Advantages of Sewing

This may be like preachin' to the choir, but one of the gazillion advantages of sewing is that we can turn our style and fashion on a dime, whereas when you're stuck being at the mercy of the store clerks, buyers and fashion designers, you're pretty much stuck in that style till the store starts carrying the new trend.

Sometimes this can put us at a disadvantage, because we can turn so fast, sometimes those new trends look a little more weird and we're not ready for them - another advantage, we're not on anyone's time-table but our own.

So what happens when trends change - we're going through that now as we're moving away from a columnar type style to a more hourglass emphasis on style and fashion.

That's why this looks a little strange to us.

But this is coming.

I remember when shoulder pads first came in (in the 80's and not the 40's - I'm not that old....yet!!!)

No one could be Joan Collins aka Alexis Carrington (on the series Dynasty), and I thought "No one will EVER wear that stupid thing!"

  Yep, I remember that real well, and remember how long that lasted!!!

 

The point is that when these new fashions and style trends come upon us, it takes a while for our eye to adjust.  And that's what will happen in the next couple of years...we will go from the androgynous look of the 90's to this more hourglass with shoulder accentuation, and no matter how strange it looks now, believe me don't say you won't wear it!

Some of the more interesting patterns are the one above (the Vogue 1248), and there's a new Sandra Betzina pattern out that uses this same line.

 

See the more hourglass shape, and the fuller hip to accentuate the small waist.  This is a fresher take our our bodies, and will take a while to get used to, but it is the trend.

Here are some others from BurdaStyle.com (and don't get me started on the site...like Miss Celie and Slapdash say!!!)

Anyway here are some ideas.

 

This is a great skirt, although if you have a few years (like decades) on you, make the skirt longer (add another ruffle, or graduate the bottom ruffle to the length you want), but it has a lot of movement and with the hip fitted, accentuates the waist.  Also if you make it in white - always line it (that's a law, not an amendment or idea - a law!!!)

 

Love, love, love this skirt...perfect for summertime sheer fabrics, particularly if you use this hemming technique.

 

 

One of the greatest way to transition from column to hour glass and shoulders is through a bateau (boat) neckline....this is a great classic pattern that has lots and lots of fitting seams that makes fitting a lot easier.

 

OK hope that gives you some ideas and some for thought.  Like my clients, I like pressing my students to think a little more outside the lines!

 

Enjoy!

 

 

Comments

[Shams]

None of those styles look strange to me! I made a version of that first skirt, sans bow and with the waist gathers tamed down a bit for me, though I kept the draped side pockets intact. The Sandra Betzina dress is also in my queue. I remember when asymmetry was new and now you can buy those things at Target. ;)

[Karin]

I love your posts, when you talk about relating trends to sewing and deconstructing style and fashion.

[sdBev]

I'm looking forward to the return of a little shoulder pad. Not the Joan Collins style but just a little support in that area. I'm also thinking that some of those drapes and pleats on the hip, may acutally hide my own! Love todays post.

[Mary]

I love this post-so true that it takes awhile for us to "see" the entire garment rather than the "odd", new detail. I am still on the fence with this style for me.

[Pat Spurza]

Claire I subscribe to your newsletter and must say that I appreciate all that you share with us. Many people would charge for the info you give us. THANK YOU. These designs are not for me 70ish, but guess there are younger folks that like them. I remember the 80s shoulder pads. Again Thanks for all you give us.