Tried and True

July 28, 2023

I'm finding a very interesting Instagram blog or posts from a psychologist who studies the psychology of fashion, which sounds fascinating to me.  At this point in my life I've been through so many fashion trends, and enjoyed them all as if they were all brand spanking new to the world, when in reality they were all just a new take on another trend.  When I first started sewing - I mean really learning how to sew well and design and sew those designs, shoulder pads were in their infancy.  What was really the trend were large  - super large sleeves...

And of course I thought this was just the cat's meow.  As a matter of fact, I thought that my mom and dad were pretty keen in their own take of shoulder pads during their fashionable days after World War II

PIC OF MOM & DAD IN  ZOOT SUITS

I even asked Dad one time didn't he think that shoulder pads were the best fashion trend of all time?  He didn't have an opinion.  After all men didn't dally in those types of things.  They just looked well-groomed and wore classic clothes.  

That must have been where I got my love of classic things. But also as I began to move from fashion trend to fashion trend, from mod, to hippy to shoulder pads to opulence, I discovered that yes it was fun to sew all that stuff with the varying styles and techniques that I was learning sometimes from my mentor, but sometimes on the fly as I started my company I began responding to my clients.  But all that fashion from one phase to another really gets boring and tedious.

After so much freedom, learning and then knowing (which are two separate things and both just important to realize), fashion, a new thing or new look isn't so much that fun anymore.  All that change makes fashion frivolous, and suddenly the classic trench coat, the little black dress, the classic white shirt, the forever black pants all become much more appealing and alluring that any new thing out there.    That doesn't mean that we wear tired or frumpy looks.  There's always an update to a classic look, but to go whole hog into a completely new look simply because it's the fashion du jour, is as radically ridiculous.  

There's a new article out about this sort of thing.  
 

Here's part of what her remarks are about how we gravitate to and then away from styles of clothing:

When we're aware of, or have consciously chosen, the clothing we're wearing at the time of the positive outcome, we are likely to associate the outcome with that clothing. This can lead us to imbue the clothing with 'meaning', and beliefs that the clothing contributed to the positive outcome. Which indeed, it could well have done!

 

In other words, the positive emotions trigger subconscious feelings about the clothes themselves. This helps us form an attachment to the clothing which reinforces the positivity.

So said another way - that beautiful red dress that caused your future hubby to notice you may become one of your all-time favorite garments, because of the memories of that first evening with your future mate.  The fact that the dress was the right red for your complexion, the perfect style to complement your shape, size and style, and that the garment felt comfy so that you felt  natural, beautiful and yourself, may have had something to do with it as well.  But the bottom line is that you had a great time in that red dress, and that is what you remember when you see the dress in your closet.  

So now we know why we like certain objects, why do we then go off them?

 

We get used to things we like. After a time, the pleasure we got from them depletes and we desire something new.

It's probably wrong to put a guilt trip on ourselves for changing our minds or even growing into another style. For many reasons we may change styles.  Simply moving from one phase of our lives to another is enough to change styles for as much practical reasons as anything else.  When you were working before you got married, that was one style.  After you married, you may have changed a bit.  Then the first child really caused another style change.  Running carpool and being available as a glorified chauffeur changed to another style.  Then empty nesting may have brought about a change in career, for another style change, and retirement yet another change.    These changes were as much for growing out of older styles as they were about for necessity - a soon-to-be-mom can not fit into those clothes when you were young and carefree working gal!  

There's also the maturity that comes about traveling from one style to another.  As we mature, we begin to find out way through a style that works great for us, and that's what we seem to stick to.  And with style changing so fast and rapidly now, that's not all bad.  That really means that once we find that style that belongs to a particular person, then we can run variations on it, but staying in that pattern can become our individual style that makes it part of our individual look.  

No one can say that these styles aren't forever connected with these actresses.  We know instantly so much about them just from this photo alone and know that they embodied their own look to a tee.  So much so that they continued to dress in the style that they show in these photos.  Even today Diane Keaton looks very distinguished, yet totally appropriate for the event that she attends.  The same was true of Audrey Hepburn who embodied the style of Givenchy so much that she became one of his reasons for success.  And the feminine line and style of Lauren Bacall is such a perfect snapshot of the 1950s silhouette, that it's hard to picture her in anything else, particularly when she looked so good in this silhouette.  

One of the great things that comes from the wisdom of living a few decades on this planet is that you find your style.  Hopefully, with the speed of fashion style these days, we are more able to settle into a style that is becoming to the individual needs and projection that we wish to make on this world.

As Professor Mair says to finish her article:
 

As I've been saying for years, don't worry about trends, when you feel good, you look good!

And that's from a professional.  This is the same thing I believe today - if you look good in a skirt at a certain length, stay there.  If you look good in black tops and white pants, keep it.  If you feel good in bright colors, even though "they" say you shouldn't at your age, forget the "they".  

It's more about what looks good on the individual and what makes that individual feel special.  

Back to that favorite dress the time you meet that special person - it was the right color, it was the right fit, it was the right projection, it made you feel fabulous and it was comfortable to you could be yourself.  That's the real essence of clothing.  What makes sewing and designing for yourself so much fun and enjoyable is that we get to not only do this for ourselves, but we get to do it to such an extent that we can practically control the whole psychology of what we wear.  

Today I'm about 2" shorter (thank you to the simple fact of aging), I'm about 5 pounds larger, and yet I look as fit as I did when I was 30.  Why?  Because I have a silhouette that makes me look flattering.  I'm not thin, and I'm probably a little on the hefty side.  But Walt is convinced that I haven't gained a pound since we met 20 years ago.  How can this possibly be?  How can he be so blind?  

I believe part of the reason is that I wear something flattering every day.  That repetitious profile that is flattering belies the real shape, but it also projects the professionalism and artistry that I wish to present.  He sees that professionalism and artistry and doesn't see anything else amiss, which makes my point.  

But he also wuvs me, and I'm sure skips over a lot of the problems with my figure!  And I can't discount that reason either!

So make what's best for yourself and don't worry that it may be the same silhouette or a variation of that silhouette.  It works for you, and there's no reason not to.  As you move from one phase of your life to another, you can upgrade it or casual-ize it as you need to.  

Besides the doctor (Mair) says it's okay!

The SewingArtistry Resource Library is designed to contain information to not only make your sewing better, but to aid in you fitting and flattering your shape, size and style.  Check it out. 

The Ponte Jacket Class has been rescheduled.  We had so many who wanted to take it but couldn't get here for one reason or another so it didn't work out.  We've rescheduled it for September, when we are more interest in jackets, and particularly something that will make us look professional and responsible -- because there are times when we need that look.  You can click here to get more information for the class on September 20, 21, and 22.  If you need any information about places to stay or other accommodations, simply respond to this email and I will get back to you.  I love my city and love showing it off!

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