Stolen Sky Sweater*

*And associated ramblings. Warning, many outbound links.

My youngest sister had a great book called The Queen Who Stole the Sky when we were growing up. The Queen had it made into a dress and while the rest of the country lived in darkness and cold, she had a fabulous dress that changed colour throughout the course of the day. It was the ultimate dress.

Recently I was lucky enough to win a voucher for Mood Fabrics from the lovely Tools By Hollie for this dress. This was a dream come true, or was until they sent my order. This cost quite a queenly sum to have sent to NZ (they don’t ship here) via a friends house in New Jersey. When it arrived 50% of the order was wrong, for which they refunded me $4 US because I shopped with a voucher. It was (impending Dad joke alert) a real mood killer. First world sewing problems.

However the two pieces of fabric I’d ordered that I was most in love with were the 50% that were right. One of which was this amazing mohair that reminded me of the sky. This is my second make of the Talvikki Sweater by Named Clothing. All the heart eyes for this pattern!

The only adjustments I made from making this the first time were to lower the side vents by 2.5cms and use 1.5cm instead of 1cm seams on the side seams.

I don’t have any luck with interfacing stretch though. I’m not sure if we just don’t have the right variety of interfacing here in NZ but it’s not a winning combo and certainly I wouldn’t want to take this garment off in a hurry!

I’ve worn this three times since making it last weekend which is a good sign I think!

Recently I’ve been in a bit of style desert. Maybe it’s Winter? Maybe it’s the new job? Maybe it’s letting my hair transition to grey? Whatever it is, I am in a rut.

I think part of it is that I have frequently dressed more in costumes than in clothes. And by that I mean I have a persona for the different areas of my life and I have clothes to do with. Working in a job that is totally and only “me” has been a challenge. For anyone who has ever worked at a university you will understand there is not really a dress code, and certainly I would pity the person who tried to inflict such a think on eccentric academics! So basically I can wear whatever I like, within reason. Which is a terrifyingly open parameter.

I’ve been enjoying Steph’s & Lesley’s recent posts about their wardrobe challenges and also my best style gal-pal was recently given some very sage advice by her partner: “You need to shop for the lifestyle you have”. Very salient.

This jersey and some of my makes for IPM feel like a good new direction for me to be heading in. I think outlining my lifestyle challenges alongside my style preferences is probably a good way of exploring where to head from here.

My Lifestyle

Day job is best described as smart casual with as much artistic license as I want. The weekends are my own, and the same would apply.

Evening job is less large scale and glitzy than it once was and my SWAP wardrobe that I am working away on – photos to come when Spring does! – reflects that. This wardrobe will also mix and match well with my day wardrobe for going out at night.

My Style

• Colourful
• Dramatic
• Separates – mostly trousers
• Artistic
• Prints
• Statement jewelery
• Interesting comfortable shoes

My old job was more corporate in its style and gave me an easy character to dress for. The outfits I’ve felt most at ease with lately have been more casual pants with interesting and colourful tops. The Modigliani Sweatshirt and the Sweatshirt of the Dead have been solid pieces. I’ve not worn any of my blazers since starting work and instead am wearing leather jackets or kimono/cardi style overlayers. Skirts like the Checked Alberta have been ok when worn with a jeather moto jacked and combat style boots but would feel just wrong with heeled boots and a shirt and blazer as per the photos in that post. I’ve just shortened these pants to 3/4 as I am getting heaps of wear out of a pair of 3/4 jeans I recently got at a clothing swap. The grey cardi in that same post never gets worn.

Yesterday I spent 3/4 of an hour putting stretch underarm gussets into a silk vintage dress that has been on the mending pile for over 3 years only to find out it doesn’t fit me anymore. My body is no longer that of a 30 something year old, and while I have no complaints at all, it’s sad to say goodbye to wardrobe treasures.

Anyway, this ramble has gone on long enough. Interested in your thoughts and suggestions regarding transitioning wardrobes and lifestyles and your experiences.

Outfit deets:

• G Star Raw jeans: second hand from a Dunedin second hand clothing store
• Sneakers: All Birds (if you live in NZ or US check them out! So good. Sadly they don’t ship anywhere else.)
• Grey t-shirt: second hand from local $3 clothing warehouse