Lost your Verve?

January 26, 2024

Sometimes, this time of year, especially in the middle of snow and ice storms, we become so house-bound and stationary that we get caught in a slump of dark colors and somber tones.  It's natural this time of year.  

This really interesting article from Stylist (and thankfully, it's not behind a paywall) talks about this from a psychological point of view.  This is written by one of my favorite people I like to follow, Carolyn Mair, author of The Psychology of Fashion, which I'm just starting and can't wait to dig into.  Here's what the blurb has to say about the book:

Back to the Stylist talking about dark colors and how they relate to our psychology, Mair admits that although dark colors can before more serious and formal events, a whole wardrobe of black could result from the condition of your heart and soul.  

To say that our clothes reflect our mood or temperament is an understatement in my book.  For me, my clothing is always a reflection of me.  And one of my favorite looks for winter is winter white (actually a cream), which is such a total change that it's a refreshing - maybe Spring is coming - type look!  The exact same way that serious dark, formal black in the middle of the summer can calm down all the busy-ness of Summer and be a complete contrast to all the color going on.

The take-away here is yes it's normal to wear dark colors this time of year, and it's just as normal to feel okay about it.  It's when it becomes chronic, or all the time - Summer (time for light fabrics and white, bright colors), Spring (Pink and green should abound - at least a little), and Autumn, (Oranges, Rusts and Browns - and yes Blacks can sneak in)  should be the order of the day.    But for this to become your total wardrobe...that's the time to take a look at your whole outlook on life.  

The article is really fascinating from a Gestalt point of view, and being a fashion nut, I like reading things like this to bring in another perspective on life.  

 

Part 2 - Old vs New

OK - onto another subject entirely different.  I had ordered some deliciously comfy heavier cotton knit from Organic Cotton Plus (click the photo below for more info), and it was everything I wanted when it came in.  I wanted something thick and gushy and this seemed to fit the bill.

So I couldn't wait to make it up in this yummy green (yes, I never met a green I didn't like), and it's gushy comfy to wear in horribly cold weather - yes - I live in the South and anything below 40° is unreasonably cold!  Brrrr!  But I'm cozy in my new top.

I made this pattern before Mavis StyleArc top and I love it - it's made for we Pears and Hourglasses...but...there's a difference between the old one...

...which is wonderful and warm, but a lot more limber.  The new one is much stiffer.

It may not be evident in these photos, but the green one sticks out a lot from the hips and hem, which isn't so hot when your hips are your biggest problem, like on my figure.  

So I did some minor adjustments, but couldn't get it to lay and fluidly as on my old one.  Suddenly I remembered something that my mentor told me years ago.   I was making this dream Claude Montana jacket, and I had made this in a gorgeous, tightly woven cotton gabardine.  The jacket is unlined, so it was perfect for summer.  Throw in with a pair of pants, and I could withstand any air-conditioning freeze-out.  I rolled up the sleeves, and it was great for summer.  Come winter, there is nothing wrong with wearing the same jacket, especially in a great wool.  The jacket is oversized, to begin with, so there was a lot of room in it so I didn't need to grade up a little in size for the heavier fabric.  It was dreamy, BUT...it simply didn't feel like the cotton gabardine jacket and it was substantially different.  I took it to my mentor to fit it better.  She took it apart, well without taking a stitch out!  And said, it was made beautifully (I got an A+ Yeah!), but that I had worn the cotton gabardine a lot (almost every day) during the summer and it had taken on my shape and curves.  

I really didn't think about it, but I knew that when I take a favorite pair of pants or shirt apart and the seams are perfect and there's nothing torn, but the pieces had a curve to them.  They weren't flat.  My mentor told me that after I wore the winter jacket for a while it would be just as comfy as the summer was.

The one on the left is on a hanger, so it is hanging differently than the new one on the right which is on my mannequin.  
 

Guess what?  It was.  So I had to remind myself that although my green, gushy cotton heavy knit is stiff and inflexible, that will come with time.  I think I see a lot of fabric softener and washing in my future!!!! 

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. 

Look for future classes coming in 2024
The Core Pattern Shirt, (one of my favorites for woven core pattern that you can make into a myriad of different garments), 
Basic Knit Top (core pattern class for knit basic tops, shells, tees, dresses, and tunics)
 

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