did some research (fun research!):

• STYLE and MATERIALISM (weird category but I’ll explain): I’ve read blog posts and articles on effortless/Frenchy/signature style, AND posts about simplifying your life.  Because although I want to have a wardrobe that really suits me and makes me feel and look good, I don’t want to have too much stuff.  And I don’t want to expend energy on my appearance that could be better spent on more important things like my relationships with people, creating, and so forth.  What I love about the idea of effortlessly chic or signature style is that at some point, I think, it really does become effortless.  Putting on variations of your “uniform” probably takes a lot less energy than trying to follow trends or figure out a whole new look each time you get dressed.  And I’m not talking about your hoodie + yoga pants.   Actually, wait.  Yes, you can wear yoga pants out and about BUT you could also throw on a trench coat and a pretty scarf, and be just as comfortable but not look like you’ve completely given up.  Just saying.

• FIT: I’ve read info about fit and body types.  I was already aware of some things like that I’m petite (duh) but I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that some styles I love don’t suit me as well as other styles.  Sadly, ’50s dresses with lots of gathers and very full skirts = thicker waist and stumpification on me.  No thank you.

• STYLE, GENERAL: Purely for fun I read “Tim Gunn : A Guide to Quality, Taste & Style” on my Kindle.  It’s a easy and quick read, high-level stuff that may help answer any questions about your body (fit), signature style, wardrobe staples, etc.  I don’t use it as a bible though.  Mr. Gunn would be horrified at my fave pair of patched “hobo” jeans.  And he does not like saddle shoes so you’ve got to take what he says with a grain of salt.  But still, helpful and fun.  (I was bummed out when I reached the end so there you have it.)

• COLOR: Don’t laugh but do you remember Color Me Beautiful from the ’80′s?  I remember my mom getting her “colors done”  like all the other moms in the neighborhood.  (Okay, laugh.  It’s fine.)  I stumbled upon this concept somewhat recently and as dorky as it might sound it has helped me so much in terms of understanding why some things look good on me while others don’t: color!  This has helped me avoid purchasing clothes in colors I like but are completely wrong for me.  As it turns out many of my favorite colors are ones that are appropriate for me.   (You would think as a former art student I would understand this whole concept already but the siren song of a beautiful but entirely unflattering color is sometimes hard to resist.)

Another thing that has helped with wardrobe-filling decisions is being able to recognize my needs versus manufactured (aka B.S.) needs.  I think one of the reasons why people fill up their closets and homes with crap is because, at the time, they thought they needed said crappy item.  Or super clever marketing made them “love” said item.  I have been guilty of this but I’ve gotten a LOT better and as a result have wasted less money on stuff I don’t need or truly love.  The first step is awareness, really.   And awareness is empowering.

How do you feel about stuff?  Or your stuff, specifically?  Are you trying to be more conscientious about buying things while still cultivating personal style?

*In case you were wondering, my original comment was not going to be this long.

(Top photo is of a blouse I made from vintage strawberry fabric that I had been hoarding.  I love it.)

Bracelet tutorial here: DIY Macrame Bracelet.

A new patch on my hobo jeans.

Two months since my last post, wow.  I have to say it’s rather liberating to remove an “obligation” from my to-do list (even if it’s only temporary).   I actually find it difficult to write more than a short blast like I’ve been doing on occasion on the FB page.  I do miss being part of the blog community and keeping in touch with all of you.  (Casey and I had a discussion about this and it’s nice to know others share similar feelings about this topic.)

Instead of writing a post about my feelings about blogging (generally), my blog (specifically), or the internets (both generally and specifically) I’m just going to list a few things to sum up where I’m at right now:

1. Koigu yarn is awesome!  And The Beekeeper’s Quilt pattern allows me to a.) Sample some really pretty yarn that I probably would not wear or otherwise use, b.) Inspires me to MAKE something since I’ve been so incredibly listless and uninspired lately, and c.) Create something that does not require fitting because fitting makes me feel crabby and leads to not doing anything (see b).

2. I’ve purged my closet of many, many things.  Things that I’ve grown out of mentally and emotionally.  My style has become more simple and modern.  Maybe even grown-up.  And while I still adore vintage and will forever incorporate old things into my decorating and clothing style, I feel like I’ve stretched and strengthened and moved forward, further into adulthood…a good thing.  In other words, there IS some clothes sewing in my future.

3. I don’t know where my blogging stands right now.  I do need to continue to step back from it.  Look at it from a distant through a telescope.  The virtual world has gotten so…I don’t know…too much.  I don’t even have the patience to take in-focus photos anymore (as you can see above) or the energy to comment very much.  But I DO see myself continuing to share in places such as Raverly, Flickr (since I pay for it!), and Facebook…if anyone is interested!

I’m selling some of my all time favorite vintage dresses and they’re  in the shop!  Use coupon code DRESS2012 for 15% off now through Monday night.

Screenshots from Ballet Shoes.  Thank you, Netflix, for the suggestion.  You weirdly know my taste in fashion.

My little 1930s dress is done after much tweaking!  I don’t have a lot of experience with bias and I guess if you don’t cut it perfectly on grain there will be a bit of wonkiness to be dealt with.

At first I hesitated to use such a busy print with this dress because you wouldn’t be able to see the that mid-section detail.  But I really wanted this fabric in the same silhouette so I just went for it.

Originally the dress was the same length as pictured on the envelope but after photographing it I thought the proportions would be better if it hit above the knee; because otherwise it kind of pulled me down (does that makes sense?).  I also decided to go with a more simple sleeve that was also bound at the hem.  I had to make the front of the armscye much deeper so there was some trial and error there.  The collar turned out way too short and I didn’t have enough fabric to cut out a newly drafted one so I made do; I turned the collar around (it just fit better that way) and left a gap on the front.  The fabric is actually more rosy than pictured but to get a closer match in the photo my skin turns out too pink for some reason.

In the first view I fashioned a bow by safety pinning 2 pieces of ribbon to the shoulder seams underneath the collar.  But I can wear it unadorned too.

And belt it!  There was not enough fabric to make a belt (unless I piece it together) so a skinny leather one it is.

I would totally make this again though next time I’ll take out about an 1″ in the midsection, horizontally, to raise the hipline up, and use a solid fabric or one with a more simple print.  Maybe something slightly sheer with a lower hem.

While letting the 1930s dress I’m working on “grow” on the hanger, I made this dress from Simplicity pattern 2360.  (Last summer I made this dress from the same pattern except with a collar instead of the flounce.)  I’m not a fan of polyester or poly blends but grass green and white gingham at $2.50/yd was too tempting to pass up.

Even though I’m between an 8 and a 10, I cut out the size 4 after seeing how much ease was in the finished garment.  This worked out really well (about 2″ of positive ease).  I’m not sure everyone should go down that many sizes–especially if you have boobs: remember this is a pullover style so you must be able to slip it on!–but as many of you know there is often too much ease in commercial patterns.  If the pattern gives you finished garment measurements (often written on one of the main pattern pieces, or sometimes on the envelope) I would check them out and compare them to a similar garment you own that fits well.  I find, as a petite person with my particular build, loose-fitting styles make me look like a shapeless brick if there is too much fabric.

I did not have to make any alterations except I took up the waist 1/4″ and cut down the flounce quite a bit; it’s half as wide at its widest point (at the shoulders).  If this has been silk (like georgette) or a a cotton-silk blend (like voile) I could have gotten away with trimming down the flounce just a 1/2″ or so (to scale it down for my frame) but the fabric, while thin, has enough body to make it stick out.  Plus in this print the wider flounce was looking a little too ’70s country pinafore to me (and not in a good way).

I made the sash too but it also would look nice with a skinny tan leather belt.  I highly recommend this pattern–and it’s still in print!

Edited to add:

Oh, I can’t believe I forgot!  One more thing I did differently in this pattern: instead of sewing on the elastic per the instructions I created a felled seam inside the waist using the seam allowances.  Then thread 1/4″ elastic through the casing and sewed it up.  Much neater.

Oddly enough I’ve started making a coat.  The past few years spring has been relatively mild and drawn out so I don’t think it’s too late to make one.  It’s not a heavy coat anyway.  It’s a dark greyish-brown (seal brown?) cotton velvet that will be lined in a matching jacquard fabric (though the sleeves will be lined in a contrasting fabric, probably some kind of silk).  Surprisingly the coat fits my dress form which is about 2″ bigger in the bust but again, it’ll be lined and worn over other clothes.  I’ve tried it on with the sleeves sewn in and when I crossed my arms there was a comfortable amount of fabric in the back…I wouldn’t want it any tighter.  We’ll see.

So, the sleeves.  I’ve had some issues with setting in the sleeves, especially with the alterations I made (naturally), but then remembered (from my costuming days) that I should hang the sleeves on the form and pin where I think they should go (like shown).  Then slipstitch them on and try on again for fit.  So far that technique is working out much better.

The pattern is Vogue V8211 (out of print).  As you can see I’ve completely omitted the middle section.  The torso on the pattern is so long, and mine is quite short, there would be a lot of fiddling–and I don’t like that!  So, buh-bye midsection.  And the collar will be different too, something twenties-inspired that I’ve already started drafting.

Another sewing project I’m working on, Butterick 5076:

A 1930s juniors’ dress.  Folks, I love this pattern.  I haven’t had to do a lot to make this work which is great.  It’s not a true bias cut but some of the pieces’ edges are cut diagonally on the grain; I basted the pieces together and am letting the dress hang for a couple of days.  Oh well, not the instant gratification I was hoping for!   But if all works out I can see making more from this from the nice, drape-y floral fabrics in my stash.  These frocks would be perfect paired with wooly cardigans and clogs or Mary Janes.

20% off everything in both shops with coupon code “SPRING2012″ now through Saturday!

Fable Handmade Goods on Etsy
The Fabled Needle on Etsy

I’ve added fabric and hankies from my personal stash to my Etsy (Vintage) shop.  This stuff is not easy to part with but I’ll never make use of it all and my stash is literally busting at the seams.  I’m hoping this stuff will go to good homes!

I hear it’s going to rain this weekend and I really, really hope it does.  Man, has it been dry this winter (much like the last 2 or 3).  I plan to stay in, make some Banh Mi wraps, hot chocolate (as usual) and work quietly work on some things.

Happy Weekend!