The Monthly Stitch challenge for February is pants. Since Fall of last year, I have intended to overhaul my wardrobe. With the new year, there are a couple challenges that have made me really be intentional in some of my choices. A few challenges have been Wardrobe Architect by Colletterie, Wardrobe Challenge 2014 by Angela Wolf, and 12 Pattern Challenge by Lucky Lucille.
We had flooring put down before Christmas and I boxed up all but the essentials in my closet and haven’t unpacked those boxes yet. That’s given me plenty of time to think about what I need in my closet. I’m rotating three pairs of slacks for work! I have a couple more that I pull out when I have to, but I definitely need to add slacks to my wardrobe.
As part of the Wardrobe Architect, we were challenged to think about our style. Who are our icons, how do clothes make us feel, what do we want from what we wear? I felt I knew the answers at the start and found they didn’t change with retrospection. I love Katherine Hepburn’s button blouses and pleated trousers. The casual comfort of her style appeals to me! Doris Day had a trim style that is just timeless. I definitely want a pair of slim fitting pencil pants and a new pair of loafers. I’m thinking a tunic length button down or perhaps a hip length button down would pair well.
My favorite way of dressing is COMFORT! As in old sloppy jeans, t-shirts with my husband’s button down shirts. I would like to create more things that are comfortable, but that also look decent enough to wear to town. Being busty, my figure has always made it tough, read impossible, to buy things that truly fit. With ‘middle age spread’, it’s just gotten worse. So my core goals while wardrobe building are:
- Comfortable
- Well fitting
- Classic/Timeless
Having said all that, the Monthly Stitch challenge comes at the perfect time. I have three pair of pants on my to do list. My goal for February is to choose one pair and get them done. It would be awesome if I were to get two pair completed. The main goal is to adjust the fit so that I have a dependable pattern to create a selection of trousers for work. My first pair will be pleated trousers like one of these and I’m leaning towards V8498.
As I was grabbing my links for this post, I stumbled on Lucky Lucille’s post on her plans for pants in February. It was just posted today! (Kindred spirits for the day. 🙂) She made a comment that could have been me to a Tee:
“I like chic menswear, tweeds, and timeless color palettes. I also like things that are soft and look like they’ve been broken in and well loved overtime – You know, Vintage-y things. Practicality also plays a crucial roll here so I’m looking for fabrics that are washable and fairly durable. I don’t want to fuss with matching plaids either. …and I really like the color green lately.” (by LuckyLucille. Full blog post here.)
For the record, I ALWAYS love green. LOL. My go-to colors this year seem to be black and brown. I’ve quite a few pieces of brown wool in my stash. I’ll have to be careful to balance with other colors.
I’ve really enjoyed watching how others approach their wardrobe choices. It’s kind of funny the things that motivate us. When thinking of some of my favorite pieces, I remember a true red Pendleton wool shirt that was a handed down from my Dad and a canvas and leather game jacket that my brother outgrew. I wore both of those for more than a decade. I find favorite things and wear them as long as possible. Mom had a heavy red coat in a vintage heavy collar and a-line style that I’m still wearing today.
There is such a comfort in favorite things. To all those taking up the wardrobe challenge in one form or another, I wish you luck. I hope we all create a few new favorite things.
Happy sewing,
Ramona
Related Posts:
http://luckylucille.com/2014/01/preparing-for-pants/
http://www.coletterie.com/wardrobe-architect/the-wardrobe-architect
http://fashionsewingwithangelawolf.com/angela-wolfs-wardrobe-challenge/
http://luckylucille.com/2014/01/my-twelve-pattern-challenge/
threadtime 
It sounds interesting! I recognised it so good…. Success!
I have a pile with fabrics specially seleceted for trousers waiting for me 😉
I can’t wait to see them. You and I seem to be in sync. You are always posting patterns I think are awesome or that I actually have in my stash. Love it!
I was thinking exactly the same seeing your post… amzing 🙂
Great post, Ramona! I’m so excited that we have pretty much the exact same inspirations and aspirations for our pants. I guess we’ll be working on them together in February! I started working through Kenneth’s class to listen and watch the pocket-making process before I dive into the sewing, and I LOVE his teaching style and approach. He explains things very well and just has that kind of personality that I feel comfortable taking in and learning from. …plus his outfits are fabulous 😉
Looking forward to seeing your finished pants!
I took Kenneth King’s Jean-ius class on Craftsy and agree he is a wonderful teacher. I would love to go learn with him and Susan Khalje in their July workshop.
I’ve been working through the Wardrobe Architect too, its really helpful with defining style. I saw an exhibit of Katherine Hepburn’s clothing and costumes last winter. It was great, but I would have loved to have seen the inside of some of the clothes. Have you seen the book about her called Rebel Chic?
No, I haven’t seen it, but I will definitely be looking it up. I would have loved to see that exhibit! She had a way chic and elegant, but still totally comfortable. I’d love to have that long leggy look of hers.
I just clicked through to your blog after looking at your wardrobe challenge and wardrobe architect pin board. We have a lot of the same patterns, similar taste. I’m looking forward to following you on Pinterest.
What is your Pinterest name? I’d love to see what you’re working on.
Ramona
I, too, just got Claudia Schaffer’s couture pants pattern and intend to try it this month! And I’m also doing the wardrobe architect. That is a lot of homework!
Yes, it is! I attempted choosing silhouettes on Polyvore, but just found it a chore. But I have enjoyed thinking through this process.