Oh My Shirt

On Friday, I wore this freshly completed shirt to work... and got a compliment from a stranger in the elevator! To make it even better...she asked me where I got it - the perfect set up for beaming "actually, I made it!" It was the perfect sewing conversation.

This is an incredible, magic shirt. It fits perfectly, not too snug, not too loose. The shape looks great with a professional skirt or jeans. Best of all, the steps were all nice and easy - I think the whole thing took me 5-6 hours to make.

As I get better at sewing, and start to see the possibility of making all my clothes, I'm on a positive body image high. My closest friend, S, and I had a long conversation about this the other night. Our conclusion: much like making your own food allows you to control the nutritional toxins that enter your body, making your own clothes allows you to control the body image toxins that enter your mind. As I've grown up, I've realized that no matter how much you love your body, those toxins are still out there - and every time you go shopping you're confronted with them. Consumer culture is set up to make you feel inadequate, and therefore in need of more STUFF.

But then there's sewing! Instead of looking at style and fashion as something I can only be part of if I fit into it, I'm looking at style and fashion as something I can make to fit me. It's being creative instead of trying to keep up.

I'll leave it at that for now. It's something I've been thinking about more and more... so don't be surprised when I bring it up again!