Window Shopping

I went to a high-end mall last night. The anchor stores are Nordstoms and Neiman Marcus. First I have to say I love trying on clothes at expensive stores. I wear clothes two sizes smaller than at the chain stores. Great for the ego! I have the same fit issues no matter what the cost, but it would bother me more to spend $200 for a dress and still have to remake it. Sorry there are no pictures...cameras were not welcomed.

I am never going to follow trends again. I haven't felt good in my clothes since the 1960's. Now that the retro styles are back, suddenly I look good in clothes again, in spite of the fact that I weight 100 pounds more than I did in the 60's. I feel like I wasted half my life in ugly clothes. Never again!

I went to the mall to look at construction and fabric used. I felt a silk/wool for the first time. It will be great for Florida winters. I also saw a beautiful silk jersey print on a DVF wrap dress. The front edge of the wrap dress was finished with self-fabric binding. I was surprised how many of the sundresses were lined with batiste.....and all the sundresses were lined. All the unlined jackets had Hong Kong finishes, and the lined jackets had piping in the seam between the facing and lining. Seams were pressed open and serge finished on dresses and blouses. Invisible zippers were used on everything. They basicly just used good construction techniques with really great fabric.

I was amazed at the difference good fabric made in the way a garment looks on the body. Things that I thought I couldn't wear looked great because of the drape of the fabric. I have been very frugal with my clothing for years, but it was not a good plan. I am definitely going to change my fabric buying habits.

Here are some of the changes I am planning to make as a result of this experience.
1. Buy only good fabric. The expense is worth it.
2. Make more things with princess seams.
3. Make a-line and straight skirts.
4. Make things with a fitted waistline.
5. Make a gathered skirt out of voile and move the gathers to the center, sides almost flat.
6. Make things out of a mid-weight linen fabric. It drapes but has enough body to keep things hidden I don't want to show.
7. Marry a rich man so that I have the money to buy all that expensive fabric.

I Broke My Fabric Fast

I haven't bought any fabric all year, except for lining and a gift. This has been fine for working out muslins and making things out of wovens, but the knits in my stash were terrible. I have been looking locally, but I haven't found anything that I liked in colors that look good on me. Today I finally got to the point that I couldn't stand it any longer and I went totally crazy.

It all started with this beautiful poly knit from Gorgeous Fabrics. I think I fell in love with the print because of the colors, they fit well into my fall wardrobe direction and I will be able to wear it year-round here in Florida. I ended up ordering 5 different knits, 17 yards total all in colors that I know will look good on me. Thank you Gorgeous Fabrics for the Pantone colors. Then I went over to Fabric.com and ordered 7.5 yards of rayon blend knits. Although I love Fabric.com's free shipping, colors are a real guessing game without swatches, so I hope what I ordered will work. If not, I am sure I can find someone I know that will look good in the colors.

I am so excited. I now have 7 new fabrics that will really help move my wardrobe into current trends.

Comments

Several of you have left comments lately that have vanished after I clicked to approve them. I apologize. I am not sure what went wrong, but I have reset the comment moderation, so hopefully, your comments will show up immediately. If that doesn't correct the problem, I will have to get help.