What I can make for a Formal Capsule Wardrobe.

Now that I am slowly becoming more confident and ambitious with sewing and have found a wide enough source of relatively affordable fabric, it got me thinking about trying to be more environmentally conscious, but also, not blowing my budget.

My personal justification for sewing with abandon and in quantity, is that a number of items in my wardrobe are a bit worse for wear and can do with being replaced anyway.

Just to explain... I tend to have a ‘core’ wardrobe of favourite work skirts and trousers which were very smart when they were new, but now are not as nice as they could be.

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I wear my favourite items until they are almost worn. It dawned on me that if I selected a small number of coordinated items that I really love, that I could really enjoy a capsule wardrobe. Also, taking a new season wardrobe out of storage every few weeks and adding one or two bought or made items, could be rather enjoyable. So now is a good point at which to start my new wardrobe making adventure.

Part of my sustainable sewing ethos is; I try to spend no more on fabric than I would to buy a similar item in a branded shop like Next, M&S or River Island (I happen to really like their style). Obviously I don’t count the cost of my time – this is for my enjoyment. That being said, I don’t think I take long to make things.

 

So far, a lot of what I have sewn has been more about learning new skills and not necessarily styles I would normally wear. I now have some items which are ‘growing’ on me – a new concept for me in clothes. I do aim to make more styles that I like and experiment with the usual easy care fabrics I like to wear. Happily, I recently tried sewing scuba – which I have never worn – but will be sewing and wearing more of. It was so much fun and so quick! It moves with your body and if not skin tight, tends to skim over lumps and bumps – it can hide a multitude of sins.

Some of the patterns I have in mind for my new wardrobe are in Burdastyle and are patterns that I already own, but have not yet sewn. They also tend to have a classic silhouete. I don’t intend to replace all of my clothes, rather I want to get to a position where I can add a few items every season and build on a series of seasonal capsule wardrobes. So I can also keep sewing. 

I have no affiliation with Burdastyle. You can buy their patterns here Burdastyle Patterns (UK)

A very basic work spring capsule wardrobe consists of at least ;

 

1 pair of trousers

4 tops/blouses/shirts

1 short skirt (smart)

1 mid length skirt

1 cardigan

1 casual jacket which co-ordinates or contrasts with the skirts and trousers

1 dress (because most of mine are late summer/Autumn styles)

I already have some items from my wardrobe that I will continue to use - my intention was never to do a chuck out of everything. I intend to do an update and then a small update each year.

When I can fit it in, I would love a pair of these trousers in a pastel colour that can coordinate with other colours in my wardrobe. If mine looked anything like the picture, I would love a white pair for summer, either in a longer length or a shorter length.

Burda have videos online that introduce each new magazine. You can also buy previously used, or even new magazines on ebay here: Back Copies of Burdastyle

This is the pattern I'm sewing now, that will be able to be worn for casual or for work. I just haven't managed to finish it yet. I hope to get around to sewing all these lovely patterns, if time allows. I also have a garden that desperately needs a tidy for the new season as well as working full time. I hope to share my progress in the garden in future blogs. At the moment it's a mess.  

This is the fabric I will sew the black dress (from Burda, shown below) in. This will probably be a much quicker sew than the shirt above, which needs a degree of accuracy, due to it being cotton, not scuba.

This is the informal jacket I want to sew to replace a cardigan that isn't quite so nice anymore. Watch my YouTube video for more information.

You can buy this pattern on ebay here. ThreadCount Pattern

This is a free pattern that came with a sewing magazine. I want to sew the little shrug in what I think is a stretchy crepe (I really don't remember what it is and I'm not yet experienced enough to identify it outright.) The fabric is a blue-grey that will go well with the blue veins in the flowers on the fabric above - the colour is very close.

You can buy this pattern here on ebay. K8849 Simplicity Pattern

One thing I wanted to let you know about Burdastyle magazine: Their sizes are usually from 34 to 44 and from 44 to 52. 

It just so happens that I am a ready to wear (UK) size 10 or 12, depending on the cut. My size falls between 44 and 46, depending on whether I wear a padded bra or not. 

It looks as though, I can realistically grade up by a size or down a size if I wanted to use all the patterns in the book. There are some excellent tutorials online which show you how to offset the lines to get to the next size - especially for multi-sized patterns. 

I will be making my first pattern soon and I will let you know what I find out. I will be sewing in scuba, so at least the fabric will be forgiving if my sizing is not perfectly traced.

The last pattern is one I have had for a while, I have even traced the pattern out to my size, but I have not been brave enough to try it. It will take about 3 metres of fabric and I don't want to waste it. I want to succeed with the pattern in red cotton above, first, so I can be sure I know how to sew a stand up collar. I love collared shirts and hope to sew a few, but baby steps first...

You can buy the Two Shirt Dresses pattern here on ebay. Threadcount Two Shirt Dresses

See my YouTube Channel on Youtube. I show all the fabrics that I want to make these items out of.

Sew And Everything Else on YouTube