Nothing is....February 9, 2024
Yeah, you know me better than to do a "nothing" report. That ain't happening. One of my favorite weather forecasts was when the weatherman said, "There will be no temperature tomorrow - it will be zero degrees, so there's no temperature!"
It's funny how the definition of nothing is far different from zero, and this pertains to
fashion too. OK, I can make just about anything pertaining to fashion, but that's the life I lead. This gets more detailed than that because the word zero is not in the Latin-based or romance languages or even in the Nordic languages. Zero is from Arabia. So how in the world did such an integral figure get into our English, Anglo-Saxon language?
LESS IS MORE
Nothing isn't really nothing - it's something without all the gee-gaws and folderal. So
really what are gee-gaws? They are a mess of extra junk.
This one has shape and some classic style, but the embroidery needs to be more classic - it doesn't work.
Great collar, but no fit - the something that's a mess here is that this is a box and no shape means it makes you look like a box.
Uh - yeah - what is this? It looks like someone tried to tie a scarf around the body, and it didn't quite work. This is typical of some draping feature that doesn't really flow or make sense, and then when you get it home, you're sitting there
bothering with it, trying to make it work, when it never worked to begin with. Avoid the neurosis, and skip this.
And then we go way off the marker for a classic - no collar, drawstring collar, no set-in sleeves, so the bodice and upper arms are all baggy and full. If you're under-nourished and a waif you won't even look good in this.
It's like everywhere you turn, there is some new feature added to the blouse when it's the classic; button in front, collar, w/collarband, cuff, and housetop placket would be nice, but not necessary, and you think you would be asking for some dreamy invention
from Venus or something.
But you're not and here's the proof.
And then here's the ticket on this puppy - almost $1,000 (by the time you add shipping and tax). Somehow I think we can do a little better sewing this and that counts even if you bought the silk taffeta to make it in. My point here is that you can see why classic is so expensive. And it doesn't really make sense. Classic or the Carolina Herrera blouse has less to it - fewer seams, fewer things on it, and less sewing involved, and yet it's the more expensive of the blouses.
There's a clear reason for
this. Any little goof will show when you have fewer seams and less to the garment. Working with RTW alterations, particularly on formal wear, there are many mistakes that any regular, newbie, or advanced sewists wouldn't allow. But the presser on the commercial floor can make that mistake go away - well, sorta. The presser can make it look like there's not a mistake, but when you go into altering it or taking a hem up or letting it down, there is some glaring problem.
The hem droops; the seam is sewn in incorrectly so the hang is warped; the garment is cut on the wrong straight of grain, so the drape is all wrong. The presser makes the garment look good on a mannequin, and even if the customer tries it on, the customer is indoctrinated to think that it's the customer's fault the garment doesn't hang right. In reality, it is the manufacturer's fault.
I always loved those clients saying, "It's a really simple dress. It only has about 3 seams!" Ugh! If they only knew. Three seams to fit an entire body?....Yikes! That's a tall order. Amazingly enough, it's my most creative customers who get it.
Each one of these gals understood what I was trying to do. The most unforgiving are the two centered garments made of silk peau de soie, which is like a thick taffeta that must be shaped and handled carefully so as not to wrinkle and yet shape beautifully over
the body. Then peau has a satin side and a crepe side, and the satin side can show ever crease or problem, some can't be helped because of the grain of the fabric, some can. The crepe gowns have their own set of problems (the two photos on the far left and right). If they don't have good support, their hang can be very unforgiving for the client's body.
When I'm working with a more classic design, like these gowns, my clients are really put to the test on fittings
cause I don't stop till it's just right. So these clients have to pass a test and convince me that they are willing to go the long journey. All four of these gals knew exactly what they were getting into and knew that they would have a fabulous gown when they finished.
All four of these gowns could be worn today with no problem. They are timeless.
Since I'm spending my very valuable time sewing up a garment, making the style classic means that my
time will be spread over 15 or more years, which means the 2 to 4 days I've spent making the garment come out to minutes per month spent on the garment. Thinking in terms like this means my garments are incredibly cheap, and yet they are the loveliest garments I could have.
Even if it takes me 40 hours to make a white shirt that lasts for 15 years - that works out to 13 minutes/month. I'm not even going to calculate the cost cause that gets down to a few dollars a month, and
that's equally efficient.
And who would scoff at garments like these or even think this is scrimping?
Nothing really is better in the end.
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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