Widows and Orphans Need Not Apply

My closet is filled with widows and orphans.  There is actually no real shortage of clothes that fit, except perhaps for blouses, but each piece is isolated into itself, adrift and alone, with few if any companion pieces that will elevate it into that most desireable of units — an ensemble or outfit.

This is new and unfamiliar territory for me.  I like clothes.  I like to shop.  I like to sew.  And I have been pretty consistent in my taste and style for some years now.  I can’t describe that style, but it all seems to go together.

Things got a little dicey as I gained weight, but it didn’s slow me down that much.  Loosing weight however has been different. It happened faster.  And the weight did not go off in the same order it went on.

Suits that once fit don’t.  Things that used to go together don’t, or look so totally dumpy and dowdy I would be depressed to walk out of the bedroom in them, in fact lookng at myself wearing some of these outfits makes me want to crawl back into bed.    If the pants or skirt fit, the jacket is way too large.  If the jacket fits, the pants are probably a little snug, but there are exceptions.  It’s more than the pounds.  The weight has redistributed itself in new ways, like my fat cells are playing twister and finding new ways to configure themselves on my body.

Well, it is not all that bad.  I have black pants, casual narrow black pants in several lengths to wear with heels or flats.  I have dressier black knit pants of the St. John variety to wear with several tops.  But no jacket that fits looks good with any bottom that fits, except for a few tried and true casual options.  These are fine for running around town and going to Wal-Mart, but not for everything.  I have one nice suit — a little on the dressy side, not a business suit and it served me well for going to the symphony and dinner last night, but I shall quickly grow sick of it if ite mains the only think I can wear for dressier occasions.

The green skit I made goes with one sweater well; the jackets I thought would look good are too big or too dumpy. There are no blouses.  The second option, which has been in my photo album looks dowdy even though the same sweater set looks lovely with a longer skirt.  I do have fabric for a jacket that will lovely with that skirt.  It is a wine and green tweed, predominantly wine (oh no, will the green shoes go?) but it will expand my options considerably.

So. there is sewing to be done.  And for the first time in probably 20 years I can’t just make whatever pops into my head, inspires my imagination or just happens to be lying around. 

I must PLAN.

I must make a series of outfits that coordinate.  I must make things that work together, or at least work with items in my wardrobe that I care to save (perhaps both).

And so I am starting on to work on a plan.

to be continued…..