A uniform
The fabric I used for this first version was Heather Bailey's Momentum rayon, which is quite dreamy and has that rare quality of being opaque, but also being incredibly fine and drapey, without the special occasion delicacy of a crepe de Chine. It's perfect for everyday wear. I love it. The only place I could find it in the UK was Clothkits and I bought their last 95cm (this top really is made from just 95cm - I barely had an inch left!), but I've since realised that Fancy Moon also stock it. I love how wearable this print is - very much designed with dressmaking in mind, rather than quilting.
It's so comfortable that I can see myself happily pulling on one of these tops a lot - although not in a comfy pair of pyjamas way, but just in terms of it feeling full of details that I love and very wearable. I recently read about a woman who has taken to wearing a self-imposed work uniform to simplify the process of getting ready each day. Her story resonated with me: I love clothes (in the obsessive, heart-racy way of loving them), but equally I also don't want to spend much time getting ready in the morning. I realised that over the winter, I'd naturally taken to wearing an unofficial uniform myself: I don't think I wore anything other than skinny black jeans from September to April this year. They felt perfect for everything from dog walks to going out in the evening and all I needed to do was to pick out a jumper from my limited colour palette of navy or grey options, which meant that dressing took less than two minutes each day.
The uniform of black jeans were all Baxter jeans from Topshop bought up over the last three or four years (sadly, now discontinued and reincarnated under the same name, but in a completely inferior and unwearable form, which makes me wonder why they've called them the same thing), which I dyed black every few months to make up for the constant washing, as while I've never been someone who feels the need to wash jeans every two or three days, sadly Nell hasn't yet learnt the art of not splattering mud over her walker during a wet winter, so frequent jean-washing was a necessity.
Right, I think that's everything. Do tell me about your own uniform if you have one.
Florence x
Pretty blouse; you do good work! I'd like to hear more about your experience dyeing jeans black. I have two pairs I like a lot that started out black but I've worn and washed them so frequently that they are now more a gray color. I'd like to get back to the original and until I read this post, had not thought of dyeing them. The fit is great on me and, like your Baxter jeans, the exact version is no longer available in stores.
ReplyDeleteI use Dylon dyes and have to admit to having a slight addiction to how nicely black the dye leaves my jeans. Once they're dyed, the dye never comes off on furniture/hands etc. However, I have quite a big BUT with the dyes and that's that they do stain the machine when using dark colours, despite Dylon's claims to the contrary. In the last ten years, three of my washing machine seals have been dyed black by their dyes and despite always following their instructions and also washing the machine through with some soda crystals at a high temperature afterwards, I've never managed to use one of their darker dyes without being left with a stained seal. My current machine also has a habit of withholding dye in its workings and just occasionally a few weeks after dying something, it will release a glob of black dye into a wash (usually over white bed linen!) and it's really making me question whether I want to continue using them as it's beginning to get prohibitively expensive due to the costs of re-buying bed linen. I'm considering switching over to their hand dyes, which you can do in a bucket, but the whole thing sounds quite messy and labour intensive! I hope that helps...sort of.
DeleteLast summer my mum and I used some Procion MX dyes for shibori/tie-dye and they were less hassle than I was expecting - especially if you have some outside space so splashes are less of a concern. They're fibre-reactive which I think is supposed to be reasonably eco-friendly. I can't vouch for the blackness of the black but you can get them quite cheap on Ebay so might be worth a try.
Deletelove the blouse! I too like the idea of a uniform, makes dressing so much easier - I seem to spend my time in dog splattered jeans too!
ReplyDeleteLove e your blouse, beautiful. X
ReplyDeleteLove e your blouse, beautiful. X
ReplyDeleteI love the blouse! Did you base the pattern on any others? I'm looking for a pattern just like that!
ReplyDeleteI'm really sorry - I always find it frustrating when someone posts something I'd love to make, only to find that it's self-drafted, but no, sorry, it's not based on another pattern.
DeleteLovely blouse!! As are all your handmades.
ReplyDeleteWhat brand are your shoes? Thanks!
Carrie
They're just regular Birkenstocks - widely available and super comfy. x
DeleteWow, this blouse is absolutely gorgeous and I can't believe you drafted it yourself! I would HAPPILY wear this as a uniform!
ReplyDeleteSuch nice shirts, and I'm quite drawn to the idea of a 'uniform' too - the huge variety of outfits we [can] wear now seems like a very recent development. I don't really have one myself yet, but I have come around to the idea of buying multiples of basic items when you find a version you like - I would have thought that was boring before but now it seems such a relief not to have to choose each vest, t-shirt, pair of socks, etc individually. And I'd love to have a 'uniform' of sewing patterns, a few styles that I could make again and again, but so far I feel I haven't found quite the right patterns or got the fit just right on anything. x
ReplyDeleteI think that's a problem, I've found in the past too, Nina. Colette's Laurel has been the closest I've come to one that I can make over and over, in terms of proper patterns. I'm increasingly finding that if I really want something to fit, I have far more chance of that if I draft it myself. x
DeleteBeautiful, it looks so soft and comfy to wear.
ReplyDeleteI love it!! I SO wish I could use a sewing machine.
ReplyDeletePlease tell about your machine, as I am ready for an upgrade (after 21 years).
ReplyDeleteSuper - I'll try to post about it in the next month or so!
DeleteI love this shirt and it suits you so well.
ReplyDeleteA uniform pretty much describes my dressing style for the last many years. I currently have two identical white tank style tops which I drafted myself, lined in white voile, and two identical store bought black sleeveless poplin tops. I 'rotate' these to wear with three long skirts (one which I made from organic cotton). I wear these 95% of the time, all year round, just adding a black jacket of the right weight for the day and shoes or boots. I find I settle into a routine and stick with one set of clothes for two to four years until they wear out or I find/make something new which becomes my next new 'uniform'.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of a roll-over uniform that you redesign every few years!
DeleteBeautiful Shirt and looking cool. This is looking comfortable and smart. Keep it up good work. I am looking forward to you. Thanks for share with us wonderful shirt.
ReplyDeleteThis is so, so pretty! I need to figure out how to draft a placket like that because I'd love to have a popover shirt or two in my closet! I actually love this without the collar- it's a fun look! Well done!
ReplyDeleteIt was a real head twister - I based it on a man's shirt sleeve placket, but made it a bit wider and then turned the whole thing back to front, because of womenswear opening on the other side to menswear! It took me quite a few hours of head scratching!!! x
DeleteIt's a lovely blouse! I'd like to hear about your machine too, I'm trying to decide on a new one!
ReplyDelete