Since I started sewing back in 2009 I've made A LOT of clothes. My obsessive personality mixed with the awesomeness of being able to create your own clothes meant that a warehouse of fabric has been pushed through my sewing machine.
I've spent countless hours fantasising about what I want to make for my next zillion projects and how exactly I was going to make them happen. There's been a lot of failed projects that have never made it to this blog, and a lot victory's too.
But here's the thing, in my obsession to make everything that comes into my head, practical or not, I've ended up creating a cupboard full of garments that I have hardly worn or have NEVER worn!
I think we all have this idea of our own personal style and what we fancy we would wear on an everyday basis, but when that cheeky little thing called 'practicality' comes into the picture, we end up dragging the old basic out of our cupboard.
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| How I think I'm going to wear Vs what I actually end up wearing |
Maybe I'll even learn something ... bahaha ... so hard to type that with a straight face ...
Surprisingly some of my favourite dresses that I have made are in my 'never worn' pile. Admittedly I do have an affinity for evening wear so a lot of dresses I've hardly worn simply because I haven't had opportunities to wear them.
So here are my blogged projects listed into three categories:
So here are my blogged projects listed into three categories:
- Worn 5+ times
- Worn less than 5 times
- Never worn
Click on the pictures below to view the original blog post:
WORN 5+ TIMES
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I think the above shows how inconsistent my style is, but that's what I love about fashion: the ability to change up your looks every day to suit your mood. Most of these garments are pretty comfortable and practical, even if some of them are little on the fancy side.
WORN LESS THAN 5 TIMES
Most of the garments in this pile would get more wear but just haven't yet had the opportunity. For example it's summer in Australia at the moment so my sweaters are not currently in rotation. Also a few of these garments are maternity dresses and there aint no human camping out in there at the moment.
NEVER WORN
Most of the stuff in my 'never worn' pile has made it there because it was either a little bit too dressy for a normal outing, or by the time I had an event to wear it to I already had an idea in my head for a new dress. #sewingproblems
Regardless of how much or how little I've worn my handmade clothes I love them all.
Thoughts? Which one of my 'never worn' garment should I wear immediately?
So what about you? Do you have an outfit that you wear over and over and one that you hardly ever wear? Am I the only one? Let me know!
QUICK STATS
36% of my garments I wear regularly
38% of my garments I've only worn a handful of times, and
26% of my garments I've never worn. Yikes!
Regardless of how much or how little I've worn my handmade clothes I love them all.
Thoughts? Which one of my 'never worn' garment should I wear immediately?
So what about you? Do you have an outfit that you wear over and over and one that you hardly ever wear? Am I the only one? Let me know!
You are not alone! I think, particularly when you are a Mum, it is easy to avoid making the everyday clothing that is most practical. It is more exciting to make a new dress for every special outing (even the just out of the ordinary outings) than to make pair of trousers or an easy dress. I think you must wear the floral Gabriola skirt in the. middle block and the very last dress. Both gorgeous and it is summer!
ReplyDeleteI 100% agree! As I spend most of my time in activewear at the moment (oh the shame!) when I do make the effort I like to go all out. Basics I end up buying just to save time. Plus a lot of what I used to wear all the time I don't at the moment because they either don't fit the same any more, or they aren't breastfeeding friendly.
DeleteThanks for your dress suggestions too! :)
I soon got rid of the things I didn't wear to give me a reason to make the next great thing! Great post. jo x
ReplyDeletethanks Jo! I wish I was disciplined enough to get rid of my makes. I'm awesome at culling all my ordinary clothes, but I just can't bring myself to get rid of anything I've made! I've even got some stashed at my parents place because I can't fit them all in our small cupboard.
DeleteOh boy, most of the garment in your made me at the time to run and buy the pattern,but never were sewn, I guess I had the same consideration when I tried to choose the time to sew them and postponed it to a latter more suitable occasion.But your stile and your choices are always so inspiring! We are all want to be princesses all the time, at least you have a wardrobe to prove it ;)
ReplyDeletehahaha thank you! Yes there's nothing like a new dress to make us feel special. Thanks so much for your kind comment! :)
DeleteOh my gosh, so many beautiful dresses never worn! I know it's not practical to wear around little ones, so you must find Events to attend... Fundraising galas, benefit concerts, cocktail parties, etc. Or how about a black-tie dinner that you serve at home for a small number of friends?
ReplyDeleteI know it's crazy isn't it!?!! I think I might just start turning up to weddings :) Surely if I'm dressed to the nines no one will suspect that I'm not actually a guest?!
DeleteI don't understand why your silk gabriola is in the less than five times category, it is gorgeous. I feel like the navy dress that you designed looks like other dresses in your wore more than five times category, do perhaps that one can get more use.
ReplyDeleteBoth of them will be getting more use this season :) I think I've always avoided the floral gabriola because the fabric is so nice I don't want to ruin it. Just like how you hardly use your best china!! I've got to get over that though and put it into rotation for this summer :)
DeleteOr give it to me, I'll bump it up to at least ten wears - haha. Joking, sort of :)
Deletehahaha :) A woman after my own heart
DeleteI always want to sew fancy dress items, but I just don't get to go to many fancy dress parties. What's a girl to do?!
ReplyDeleteShannon I hear you. Most of my outings these days are at the local park! Maybe we should just start wearing our fancy clothes to ordinary things :)
DeleteThe red version of Butterick 5603 gets my vote! I LOVE that dress :)
ReplyDeleteYes I love that dress too! It's just a little too tight on me at the moment!! But I'm getting there :)
DeleteI'm not seeing a clear theme as to why you don't wear some of these. You've got a set style, there's lots of similar/same in each pile, I'm just guessing fit issues.
ReplyDeleteThere are always go-to pieces, the dress that makes me feel invincible, and the second version cause 'maybe I'll need another'. And I don't need the second one, so it languishes.
?? Lots of fine makes here. Better to choose from a feast than live in a famine.
You're pretty much spot on! A lot of the dresses seem a bit random and I think it really comes down to what fits me ok at the moment. Some of them are a little too tight or a little too loose, or aren't quite right for my current 'I've just had a baby' body shape.
DeleteGood thing is it's reminded me about some of the clothes that I'd forgotten about and I'm going to make a conscious effort to wear them more or alter the ones that aren't quite right! Thanks so much for your comment :)
You should totally wear those two black lace dresses asap. Even if you have to create an occasion for them. Host a cocktail party at home.
ReplyDeleteThanks Deepika! :) yes I always loved those two as well. Maybe I'll host a party and be like a hollywood actress and have a dress change half way through the night! :)
DeleteYou should sell them on ETSY and make money to finance future projects. You sew so beautifully that it is a shame to waste all that beauty. Cheers, Michele
ReplyDeleteActually that's sort of genius Michele. I've half thought about that. At least if I'm not wearing it someone else might be able to enjoy it!
DeleteYou MUST wear the black lace with the low-V back! It's gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThat's it, I'm wearing it to the next fancy thing I go to. Thanks for your comment! :)
DeleteI agree! Summer Frocktails!
DeleteTempting, very tempting ... though when ever it's summer I'm always desperate to sew with colour!
Deletecocktails and cocktail dresses before dinner, Julia!
ReplyDeleteLiz when you're right, you're right :)
DeleteI think this is the same issues to many girls haha :) most of us just buy clothes but never worn! I like when you wear the Burda 7494! It looks gorgeous !
ReplyDeleteThank you! Yes that was definitely one of my favourite patterns for a while there! :)
DeleteI was scanning your groupings and my take is this: like most of us, you wear the garments which are "daytime" and on the casual/washable/meet girls for coffee or shopping side. Now your version of daytime/casual is my version of party-dress, but I'm in a very fashion dreary part of the world (Seattle). It's all relative. This has been a fascinating post and I'm glad you compiled it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Karen and thank you for the observation! I was hoping that I had some sort of link between what I wore and what I didn't wear; it was all quite surprising for me!
DeleteI calculated my memades%)) I have 62% of often worn items, 33% - seldom and 4% - never worn (2 item)
ReplyDeleteWell done on the never worn %! You are my idol :)
DeleteI think we all have a bunch of seldom/never worn items in our closets! But my other problem is buying fancy vintage remnant fabrics that I almost certainly will never use. They're all so pretty and need a home, even if the home ends up being shoved in the bottom of a drawer!
ReplyDeleteOh don't even get me started on that one. I wouldn't be able to write a post long enough to show all the fabrics that I have stashed and have not sewn with!
DeleteI am in love with all of your "never worn" designs. But the Julia Bobbin teared skirt dress (white) is perfect for any party or dinner out-- esp in the summer. Rock it girl!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sarah Jean! Well it's certainly hot enough for it at the moment in Melbourne. I might just have to drag it out :)
DeleteI love this post! I am also totally guilty of sewing saucy outfits only to live in leggings and tunics. The struggle of finding that balance between "I can comfortably sit down in this" and "I look like I showered and took time to get dressed this morning" is so real for me lol! I'm really looking forward to experimenting with different patterns and figuring that all out in 2016 :)
ReplyDeleteI hear you sister! Yes I think that 2016 is going to be a year of more decisive makes; more every day stuff with a few pieces of extravagance thrown into the mix. :)
DeleteGreat post. I do wear the majority of my makes, but about 10% goes straight to the charity shop. I love all the butterick 5603 dresses, wear them!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, that will always be both one of my favourite and my go-to patterns! Thanks Mags :)
DeleteEven when my daughters were young and I sewed a lot, it was always more exciting to make the wonderful things like a costume, prom dress, fancy show clothing. Since I am older and not able to sew as much I have finally come into the realm of make the basic pieces I like to live in not the crazy designer things that were so fun and seldom worn but perhaps once to some event. Now I do the opposite, I buy the dress clothing and sew the pieces I like to live in at home a lot. It is also rewarding to make a shell or skirt to make something from the sale rack turn into a cute outfit or alter a bargain into something custom. This is not exciting sewing but definitely gets used a lot unlike the one time show piece item that really isn't all that useful after it's one trip out and about if at all.
ReplyDeleteThat is smart sewing! And it also makes us use the fabrics that we already have at home too, so I totally respect that! Thanks for your comment :)
DeleteWhat a really interesting post. I remember when I first saw your Gabriola and loved it - you must wear that more! I hadn't really thought about this myself until this week - I have been fretting about when I am going to get my Christmas Day dress made and realised that I haven't worn last year's Christmas Day dress since. Now that you've worked out the stats are you going to sew differently?
ReplyDeleteI hear you! Yes I definitely need to get the Gabriola out more. It's so pretty and I have to get over the fear that I'm going to damage it! I think that the stats have impacted on my sewing a little; I'll definitely sew a little more sensibly, especially as my sewing time is a bit more scarce at the moment. By the same token however, because I don't have as much time I may be more inclined to make the fancy fun pieces that I love to make and that aren't always practical! Only time will tell :) Thanks for your comment! :)
DeleteNo you have to promise you wear the Gabriola skirt a bit more or recycle to fabric because it is realllly beautiful.
ReplyDeleteYes! You're right; that fabric is just too pretty to let it hang in a closet :)
DeleteThe pink flowery dress at the bottom right hand corner of your never worn group is really cute on you. You should keep that one AND wear it!
ReplyDeleteBut but but... There are gorgeous dresses in your never worn pile... Maybe just shop your closet the next time you have an event ;) And that red Joan-style dress is the one you should start wearing immediately!
ReplyDeleteBut I get it though, there are also quite some things in my handmade wardrobe that I'm not wearing, sometimes just because I forgot about them...
Dude! According to your post, you've made 58 items of clothing! I'm so impressed (and quite inspired of course)! I'm still working out how to make all my pieces fit properly (I have some hilarious me mades in my wardrobe that definitely can't be worn outside the house for obvious reasons if you were to ever see them). I think your Vogue 8280 is absolutely stunning - it'd be great to see that one out an about (maybe have a "just cause I can" day? haha)
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great post and very honest, thank you. I've just found your blog and I think it's so amazing you have made so many fantastic pieces, they are all so special! I haven't been able to successfully complete many clothing projects but I'm hoping to challenge myself and finish some this year.
ReplyDeleteI know you have sewn with Colette patterns, but have you looked at their wardrobe architect challenge? It's great for evaluating what you currently wear a lot and why and forms the basis for sewing a capsule wardrobe you know you'll wear a lot. That being said, making fancy things is so much more fun. Otherwise, maybe you can restyle some of the dresses if you decide to keep them.
I am drooling over your unworn wardrobe, these are wonderful frocks. But I understand how they might not get worn. I only keep what I wear and give away what I don't. Just keep the "learnings" :>
ReplyDeleteJulia, I just found your blog and I must say, I am so impressed by your skill level. That is a lot of garments to have sewed! I would love to sew more of my own garments in the future, so this post is quite inspiring for me.
ReplyDeleteI think you should probably wear the pink vintage floral dress in the bottom corner. It's summer where you are, right?
Been too long since I visited your blog!
ReplyDeleteI suggest:
Wear Vogue 1190 while vacuuming (when your husband is home)
And the V neck cream dress with layered frills, go to The Hotel Windsor for afternoon tea with a loved one, wearing that dress! Do it!!!
Much love, Sita
We met at spotlight years ago!