Thursday, December 06, 2007

The Quest

As a working woman, I have a pretty extensive wardrobe. I am sure that it is smaller than some and larger than others. My excuse is that I don't like wearing the same thing often. The truth is probably hovering somewhere around the fact that I am a fabricaholic and a clothes hog! *LOL*

At the beginning of every fall/winter season the quest for me begins..."What is my quest, you ask?" Well it is to end up with five pair of lined black pants. Now that seems like a relatively easy thing to accomplish! You would think so right? But not for me...I am easily led astray by other colors and possibilities...plus even though lately I seem to be sewing a lot of black, I am not a huge fan of it. So every fall, the quest begins anew.

Now for this working woman, five pairs of black lined pants preferably from wool crepe equate to five pairs of well fitted jeans. Black pants work with almost everything in my wardrobe and they really fit into in my work environment! They are such a basic...they can be dressed up or down. They can be part of a suit or work for a business casual Friday...they work for a somber, funeral event or work great for an after work sexyfunkykewl event. Now why do I need five pair - why to keep the drycleaning bill down silly!

Have I ever reached my goal....no! I will start out the season believing that this might be the year that I will actually achieve it...and then one pair will shred or get a hole in it or the iron will burn them...and that sets me back a pair. I know you are wondering why I don't just sit down one three day weekend and make 5 pair...good idea ~ but have you ever tried to sew FIVE pair of lined black pants in a couple of days...can we say cross-eyed!!!!

So where am I this year in the quest...I have three pairs of lined black wool crepe pants...and a fourth pair cut out...not sewn but cut out! So do you think sewing them up is on my list this weekend...heck no! I want to make the Simplicity 3631 dress that I cut out in black wool crepe to wear to our Corporate Christmas Event. I have this idea to look very Audrey Hepburn kewl in my black dress with pearls at my neckline and dripping from my earlobes.

But I am close...closer this year than ever before! And I think I might actually achieve my goal this year. I might actually end up with five pairs of lined black pants, ready for any occasion...one can only hope...

So this leads me to my question for the day...What article of clothing would you duplicate five times for your wardrobe? And why? Or is it just not that important to you?

31 comments:

  1. I think if I had a couple of pencil skirts in black wool -- something really solid like gabardine -- I would be more than happy to devote time to doing it. I keep looking and can never find one that fits, or is made nicely, or is lined well, or has a decent zipper or is exactly the right length or whatever. It's very annoying because if I could get that, then I'd also make it out of brown, dark blue and dark green tweed. It would be really worth it.

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  2. No, I would not duplicate anything 5 times. I might use the same pattern 5 times to make five different coloured items. I only own one pair of black pants bought back in the Harry High Pants days. So they don't get worn very often.

    Good luck in getting your 5 pair done so you can concentrate on other distractions with a clear conscience!

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  3. I'm with you on the pants. I have a pair of pants that I've had for probably 3 years, and even through weight loss and weight gain, they still fit and look great. They're flared (but not too flared), the perfect length, made out of a woven fabric with a touch of stretch, everything. I'm considering getting some Pellon with a grid printed on it and making a pattern out of them to duplicate. And yes, 5 black pairs is a work necessity.

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  4. I wouldn't necessarily "duplicate", but I would do variations on the white shirt. I love them!

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  5. I would have to say gray pants for work. I wear a uniform, but don't like what the company issues, so I make my own or buy Dickies. I have to say, for someone so busy you are a sewing diva. How do you find the time to really sew as you do?

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  6. I wouldn´t sew the same thing five times over, same color, same details. But if it is such a basic as black pants, two or three could fit the bill... You know, one´s in the wash, one´s hanging on the line, one I wear. But sewing the same basic pattern in different fabrics/colors I could definitley imagine! IF I didn´t get distracted by another, much funkier project... (right now I really plan on sewing a jacket, but am much more interested in a knockoff of a 60´s Mod-dress...)!

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  7. Five of the exact same item? Yes and no. I'd like to have 5 white shirts, but not exactly the same (like EricaB. above). I do have 5 black skirts, but they're not the same, either - they're all different styles. I could see 5 shirt dresses, too, vintage with big full skirts and pockets, but maybe not all from the same pattern! I guess I like a theme with variety.

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  8. I'm just like you, I don't like wearing the same thing often, especially at work :) And one of my top priority projects (decided last night when I couldn't sleep) is one pair of lined black crepe pants!
    Now, if I would duplicate anything 5 times in my wardrobe (5 times seems quite a lot, maybe 3 times...) I think it would be white fitted shirts.
    I would also like to have 5 coats or more, but I wouldn't like them to be identical.

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  9. I make duplicates of tank top shells. I love sleeveless shirts for under jackets and cardigans, so when I make them, I make a bunch of them.

    As for your quest: I think you can, I think you can, I think you can...

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  10. My winter wardrobe is awful. I'm starting with black pants. Not that I've found fabric for them. But that, a white blouse and some wool skirts would make me happy.

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  11. I have an insane amount of jackets for work.. SO what I would love is 5 pair of lines and unlined black slacks and brown too. So basically 10 pair would be great!

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  12. Well I need more slacks in my wardrobe, period, but they'd have to be in various colors and styles since I don't like sewing the same thing repeatedly. And I'd also need tops or jackets to go with each, LOL! Good luck with your goal, you're so close!

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  13. I made a lined, Pendleton wool jacket from a Vogue pattern about 8 years ago. I love it! I love the style, the fit, the color. So i would make it again and I would make it again in different colors.

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  14. 5 crispy black turtlenecks! Being a New Yorker, they are most definitely a staple!

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  15. Hummmm, how about crossover style tops? I love the look of wrap tops and they are always so comfortable to wear. Come to think of it, I may have made this 5 times by now!

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  16. If I find a skirt fabric I love in a basic color, I'll use it to make skirts from several different patterns. I also love different textures of white fabric. My husband thinks I'm nuts because I have about 10 white pullover tops, some ribbed, some knit eyelet...you get the idea. White tops go with solids, patterns, whatever. Brightly patterned skirt, white top, sober jacket or blazer to go over it: takes you from day into evening, work to dinner to mall or whatever you need.

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  17. I would say 5 slacks each in black, grey & brown would definately work for me and since I'm a fan of tank tops - one can never have too many of those. As for why - I'm just a creature of habit.

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  18. 5 black pants, definitely, although I have been wearing jeans more this fall and could see 5 pairs of jeans.

    Also 5 black turtlenecks. Turtlenecks are a winter must.

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  19. I could see 5 pairs of black pants, but not in the same fabric. I don't work in a corporate environment. How about 1 pair black jeans 1 pair black stretch corduroy jeans, 1 pair black matelasse rpl (have this cool fabric from EOS), 1 black wool crepe, and 1 pair black silk crepe, 4 ply. 5 black pants that would fit my lifestyle and wardrobe. I have all the fabric except for the silk crepe in my stash.

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  20. Love black pants! I have 3 pair and should replace 2. I like wearing pants and jackets. The black goes with everything, they dress up or down and I look good in black. LOL!!!

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  21. Five pair of black pants would be heavenly. And they could all be exactly the same, as long as they were flattering and comfortable.

    My wardrobe is very unlike yours (way more casual) but my black pants always get totally worn to shreds, unlike the other colors I have in identical styles and fabrics.

    Black really isn't flattering next to my face, but it works for pants and skirts. There is truly no substitute for black pants, in my opinion.

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  22. I would have to say 5 tops of the same pattern.I had made some gaucho's last week and love them I think I will make more of them to wear this winter with a nice pair of boots.I could see myself making five pairs of gauchos.

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  23. Every season I set out to make or buy staple pieces: black pants, little black dress, black straight skirt... Similar to Tim Gunn's list. But instead I wind up with khakis and v-neck knit shirts & polos, because thats what my work dress code is.

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  24. Black pants would be high on my list, along with the straight skirt. I don't wear anything that requires dry cleaning, though--but I love the thought of 5 pairs of black (dark brown, navy, grey...) pants!

    Why--to cut down on the laundry, of course!

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  25. I wear a uniform everyday, so when I am in civilian clothes, I do like to wear something nice. I am a big fan of black pants in the winter so I could work with making 5 pairs, but there would have to be something different with each pair, so it doesn't look like I'm wearing the same pants :)
    I feel like I may just envy you a little for having the option of choosing a different outfit every single day.... or maybe I should feel lucky to not have to go thru that everyday :)
    (Truth be told: After 28 yrs of wearing the uniform I think I'm ready to turn it in and start choosing my own outfit..everyday :)

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  26. The recent trend in my pattern buying has been for 'wrap-someting'-as in top or dress so I guess that is probably what I would end up with. I do like the idea of white shirts though

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  27. Back when I worked in a corporate setting (probably a little less formal than yours), my staples were black pants, black tops, and colorful jackets or shirt-jackets. I love black turtlenecks but have a little short, fat neck so V-necked tops are better for me. I had a TNT pants pattern and made a copy for my mom so she would make pants for me, too. I usually had three or four pairs of black ones in various states of wear at any given time. Great topic!

    Sherry in Little Rock

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  28. For me, black pants are great, but not 5 exactly the same. A few with little variations and one or two in different fabrics would be nice (but not yet accomplished, got only two).
    Using the same pattern with different fabrics, that's what I do for some t-shirts (Jalie and Ottobre mostly now) as staple items. But mostly I want to make a new pattern or change a pattern when I start a new project.

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  29. Shirts, I think. But not in the same color. But a standard, button-down shirt would be fantastic in both solids and shirtings. However, since I'm mortally afraid of button holes (I do realize this is stupid...) it will have to wait...

    This post was especially interesting to me though, in terms of wardrobe planning. I read people's sewing blogs, and I really, really want to take a look at their closet. How many pants/skirts do you find you need a season? How often do you repeat items in your wardrobe? I'm trying to plan my wardrobe, and sew/shop more strategically, and these are the questions that I'm struggling with.

    Carolyn - can I request a closet photo?

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  30. Well, black is one of my favorite colors to wear and I do have, let's see,... four pairs of black trousers... I'm just counting the black formal kind of trousers; I have plenty more casual black trousers... So I guess I would answer the same as you did: black trousers! Followed close by black dresses!

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  31. Hi Carolyn,

    When you line your next pair of black pants, can you document the steps with pictures for those of us who have never attempted to line a pair of pants?

    Thanks,

    Ola

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