Ello ello ello!
Another month, another roundup. Five months… done! Above are just some of my favourite outfits for over the past month, the whole lot can be seen in my Year of Handmade Flickr album, here.
Hmmm, what to say, what to say. OK, what I would really like to say is this; thank you so much to everyone who is showing an interest in my challenge here, and taking the time to leave the occasional comment saying so! I really do appreciate each and every comment. I’m really excited by the number of people saying they would like to do the same thing one day 🙂
There’s not really much that’s new to say about my challenge per se, which is chuffing along just fine. I really do have plenty of clothes and now shoes too, to be able to go all me-made for the entire year. I don’t have much doubts anymore that I’m going to be able to do it, not anymore 🙂
What else… maybe I could say something fluffy here about dressing for winter…
So; winter, my least favourite season. I loathe being cold and wet, and pine for warmer weather. However, I do like dressing for winter. It’s probably the only thing that makes cold weather tolerable to me! joking, but only a little. I mean, I love dressing for hot weather too, of course, mostly because I love everything about hot weather… but dressing for cold weather IS a lot more fun I think. Reason being; you have so many more options for mixing and matching colours and styles and so you can be far more creative. In summer you can just toss on a little dress and boom! done; you’re ready to go. This is easy and fun, but I do find I get really bored with all my summer dresses by the end of it. During winter, with loads more components and therefore combinations in an outfit; it’s more interesting and you’re not so likely to get bored with your things. I reckon I could probably go all winter mixing and matching stuff and possibly not repeat an outfit* Ergo, it’s a much more exciting time of year in which to get dressed.
To take a couple of examples… in my compilation above; I’m wearing each my purple Jade skirt and my charcoal twist top twice, in different outfits each time. Oh, and my ivory sweater. And the raspberry scarf. They’re all such great basics in my winter wardrobe this year, my most worn pieces! and all are getting mixed and matched a TONNE. In fact, it was impossible for me to find six outfits in which I was not wearing at least a few things twice, in the six outfits. Not counting my gloves, my winter boots and black tights of course, which are doing constant duty! Point being; my winter wardrobe is not huge and things get repeated all the time BUT each and every outfit will still be a different combination of things. Mixing and matching my clothes is just one little shred of winter that I find to be fun and enjoyable. Yeah 🙂
Hey, you take what you can get! Roll on, spring!
*Does that mean I have too many clothes? Hmmm, probably; but then I love fashion and I love to sew so that is possibly always going to be a problem. If you can call it a problem!
It does seem that winter would be more difficult to go 100% handmade – due to the need for winter shoes but you have surmounted that obstacle. I completely agree – the only thing that gets me through winter is the sewing interesting winter stuff. Summer forever!
I am continually amazed! Well done!
You look so modern and chic in all of your different outfits. I can see that you are right regarding the multiple possibilities of different matches. Maybe this is why I like summer clothing with just throwing on a dress and finish. So I wouldn’t have to think about. Maybe we have just got colder winters I do not want to really think about now 😉 I think you have got such a good and visible style!
The coat in the first pic is to die for! You’ve certainly made a wide variety of clothing so there’s no doubt that you can make it even through winter totally on hand-made. If I tried this challenge – I’d have a difficult time making it through the winter months. I love how you mix and match all your clothes!
I live where we have more winter than spring or summer, so this post is interesting to me. Your sense of style shines through, in spite of your winter season. Thanks for sharing.
I love your look Caroline! Always so fresh and chic 🙂 I have been on a mission to make blouses having discovered much to my dismay that I didn’t own a single one! I went out today to our local fabric store which was having a good sale and blew my brains out with 4 ply silk and suede silk 🙂 Now I’m looking at it on my cutting table imagining when I’ll ever have the nerve to cut into it – I think you would enjoy ’til the Sun Goes Down in the UK. I don’t know her but I absolutely love her patterns. Only 4 but absolutely brilliant – if you are in the mood ever for a vintage style blouse or dress with spring on the way for you 🙂
I can see why you love the Jade skirt so much! I made mine!! It’s grayish/black and I love it, but now I have to wait for winter to wear it. I have picked back up my partially knit sweater and on the second sleeve now. You are my sewing/knitting idol. 🙂
Wet and cold in Perth?? Hmm, a bit colder here in Melbourne but I love it. Hate the hot weather (like when it gets over 35 degrees), and nothing beats sitting in the sun on a beautiful winters day. Warmth and no sunburn! You are going great guns with your handmade wardrobe. Your boots are getting a great workout and you look cosy and warm in all outfits.
love the layers, you do it so well. Hate winter too. Always depressing dark colours in the shops. Much enjoy sewing for the summer. Sadly we only have about 4 good months throughout the year. Discovered brights tights and hopefully make some cheerful corduroy skirts will get me through those dreary days.
I totally get what you’re saying about dressing in winter! I like that too! Plus sewing winter clothes takes much longer and is thus in my opinion more fun and rewarding! It is so much fun following you through your challenge, thank you for sharing!
I hold never-ending admiration for all your beautiful handmades and you will always be a source of inspiration and motivation to me. Enjoyed reading your thoughts on winter vs. summer dressing and agree with what you said there. Love those layers you have chosen and the colors you are wearing this year. And that jade skirt = insert *heart* here! 🙂