Looking Your Best

August 30, 2024

Looking your best used to mean getting on all sorts of gear and dressed to the nines in probably the most uncomfortable clothing every, but it was the price you paid for looking nice.  

Some of these clothes looked like they were holding me up instead of actually clothing me.

Actually I was amazingly comfortable in these clothes that I made for myself, even though I know most of my friends were not (in the clothes they purchased from the stores).  But the truth is too, that we were not accustomed to so much ease in our clothing back then.  Today we are.  With the preponderance of knits, it's so much easier to get a great look without having to be poured into our clothing.  
 

It used to be that either you dressed up when you went out.  Sloppy or frumpy wasn't allowed.  Today, some think that a sloppy look is OK.  

It's not.  It's a comfortable outfit to workout in, or to stay warm in from the gym to the car home, but it's not the look you really want.  
 

It's the same thing that happens to a lot of folks who are working from home, retired, or simply in a very casual workplace.   Without getting up and dressed, even in something casual, we humans miss the day, and the time begins to slip away.  Before you know it, time is slipping away; weeks or months later, you wonder what happened to all that time.  

There's a creeping quality to this sort of attitude that breeds a sloppy, dilapidated look and feeling when the simple act of getting up and getting dressed cures instantly. And with multiple clothes that are stretch and very comfortable, there is really no excuse to throw on sloppy or ill-fitting clothing just to be comfortable.  

This is part of the psychology of fashion that has always fascinated me. In a recent blog post, one of my favorite authors (@psychologyforfashion on Instagram) opines about the complete and almost magical transition when a woman dons a "power suit."  

And no one does this better than Hollywood.  From one frumpish-looking dud to a dazzling power look just with the clothes.

This is an old favorite, as we are so used to seeing this actress as glamorous, that it's hard to think she would even look frumpy.  And what's so perfect about the costumes in this movie, are that they are all classic.  They are typical of old money - the frumpy styles and the more modern styles.  

So that when the character has her "coming out" party, albeit with her own family, she's a stunner!

Now that's a power suit.  

Like all styles and fashions, once you give up that good look for dressing every day, the mind and soul go as well. It becomes a struggle just to get up and move. I've seen so many wonderfully bright and energetic people retire and literally die of boredom and an oafish attitude.

I'm not going to say it's easy, but the one, main thing that keeps us from that look, is not to have those clothes around.  That's not to say I don't have exercise clothes.  I do, and there's no reason you can't keep these fun and functional at the same time. 

Even this can be fun.  There's nothing sloppy or frumpy about this at all.  

But what really saves me from being frumpy is to keep my closet clear of anything that may look like that.  And although almost all of my clothes are comfortable -  I really can't think of anything that isn't comfy cause I pull that right out when that happens. This keeps me from picking out something to wear that might not look the best on me.

In the article the author, Carolyn Mair, speaks about the power of clothes:  

The study finds that the very act of wearing a jacket or specific clothing can elevate a person, causing their thought process to change.  This gives a whole new meaning to "dressing for the day."  So if I want to be creative, I need to wear something creative;  if I need to do business, I can wear something that shows I'm a professional; and if I'm meeting with clients, I need to wear something that reflects my skills.  

For all of us, our clothing reflects who we were at that time.  I'm the first to admit that some days, I wake up and feel very Bohemian; some days, I'm very tailored and want to fade into the background, and some days, I want to be about as brash as possible.  Making and designing my clothes means I can spoil that whim every day.  That's the magical gift we can all do when we sew and design for ourselves.  

Another huge advantage to this system of wearing only what's comfortable and flattering is that the fluctuation in weight, up or down, is hardly noticeable, even to those who are very close to you and know all your ripples and bulges.  Because you are wearing the most flattering lines and styles, you are constantly flattering the excellent part while hiding the wrong part, and no one thinks you've lost or gained weight.  

Not only do you always look your best, you feel your best.  This is a direct result of keeping your wardrobe strictly working for you and not vice versa.  Once a garment has served its purpose, it can be given away for another life.  Keeping your closet and stash with flattering fabrics and clothes that complement your size and shape makes it much easier to make a great selection every day.

I use my core patterns to avoid making poor selections from my closet.  These are the patterns that I know look excellent on me.  Then, I use a myriad of detail variations, but the line and style of the garment remain complementary to me. I have thoroughly tested these patterns and styles.  I also keep a collection of pictures for ideas of variations on my Pinterest page, where I can work through how to do a specific collar, sleeve or closure with the "research" already done.  

This is the easiest way to ensure you choose something flattering and comfortable daily.  When the homely and outdated clothes aren't even in your closet, you eliminate any chance of a bad choice, making your morning choices so much easier. It also has the added benefit of shaping your mind to its peak level. 

It's time to get out your core pattern, whip it into shape, and start thinking of some fun variations that you can enjoy while flaunting your mind and body in style! 

 

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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