Being less cranky

[mala_14]

I'm tired of being whiny and complaining all the time. So here's something different. Now that I'm a "grown up" and getting involved in all sorts of things where I need to look something resembling professional, I need a grown up wardrobe. I've been thinking a lot lately about what sort of items I need to round out my wardrobe, what sort of clothing (as opposed to costumes) I sew, and what I want my style to be. I've even started a Pinterest board.

I need to get a look more like this... minus the shoulder problem.

I think there are a couple of problems with my wardrobe. 1. Other people buy me clothes as gifts. Other people, who don't really get my style or what I want my wardrobe to be like. This is unfortunate, but can't be helped. And sometimes these things do tend to come in handy. 2. I sew things or am drawn to things that are not necessarily the sort of things that I like to wear in real life. Sometimes things are just pretty or have cool techniques or designs that I want to try out. 3. Shoes. I have really flat, wide feet and shoes that don't have enough and the right support give me all kinds of pain in my feet, ankles, shins, knees, and hips. This is why I wear runners/sneakers almost all the time. Unfortunately, it's not really a professional look. But usually I'd rather have no pain than look a certain way.

This is why I need a blazer. So I can look this cool and put together, while still being comfy.

Some solutions have come to my mind. 1. I've identified some holes in my wardrobe that need filling: blouses/tops, blazers, pants that aren't jeans/nicer shorts, good shoes. (I've actually already improved my wardrobe somewhat by collecting nice sweaters, which are much more nice-looking than hoodies. I also have a couple nicer tops, but definitely need more. And I have 2 pairs of non-jeans pants, one made and one bought.) 2. Make things that I will actually wear. This is code for: fewer skirts/dresses (which I pretty much never wear because it's often too cold and I don't have good shoes for skirts/dresses) and pocketses (because I refuse to carry around a purse and really all bottoms should have pocketses! Pocketses: they're not just for men and hobbits).

Potential near-future additions to the sewing list:
1. Silk blouse a la Agent Carter or Butterick 6285 (new pattern by Gertie) for a new top, depending on what fabrics look like, what my sewing inclinations are, and what would actually work in my wardrobe (white blouse seems like a pretty good wardrobe staple).

2. Blazer. I have a beautiful wool-cashmere blend from Scotland for this. It needs to be made. I also have some black linen-rayon that could potentially become some kind of blazer.
3. Nicer shorts. I have some denim ones that I made, but I want some that are a little bit longer. Plus, one pair of shorts just isn't enough in the summer. Plus I have some grey stretch twill fabric on hand for this. And a fun yellow button.

Things to purchase: Number one BY FAR is a good pair of nice shoes. Everything else is just gravy (and dependent upon my wallet).

Those are my wardrobe musings at the moment. Totally inspired by nuranar and bauhausfrau's posts about style. How do all you guys deal with modern wardrobes?

Comments

[jubilima.livejournal.com]

I wrecked my ankles wearing high heels *all*the*time*, even when I walked a mile and a half each way to and from work every day. Now I'm embracing the comfortable shoes with polished clothing look. That's why I'm LUSTING after these shoes. I saw them on a very chic woman at brunch the other day, and they looked spectacular. They're a little pricey, but hey, you can't mess around with good shoes. http://www.colehaan.com/zer%C3%B8grand-wing-oxford-ironstone-suede/D44059.html?dwvar_D44059_color=Ironstone%20Suede&dwvar_D44059_width=B#cgid=womens_shoes_oxfords&start=9

The other thing I do *all*the*time* is think about fashion, but rarely write about it here.

[mala-14.livejournal.com]

Oh my. Be still my heart! That is exactly what I want!

[tigerweave.livejournal.com]

I have the same issue with shoes, though for a different reason - I have nice medium arches, but silly feet are just as flexible as the rest of me so the arches collapse without good shoes all the time.

You CAN get very good quality shoes that are nice and supportive and good for your feet. Most of my shoes are Naot, and I've had some of them for 5 yrs, worn them frequently and they are still just fine. You can buy new insoles if the old ones feel a bit squished and worn out.
https://www.naotshoes.com.au/?gclid=COGM6JXU6cgCFYGZvAodBFgMgw

I just go for something not fashionable but stylish, and they're not old-fashioned after 5 yrs. I know they're really horribly expensive but wow, they're SO WORTH IT.
I have this one in a slightly darker colour and I swear every single time I wear them I get someone enviously complimenting me on them. And they are SO SO COMFORTABLE!!! Yes those capital letters are needed to describe them accurately :-P
https://www.naotshoes.com.au/product_images/340/1803.jpg

(They have gorgeous boots and stuff too. I just go for the cooler ones coz: climate.)

My one pair of actual evening-y shoes are Naot too, and a medium heel and woah I tell you, SO comfy for something with a heel. (I never wear heels usually, unless on the dance floor. Seriously can't be bothered with them. And I'm ok that I'm just short.

I've also got a pair of Tao, and they are great, more fashionable (Ok more retro style) and with higher heels but they're very wearable for the odd fun day with the right outfit.
I got them from here - they also stock Naot, and are probably much cheaper if you don't have to pay international shipping like I do. (Not sure if you're in the US or Canada?)
http://www.shoebuy.com/

The other on is Kumfs, but not sure if they're just in Australia.

What I've done is check out reviews on Amazon, and on shoebuy (Amazon usually has more reviews) And they really help work out what is a good shoe or not. When a nurse is saying she wears them for work and they were comfortable all shift, then you can pretty much presume they're good shoes! When they're pretty, AND have a great review, then you're home and hosed :-)

Also I didn't realise for a LONG time how good just arch support inserts for sticking into shoes, could help. https://www.google.com.au/search?q=orthaheel+orthotics&rlz=1C1AVNA_enAU558AU558&espv=2&biw=1600&bih=775&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAmoVChMI7uOas9npyAIVxd2mCh269A9t

The most comfy ones I have are 'slimfit' for putting into 'fashion' shoes. They make some pretty Colerado sandals with too high a heel and not enough support, nicely wearable.

Mind you I've worn other Colerado and they've been good. Another brand that does the supportive but fashionabley.

Next time I buy some more arch support I'm just going straight to Aliexpress for them though. I think a lot of their stuff they're selling to individuals unbranded but also to big companies that put their brand on them. http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=AS_20151029234916&SearchText=orthotics

[mala-14.livejournal.com]

Thanks for all the links! They are really interesting! That IntoMind site has tons of info. Figuring out wardrobe stuff is hard. And expensive! I tend to buy most of my regular clothes (so much of my sewing time goes toward costuming). I really think I need to invest in a pair of good shoes.

[tigerweave.livejournal.com]

No worries, I hope some of them help. I found once I'd worked out better what I want and need, it saved me money, I wasn't buying stuff that didn't work in the wardrobe. (Well you know, I still make mistakes but hey... It's a lot better than it was!)

Yup yup re the shoes!

[mala-14.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Having a plan and not spending unnecessarily is key!

[tigerweave.livejournal.com]

Clothes: omg me too! What I want to sew (And do end up sewing) is so often very different to what I want to wear, and what suits my lifestyle. In the last year I've made a huge effort to work out what I need in my wardrobe, and then see if there's a way to fulfil that need with stuff I want to sew.

I also gave myself permission to buy stuff that I didn't want to sew but did need. (Usually from the local op-shop coz I hate feeding into the rag trade environmental and women exploitation.) Usually that meants t-shirts, bras and undies (I can sew my own but it's harder and less fun to make undies that work under my clothes, than it is to make cute, funky or sexy undies that never get worn coz I need the basic stuff under my shorts or trousers you know? *sad*). Also the occasional pair of basic plain-fabric shorts I find that fits well.
That's all helped.

But the biggest help of all was working my way through this website, using my pinterest boards to create mood boards and stuff.
http://into-mind.com/

Absolutely fantastic. In the end we worked through it 8 or 9 times - one for each personality!

There's another one I know of, that I didn't follow but I read some and lots of people love it. This one did help me just to recognise that just coz I loved to LOOK at something, or adored the style lines of a pattern, or couldn't resist the pretty fabric, that doesn't then necessarily mean I want to actually WEAR it. Or would wear it if I made it. Sad but true.
It's helped me to get good at admiring things without rushing off to sew them.
https://blog.colettehq.com/wardrobe-architect

I think too, I've just accepted I will always sew far more skirts than I actually wear ... ;-P

[tigerweave.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah and being given gifts of clothing? I get gifts of fabric, and those fabrics are the ones that sit in my stash unsewn, forever and ever and ever... *sigh*

[padawansguide.livejournal.com]

I lucked into a career where I've almost always worn jeans/tshirts/sweaters. I have bad knees so I'm a sneaker person too. I've been wearing chucks (probably more than I should) lately and I really like them. They're probably not great for me. But there are sort of sporty sneaker/shoes you might be able to find that would work for you! :-)

I have blazers but I've never been able to make them work. It goes from too hot to too cold here and the temps are never right. I also feel silly putting a winter coat over them. Someday I shall figure out the right way to wear them! :-)

[mala-14.livejournal.com]

You really do have the best job! Chucks are awesome! But they are so not the shoes for my feet.

Grown-up clothes are tough! More layers are always better at my home. Either it's freezing out or the air conditioning is on high.