OS clothes and wardrobe mix and match

2tonsils

I never was very good at knitting unfortunately, but I can crochet and I can sew really well. My first job ever at 16 was hand finishing models sample garments for M and S, including hand embroidery on the undies!

I still use my sewing machine to alter clothes and change them and I made all the curtains in the house as I could not find any with a long enough drop to fit the windows. The machine cost me 100 pounds from Argos years ago and is still fantastic to use.

2tonsils

Has everyone left us?

Too warm here to put trousers on or sleeves, its amazing for October.

Wearing today: black stretch mini skirt, green leather flatties with bow, green top with lace back, hair up in a green clip, green leather and bead bracelet. It looks good, even my OH complimented me on looking nice.

PipneyJane

2tonsils wrote: »

Has everyone left us?

I'm still here. Don't post much on weekends - don't get much computer time.

Today, I'm wearing my "bargain from Miami", a tweedy-grey, wool-blend trouser suit purchased for $26 from a department-store clearance shop in the Dolphin Mall in Miami in 2006. (I think it was Sears.) The trousers are in desparate need of new lining, but everything is respectable on the outside. I have some lining fabric so may tackle this on the weekend, if I get time. I have the skills. For the first time since 2000, I finally have a sewing space* and I know it'll take an hour or less to do.


* One of DH's friends stayed with us for September, while moving to Sweden. As well as rearranging our spare room to make some space, he left behind his computer desk which, while far too big and cumbersome, is the right height for a sewing machine. All I need now is to snare a suitable chair. (The desk dates from the old CRT monitor days so is twice as deep as it needs to be and has the monitor section on a lower level. It will do very well until I find something better.)

PipneyJane

2tonsils wrote: »

http://photobucket.com/2tonsilsoutfits

Here is a link to a few of my outfits. Most days I wear a top or layers with stretch trousers as I need to be comfy and they are practical to wear on my scooter. I spend a lot of time at the gym. If I go out I wear them with heels or boots, if its in the day I wear shoes or toning trainers. I only wear a skirt to go out in at night usually, except the odd time I will wear one with boots in the winter during the day.

Just some background..I am 57 years old, and I am five feet four and a half tall and I take a size 12 in British sizes. I am muscular as I bodybuild and I think I am an hour glass shape although I don't carry much fat at all on my legs...they are the slimmest part of my body. I have problems getting jackets big enough for my arms and shoulders, unless they have lots of stretch in them.

Hope you like the pics...

Great outfits!

You're a similar basic shape to me, I think. If we're talking apples and pears for weight distribution, then I'm an apple. My weight tends to go on my front (boobs, waist, abdomen), not my hips, thighs or bottom. Until I developed a thyroid problem 7 years ago, weight distribution was fairly even; now every extra pound goes directly on my waist. (I'd love a bottom - it'd immediately put me down a skirt size.)

Since you have the skills, do you normally buy a size larger jacket and tailor it down to fit you? Or have you given up and started making them instead?

2tonsils

Have been offline for a bit as I got the cough virus that is going round..only good thing is that I am recovering quickly from it. Glad the link worked to my outfits.

I still have clothes I bought in Miami ten years ago..they lasted well except the lining on the trousers so we have a lot in common. Because the trouser suit was white I couldn't use it without the lining and couldn't fix it so they ended up going to be recycled. I loved shopping in Miami and my OH loved the Cuban tailors there. We used to do a rock and roll show and their clothes were perfect, like 1950s suits in bright colours.

I think I am more of a hourglass shape as my shoulders are really wide, a touch wider than my hips. Perhaps the angle I took the photos is misleading. My bum is rounded and hard and sticks out due to the weight training and squatting with weights..its solid lol. I have a large bust as well, inherited from my mum, who kept a good bustline till she was in her late seventies. My sister is the same.



I try to buy jackets with plenty of room in the sleeves or stretch. I tend to get ones with a defined waist but lately I have been putting a wide stretch belt on with things. My husband hates to see me in baggy clothes and says its pointless working hard on my body if I don't make the most of it. I think he is right but I used to be quite shy about showing off my shape.

I have a thyroid problem as well, I have Hashimoto's thyroiditis which was caused by my celiac disease being out of control before it was diagnosed eighteen months ago. My weight has stabalised since I have been gluten free and I have shaped up again since I went on the thyroxine and continued to exercise.

First day we have been cool here since May..its 27 degrees today and feels like we might get some rain at long last. I am looking forward to wearing my winter clothes again. Today I am wearing a sky blue short sleeved sports top in breathable fabric ( I shortened the sleeves and its tons better)..Navy blue yoga pants....and pale blue boxing boots. My hair is in a pigtail for a change. I have just got home from the gym.

2tonsils

Had horrendous thunderstorms for the last 24 hours and lost my internet connection, so felt inspired to sort out my wardrobe. I have now packed all my summer clothes, including sandals and shoes . I have put all my winter clothes in the cupboards and wardrobe but have included some that I can layer as the weather is still changeable here.

I have put them in colours in the drawers and in the wardrobe as I find it easier to mix and match things if they are in separate colours than if I put them into outfits. Does anyone else do this or do you put them into outfits?

I looked into capsule wardrobes but I like to dress how I feel at the time...I don't seem to have enough choice if I stick to capsules. Does anyone use the capsule idea?

lushlifesaver

rosieben wrote: »

I'm watching this thread though I've nothing useful to add. I've lost a lot of weight (and hoping to lose more) so most of my clothes doesn't fit. I'm determined not to spend a lot of money on in-between sizes, so the big thing for me will be when I'm near target weight, when I'll be replacing everything in my wardrobe (gradually, not in one big spend up!) and tbh its so long since I was a normal size, I've forgotten how to shop for clothes. I'm so looking forward to buying clothes because I like it, not just because it fits.

I'm in a similar position, I'm in the middle of a weightloss journey so don't want to spend too much on clothes until I get to my target weight. Once I've done that I will get some of my dresses taken in (the ones that cost/have an rrp of £50+ - although mostly bought in sales heavily discounted).

I have splashed out £15 on a new pair of jeans as all my other bottoms are literally falling off and a belt just won't do now, I only have 4 skirts atm but they all need replacing asap and my dresses are starting to hang a little but belts etc are working for those atm.

I'm in desperate need of a new coat for winter and some smarter clothes for when I start looking for a proper job again. Plan on trying to get a capsule style wardrobe to work for me with a few added frocks etc as there's always a function/dinner/wedding etc to go to!

2tonsils

Lushlifesaver...I thought you might like these links...the ones on pinterest gave me some really good ideas on combining certain clothes...like you I need some dressy clothes to go out in as well as everyday ones...I have to go to many events here and I like to have something I can grab and wear without having to go shopping for event clothes.

http://pinterest.com/lazystitching/capsule-wardrobes/

http://stylegaps.wordpress.com/2012/06/14/dressy-three-seasons-capsule/