Kimiko,
Ah! Another square peg! How delightful!
You're on the petite end; I'm on the Rubenesque end. When I walk
into a Penningtons or any other plus size store, I get so frustrated with
the designers of these clothes trying to shove large ladies into mini-skirts
and tubular trousers, skirts and dresses. Have they ever looked at the women
for whom they're designing? We're not tubular! No way. No how. Consequently
a woman comes out with clothes that are either too baggy or too tight so
that she looks either like a clown or a tart. Neither of these are looks I'm
going for.
And if I purchase a blazer for $100.00+, I want it to be lined,
thank you, with more than a serged seam and buttons that fall off after the
first wearing, and not to be made of polyester so that when a hot flash hits
I don't feel like I'm wearing a plastic bag.
Consequently the current 'dress' jacket I'm making myself has been
on the embroidery frame for several months now, based on an early 18th
century men's frock coat, but with straight sleeves, made of ivory silk/wool
twill and embroidered with rust/orange and real gold. It will take me the
rest of the year to finish, but when I do I will have an original garment
that will be timeless and last me at least a decade, especially given the
few number of special functions I attend.
And then I'll spend most of April in the studio making myself a
series of new summer dresses (I've lost 30 pounds and am counting) because
the old ones are either worn or too big. Simple cottons, a bit of beading, a
bit of trim. Voila.
Then come September I'm probably going to have to make some new
winter trousers and shirts, with the hope I've lost more weight and will
need a new wardrobe. And these will wear very well. Unlike the stupid cords
I purchased from Penningtons. Argh.
Regards,
Lorina
Five Rivers Chapmanry
purveyors of historical sewing patterns, quality hand-crafted cooperage,
re-enactor and embroidery supplies, and more.
519-799-5577 [EMAIL PROTECTED] - www.5rivers.org
_______________________________________________
h-costume mailing list
[email protected]
http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
