Observations on Buying ClothesDecember 12, 2025 It should come as no shock that I don't buy clothes. I create what I wear. I got tired and bored of shopping for something that didn't exist, and I was persistent
enough to plow through to see if I could find it.
A member of Walt's family is getting married, and his nieces are looking for MOB & AOB (Aunt of the Bride) outfits to wear, while I'm helping the bride finalize her dress. So we sat down after Thanksgiving, got our phones, and started scrolling.
It's been a while since I've gone through and tried to do anything like this, but finally I looked at her when she had narrowed it down to this top with that skirt
with that color, only I would take all the junk off, and then we could do this or that, and I said, "Let me do something for you. It would be soooooooooo much simpler, and you can get what you want. We have the Black Friday sales, and we can get something a lot less expensive." I got some paper out and started drawing, and we came up with a gorgeous idea: a white top and a black cummerbund with a brocade black fuller skirt (tapered at the top, pockets, and fuller at the
bottom). Black and white. We looked at the bride nearby, and she loved it. Then we went in to look at her jewelry, and she had the most gorgeous baroque pearl necklace, and I picked that out, and that was it.
And I pulled this up, and she went berserk. YES! THIS WAS IT! She had been looking everywhere for something like this. So onto Mood and Gorgeous Fabrics, and boom, we're done shopping. Of course, cause they are family, they are going
to get me for free, but even if I had charged my regular fee, the places we had to look to find something "normal," my fee would have been considerably less than what this is in the store.
I think part of it was my enthusiasm, and because I've been doing this forever and they've heard from their uncle how wonderful my garments are. But as much I think it was the style too.
So I continued my search when I got home and found
this classic Carolina Herrera (above) for a slim $4700, but it was precisely the look we were searching for, and the price points were about the same. When I add in my fee, this garment is still a huge bargain to make, and I'm making it with SILK taffeta, doubled in the bodice so it will be much heavier and sturdier feeling than the original. The skirt will be in a nice, sturdy black brocade that will look regal, but not showy.
In the process of searching for a more refined look that Walt's niece wants, but I'm appalled at what's out there to purchase, even for thousands of dollars. The very most basic garment to flatter or at the least make the wearer feel at least somewhat
pretty, are totally lost.
Each of these jackets runs in the thousands of dollars, and the fabric is most likely exquisitely detailed and artistic. But it's all lost on the shape. They are made specifically for figures that aren't svelte, and that's probably because only
wealthy women who don't have stick-figure bodies can afford them. But to do that, they've taken on the shape of a bag or sack.
This is a massive dilemma in RTW and something that we sewists deal with every day. A client came by and wanted a dress for a family wedding. She had been so frustrated looking everywhere that she couldn't find anything. No surprise. She had heard about me and came by, and she's a woman with a considerable number of decades on
this planet, so she's pretty much at the shape you would expect - not stick-figure shaped!
So, after we shared horror stories about what was in stores, we settled down to what she wanted. When I quoted her my price, she was visibly shocked. She was thinking about the cost of clothing in the stores. And I explained that those don't fit, which she agreed to, but couldn't understand why I should charge so much more for clothes that fit. But still, why should my
garment be so much more expensive?
I realized I had to do my "competing with slave labor" education, but even that didn't work. I even told her about purchasing a blouse in the YSL boutique in Neiman's in Dallas, and it was $179 in 1979. Comparing that $179 to the cost of living increase of bread, milk and gasoline, that would cost around $1,200 today. That's how warped the price of clothing is. I even offered to teach her how to make the garment. That my
mentor dress some of the wealthiest ladies in my city, and when they would whine about her price, she started teaching to show them how much work it was. Usually in the middle of the class, they would had the garment back to her to finish and never complained of the pricing again.
What these wealthy customers knew from the very outset was that my mentor was not only a great dressmaker but also a fabulous designer. They knew they were buying an "investment" garment - one they
would have for decades and be as sturdy and good-looking in 10 years as it was when they first wore it.
Most of my customers came from this group. They are now bringing me the beautiful couture garments they had in the 70s and 80s, and I'm lowering the hem and letting out the side seams, and it's as great as it ever was.
My new client knew this because she had had clothes made for her before, but the previous dressmaker was gone. That's probably true, and
she's probably so much older that she's gone for good or too blind, or feeble to make much anymore. I told her I understand her financial situation and that I'm sorry we couldn't do anything for her, because I really enjoyed her demeanor and lovely, sweet nature. She left as friends, but was still sad that she couldn't get a dress.
The bulk of my high price comes from the experience I have. I remember the first winner of the Great British Sewing Bee was an 81 y/o
grandmother.
Experience matters. Even an experience that may seem mundane and inconsequential can be hugely beneficial. That experience also makes for a great designer. After so many decades we know what works and what doesn't - and no matter how many times they bring back harem pants or MC Hammer Pants, they are not flattering. No matter if they call it hip-huggers, or
hipsters, they are uncomfortable and an outfit that is waiting for a costume malfunction! And black and white will always be classic till the end of time!
Our years of practicing and doing what we know works, almost always ends in success. Even today the styles of some of the old (some dead) masters are still timeless and gorgeous.
Any of these gowns could be worn today, and no one would even consider that they might be 30 or 40 years old. So for the wealthy, the real bargain is to buy a classic now, because it's only going to get more expensive as it ages.
But for us
humans, we get better like fine wine and aged cheese.
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Tracking a fashion trend isn't all that hard after seeing a few of them.
Living from Mid-Century Modern through Twiggy...
It's worth the time to look at these styles, particularly today as
there is a group of that wants to look....
This is the way fashion used to be -- pretty, flattering and I can't wait to make some of...
NOTE: There are some folks who can't get my email, or it's sporadic, or something is hinky. I will always respond to any of you who send a private message, whether it's about the topic of the week or something else. If you don't get anything
from me, it's probably because the support@sewingartistry.com email is blocked, and even a private message can't get through. In that case, I'm on Instagram often, and you can always PM me at @sewingartistry.
As a precaution,
please ensure I'm in your email Address Book and check your spam, junk, and trash folders. Some email clients get extra excited when they see emails coming into the Inbox that go to many other receivers. They automatically think it's trash or spam, and it never makes it to the Inbox. I must constantly check my spam and junk folders to ensure I'm getting the emails I subscribe to.
To view in browser along with past emails, click here. We respect your email privacy. |
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