Vogue Pattern 1132 |
In the images shown above you have a vest and pants made in solid grey, a jacket made in white, and a skirted suit (skirt and jacket) in a grey plaid. The jacket is made twice with minor variations. pair this with different shirts and you can create a large number of looks with that one pattern envelope.
It happens to be a style I am very fond of: I love the riding jacket look of this set, and I prefer my skirts to be full and rather long.
That set is rather formal; here is one that is more casual (but can still be worn in an office):
Simplicity wardrobe 2539 |
This pattern includes a long or short jumper/dress, a vest, a jacket and a pair of pants. In one look (all in beige) the jumper is being used to create the look of a skirted suit, in the other its shown in a print over a turtleneck. This set would change character rather drastically depending on your choice of material. As shown it is a rather casual, but still office acceptable, look... Sew this same outfit in hand painted batiks, pieced silks, and the look changes.
So, to get back to a more classically styled set, we have Simplicity 1784 (I already told you I like my skirts long):
Take a good look at the suggestions shown in the line art (on the right side)... a textured grey skirted suit, a white blouse, a pink blouse, a patterned pink/white/black skirt, and a pair of black pants. With just the items as shown you could combine this into a variety of looks.
Most of the time, you will not be so lucky as to have an entirely self contained "wardrobe in a single pattern set". Perhaps the entire planned wardrobe will not be to your taste, or it could just be you need some more options to fill the set out...
As mentioned, most of the time you will either use items you already own, or buy items that are outside your interest or skill level to make (For instance: I have NO interest in sewing a turtleneck sweater, but I do like to wear them).
Most people, even experienced seamstresses, find certain items to be easily available for purchase, and annoyingly difficult to sew. (I did mention the turtleneck, didn't I?) For this wardrobe items like a black cardigan sweater and a few other tops would fill out the Simplicity wardrobe quite a bit, and you would easily expand the number of looks. I would be far more likely to buy a cardigan than try to sew one, and blouses and knit tops are easily available at most stores.
Or you can sew...
You can obviously mix and match from different pattern sets...perhaps you like the blouse from the 1784 set shown , the jumper from 2539 and the skirt and jacket from Vogue 11322. You can also look for patterns for a dress, or a knit blouse or a different skirt" to add to your cluster....like these:
McCall's 6841 knits only |
McCall's 6604 pullover top in a woven material |
See and Sew B5938 |
Always try to aim for different styles and shapes in your "new" pieces to increase variety when you can.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Now as I am sure you have guessed, these were my top contenders for my initial wardrobe collection.
However....
A slight emergency has forced my hand a bit on the choices, namely the fact that this Thursday is Thanksgiving, and I have nothing suitable to wear. So sometime after I finish my homework (due Monday, it is currently Sunday) I will be sewing like a mad woman and trying to come up with at least something suitable to wear to a big family dinner.
True to the idea that you should sew items that make use of what you already have that works for you, I will probably be making a skirt and jacket to go with a blouse I already own. (besides, I hate sewing buttonholes)
Wish me luck!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Links
http://fabricdragon.blogspot.com/2013/11/a-new-capsule-wardrobe-what-is-capsule.html Post 1 in the series, explaining the capsule or cluster concept.
http://fabricdragon.blogspot.com/2013/11/a-new-capsule-wardrobe-choosing-fabrics.html Post 2 in the series.
http://fabricdragon.blogspot.com/2013/11/a-new-capsule-wardrobe-choosing-second.html Post 3 in the series.
and
http://www.pinterest.com/fabricdragon/capsule-wardrobe/ My Pinterest board, with all sorts of useful links and concepts.