Why do I have clothes but no clothes? I have been thinking for years about this. When I started sewing, I thought for sure this was going to allow me to have the best wardrobe because I could just make whatever I wanted and have clothes that are just for me and never wear the same thing as anyone else. But the more clothes I created, the more I realised, there’s more to a wardrobe than just having clothes you like. After years of learning and making mistakes, I have decided it’s time to approach my wardrobe differently.
For me, learning to sew clothes was just a way for me to have whatever clothes I wanted – I thought. But as I get deeper into my sewing journey, I realise that making clothes and building a wardrobe aren’t really the same thing. I’ve noticed that my wardrobe is full of random things. If I have a beautiful top but I don’t have the right pants or shoes to go with it, I won’t ever reach for it. It is all clothes, but no outfit combinations. I realised I had been thinking about garments as individual projects rather than parts of a collection.
Some things I’ve been learning about recently have really opened my eyes to why I gravitate toward certain colours and silhouettes. I’ve been trying to understand what things could help me build my wardrobe. What can help me to decide whether something belongs? I started learning more about colour seasons and body proportions – not because I think everyone should feel limited to dressing this way, but because they have given me another way to understand why certain clothes have always felt more like me than others – it gives me more to explore. Through this exploration, I discovered that a lot of the things that “suit me” are often things I actually choose, but I never really understood the reasons behind those choices.
Another part of the problem was that I was not choosing the right clothes for my lifestyle. I would see something I love, and my first thought would be to make it. I never really stopped to ask myself whether it would actually fit into my wardrobe, and then… I would never wear it. But think about this – if you are a mum who does the school run, manages the household, works from home, and occasionally goes out with friends – like me, then you probably don’t need that gala dress. I want my wardrobe to reflect the life that i actually have. Comfortable clothes that still feel put together are far more valuable to me than a beautiful dress that only leaves the wardrobe once a year (if that).
That being said, that doesn’t mean every garment I make has to be a wardrobe piece. Sometimes I sew something because I want to learn a new technique, challenge myself, or simply because I think its construction is beautiful. But most of the time, I try to choose projects that let me do both – learn something new and create something I’ll actually wear.
Of course, being intentional doesn’t always mean every project will be perfect. Sometimes you can be pretty sure a garment is going to be amazing, only to finish it and realise it isn’t what you imagined. You may even try to convince yourself you’ll wear it, but it ends up sitting in your wardrobe anyway.
Sewing doesn’t automatically create a better wardrobe. I want every piece to be a considered piece of my wardrobe.
My next steps will be planning, deciding what pieces I want to create, and choosing patterns intentionally.
From now on, I will start every project with a different question. Instead of asking, “Do I like this?” I’ll be asking, “Does this belong?”
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