 |
January 24, 2019
I got so many responses from last weeks email on the change that's getting ready to happen in fashion, and how many of you feel that dresses aren't for you. Now, I'm not discounting this or saying that feeling this way is wrong or even all that unpopular now. And it's true that either your shape or your lifestyle precludes you thinking about wearing dresses in the future.
So as a background having gone through a lot of fashion changes in my life, I thought I'd share my transition from one fashion change to another. I've gone through the 50s Lusty Opulent Era, the 60s Mod Era, the 70s, Hippie Era, the 80s Opulent Era, the 90s, 00s, and 10s Grunge Era, and in each era of fashion, I was not going to wear those shoulder pads of the 80s; I was not going to wear those hip-huggers of the Mod era; and I certainly
wasn't going to wear Doc Marten boots of the Grunge era! Well, at least I kept that last promise, but I did wear some pretty clunky boots in the 90s and 00s! And in the end, I bowed to the fashion of the day.
In reality this is what fashion is all about - change and constantly changing. It's how fashion evolves and what keeps it fun and always modern.
In each fashion trend, I vowed never to wear those crazy fashions coming down the pike. I can remember clearly never going to wear shoulder pads - EVER!
I used to laugh at my parents on the left in their full fashion glory after World War 2, home from the war, they had gone to Kansas City for a second honeymoon and whoa! Look at those huge ma-moos on their shoulders! As you can see on the right, I bowed to the dictates of fashion almost immediately in modeling this jacket that I thought was so gorgeously styled! I did this so often from fashion trend to fashion trend, that I've gotten used to it. And often when
I hear "Oh I'll never wear that," I simply smile and think, yeah - you just wait a couple of years, when everyone's doing it!
Heavens - even at the Golden Globes, some men were wearing dresses - they are that popular!
But, also I know there are some adjustments to every fashion trend, and some trends do well with some fashions and some don't. The rectangle and the apple have done really well with the hipster and Grunge fashion keying in on the hips as a focus. While the Hourglass and Pear, have had to use some major slight-of-hand/eye techniques to pass and still look flattering and with the style of the day. So as we move out of focus on the hip and more focus on the waist, there
are some techniques that all body shapes can use to help with this. Rectangles and Apples in particular may feel that dresses aren't for them and at the best, be difficult, but there are remedies and some very helpful techniques that all shapes can use to make the dress as flattering and attractive as possible.
Here are some fashion editors of the day with all their dresses on - and some of these editors don't have the runway-thin model figure, so if they're wearing this, what does this say to the rest of us? At the least we should pay attention, and the most, embrace the dress. But how do you do that if you think your figure isn't the best? That's why I chose these editors here - each one of them doesn't have the good figure for a dress, but look
great. Robin Givhan is a rectangle shape as is Glenda Bailey in the center and of course Suzy Menkes is a traditional apple shape. Although Givhan has a fairly svelte size, she can't loose enough weight to make her waist any thinner - these are her genes and her waist is thick and that's that. Bailey and Menkes are not svelte, and yet all these women look put together, neat, well-groomed and totally of today's style which is what the upcoming trend is all
about.
So I wrote up some help for all figure types here. This is one of these times, when I wanted you all, who subscribe to get this before anyone else and it will be free for a while, but after that I'll put it up at regular price in the resource center.
I go through all shapes, describe in detail the shape and how to style for each shape and alter patterns to fit each shape and even though I said that I wouldn't include some sewing techniques, I guess I can't help myself so there are some sewing techniques included too.
Here's the Table of Contents:
Table of Contents
Introduction
Apple Shape
Basic Guidelines for the Apple Shape
Pattern Alterations for the Apple Shape
Bust Alterations
Waist Alterations
Pear Shape
Basic Guidelines for the Pear Shape
Pattern Alterations for the Pear Shape
Rectangle Shape
Basic Guidelines for the Rectangle Shape
Pattern Alterations for the Rectangle Shape
Hourglass Shape
Basic Guidelines for the Hourglass Shape
Pattern Alterations for the Hourglass Shape
Basic Alterations for All Shapes
Fit on the Shoulders
Raise the Waist
Flare the skirt
Assembly Quickies
LMK what you think and also what you think about making and wearing dresses again. I always love hearing from you. All you have to do is hit respond to this email and I'll get it!
And this is a good time to mention that I love writing up things like this for you - and if there's anything you would like to know more about (of course I'd request it be about sewing, fashion, style and shaping flattering looks for you - I do best on those topics !!!), LMK. I really do love getting your feedback and information from you!
This new year will bring a new look and lots of new things added to the site. In the meantime, things will be placed a little different, and if you can't find something that you liked or would like to find, just let me know. It's easy as pie - you can simply respond to this email and I'll get it. I get all these emails and I read all of them. so let me know if something seems awry for you or out of place.
We're working on simplifying it and changing it to a more functional and easier place to get around.
If there's something you liked from before and don't see, LMK.
If there's something you've never seen, but would like, LMK.
And of course if there's something that seems haywire or good, LMK!
You all will be the first to know when it's more settled, but for right now we're still moving the furniture around!
On the Blog
PS - I do a lot of posting on Facebook as SewingArtistry - like my page to see more goodies!
To view this email in browser or to see past emails click here. (This works now and is a lot of fun to check out!)
We respect your email privacy
|
|
Follow Us!
   
|
|