Fall/Winter Wardrobe Inspiration

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Hello everyone!
Remember when I said I was going to attempt to get through a ridiculous amount of patterns in a year? Yeah. Yeah. So I decided to be a bit more practical, and split it.

I sat back, and looked through my closet as I did a clear out at the start of summer, and noticed I don't have a lot of fall/winter clothing! Now, it doesn't get as cool here in Southern California as it does in other parts of the US. We spend a good bit of our September and October hearing about Santa Ana winds, and fire warnings. Eventually our weather cools, and I'm spending the next few months bundled in scarves.

But on to what I want to make.

I made a little pinterest board for my ideal fall/winter wardrobe. (if San Diego ever decided to start snowing, and I had allll the money)


I need more blouses. There are no ifs, ans, or buts about it. I plan to make a couple of blouses from [vintage]Simplicity 2382, [vintage]McCalls 6413 and something I self-draft.
As for fabric choices, they're going to be cotton

In the bottoms department, I'm going to make some trousers from an altered pattern drafted for me by a friend. I might even figure how to make myself some jodhpurs if I'm feeling up to it! I'll also make myself some skirts from Simplicity 3688.

I traced McCall 4184, I'm trying to not run off and buy some nice wool for the set before I've even done the muslin. I'm excited to work on that suit. I've never done a proper suit, so this will be a fun learning experience.
And if I want to do a simpler top and bottom suit, I have DuBarry 5411 traced out.

And I'm working on a hat. I got some (pretty flimsy feeling, imho) buckram from Joann, and some wire, so I'm jury-rigging a hat, lets see how it goes!

In terms of colors, I have the ones illustrated as guidelines, and ideas. I'm sure I'll pop to the fabric stores and turn into a magpie to something else, I'm sure

Now, I'm going to start small. Blouses first. If I employ assembly line ideals for the cutting of the fabrics and sewing, I should have a couple cozy blouses quickly. Thankfully I've worked with the two vintage patterns before, so I know the ins and outs of them.

Next I'll do skirts and trousers. So even when the eventual winter hits us, I'll have some nice basics I can mix and match.

Mind you, I'm taking a pretty intense fashion course this semester, which I'll have to drape a garment for, so it's best I start small!

How about you all, are any of you figuring a Fall/Winter wardrobe (or in the case of those of you in the Southern Hemisphere Spring/Summer)? 

Do you have any colors you're gravitating toward? 

Have any of you made a hat?

Spirit of '45

On August 9, 2015 I attended a very special event.
It was called the Spirit of '45, and in attendance were a lot of WWII veterans and their families. It was held at Balboa Parks Veterans Museum. 

The entire experience was very humbling, and I feel very grateful to have attended. I got to speak to a few veterans and their families, explore a museum I haven't been in since I was 16, and literally feel the history buzzing around me.

I stopped and chatted with this gentleman and his family for a bit. This is John, and he was in the Navy for a number of years. He had his well loved scrapbook which he said is about 60 years old, full of images from before he went to the service, during his tour, and even photos of the signing at the end of the war! For which he had an amazing story as to how he acquired them!
His family were very kind, and I hope to run into them in the near future!

At this point, they brought up some WWII vets and asked them were they were August 14, 1945. Among the men they asked, many were on their ships, some in Europe, even some in POW camps. All vividly recalled what was going through their heads when they were told of the surrender of Japan. 

I popped back a bit to talk with John and Dianne, and saw they had disappeared. I was told they went dancing, and I snuck some shots that Dianne gleefully told me to post on the blog.

I tried to not 'Awww' loudly.

I was very fortunate to be able to speak to this kind gentleman. His name is Stu, and he's a Pearl Harbor survivor. He recanted what he experienced December 7th, 1941 in excruciating detail, I shed a tear or two. Stu's job was gun pointer for turrets, which had him shooting shells which were 5ft2in tall, when he told me that, I mouthed 'That's how tall I am!' and he got a big laugh out of that.




When I got home and talked with my grandparents and asked where they were during the end of WWII, and they had said with the both of them being kids, and on two different sides of the states (grandpa in San Diego, grandma in Pennsylvania), it was interesting to hear how they reacted.
Grandpa watched as people hugged and partied in the streets downtown.  My grandma had a somber feel, knowing her older brother wouldn't return home, but was happy that other men and boys were able to.
I also asked them what their parents did during wartime. Grandpa said his mom was a welder, and his dad worked for the Highway Patrol. Grandma said her parents just did their usual jobs. Guess there was a huge difference in what people did depending on where they lived.


On the 15th, I'll be attending another WWII event, and will share photos of that with you.

Have any of you been to any of the WWII related events in your areas?

Wearing History Smooth Sailing Blouse Review

Hey, I've actually been sewing things in my silence.

Last December, I finally redeemed my pattern for backing Wearing History's Kickstarter campaign. After humming and hawing, I finally picked the Smooth Sailing Sports Togs pattern, and printed it from my computer. I pieced it together, and shoved it in a manila envelope for a month.
I bought fabric in January, with color advice from my sweet friend Tony.

In May I made a mockup in an evening after studying

The next day, I cut the fashion fabric.

I had read the pattern extensively while doing the mockup, and again as I made the final blouse, so it was smooth sailing as I worked on it. (hahaha, I know I'm terrible)

After I bothered my mom about buttons, I threw it in a bag, then went thrifting with a friend, and was asked where I got such a lovely blouse. They were surprised to hear I made it myself.

I had such a blast sewing this blouse, I am ready to make more and more.

Sewing Details

Fabric: Quilting Cotton from JoAnns

Pattern: Wearing History Smooth Sailing Togs Blouse

Year: 1930s

Notions: Plastic buttons, self-made bias tape

How historically accurate is it? For a blouse inspired by a 1930's pattern, I'd say it was accurately sewn. Imagine the fabric was feed sack!

Any tricky parts to the pattern?  None at all!

Did you change anything?  Not a thing! I didn't even have to shorten it!

Time to complete: About 2 weeks. School was still in session.

First worn: May 31st, 2015

Total cost: Uhhh I wanna say about 35 maybe total? I'm terrible about keeping track of this.

Notes: I had fun making this blouse!!

This blouse is quickly becoming my 'go to' blouse. It's cozy, fits wonderfully with skirts and pants, and was such a satisfying thing to sew. It's got a lovely billowy effect to it, which is nice to move in. As the pattern was pretty much made for swing dancing in!

There are some close up photos, and here are some detail shots

There is a LOT of catch stitch in this blouse, it keeps everything nice and close together.

Mom decided on these buttons for me, and I love how they look against the blue!

Clean finished insides is one thing I love about sewing my own repro-vintage clothing.

And the top stitching of the yoke and the collar was one of my favorite bits. It's kinda satisfying.

So there you have it. Will I buy another Wearing History pattern with actual cash money? Hell yeah I will! I've been eyeing the playsuit pattern for AGES, so I might get that next. Oh and one of the hat patterns! Oh Oh! And some of the gorgeous fabric!

Have any of you sewn anything from Wearing History? Do any of you have any of her gorgeous garments which are made right here in the USA?