Summary of Sewing A Core Wardrobe

Over the past year, I have been sewing a core wardrobe of twelve pieces that makes 80 outfits.  I took on this project in order to give a presentation to the Lansing Clippers American Sewing Guild Chapter about how to make a core wardrobe.

A core wardrobe is a set of essential articles of clothing that coordinate with each other to create many outfits.  A well-planned core wardrobe will allow you to always have something to wear in your closet and deciding what to wear will be easy!

You can create a core wardrobe by sewing one or by taking some articles from your closet and buying some others to coordinate with what you already have.  Here are some tips to help you.

1.    Choose two or three neutral colors, i.e. black, gray, navy, tan, white, etc, for your bottom pieces.  Bottom pieces are pants and skirts.

2.    Decide how many pieces will be in your wardrobe.  I chose twelve because that will give me many outfits if all pieces coordinate with each other.  

3.     Decide how many of those pieces will be bottom pieces (pants, capris, jeans, and skirts); how many will be top pieces (blouses, shirts, sweaters); and how many will be layer pieces (jackets and vests).  I chose four bottom pieces, five top pieces and three layer pieces.

4.    List your bottom pieces in a small notepad that will fit in your purse.  Take a crayon and mark the color each bottom piece.  If you already have fabric for the bottom pieces, staple or tape a small sample beside each listed piece.

5.    As you choose or sew your tops, make sure each one looks good with all your bottom pieces.  You should list each top along with a fabric sample.

6.    Then decide on your layer pieces.  Make sure each layer piece will coordinate with your top and bottom pieces.  List each layer piece in your notebook and attach a fabric sample.

I posted on this blog a picture of each of the twelve pieces in my core wardrobe as I completed them.  I did not explain how I coordinated each piece and got 80 outfits from them.  I will do that in this post.  I wanted to wait until I gave the presentation to the Lansing Clippers before I posted this summary.  Below are pictures of all twelve pieces divided into three groups: bottom pieces, tops, and layer pieces.

Bottom Pieces

                                                    

  

 

                                                                                    

Top Pieces

                                                                                                                       
 

                                                                                     

 Layer Pieces

     

                                                                                  

 If you make sure everything coordinates, you should have 80 outfits.  Here is how it worked for me:

My gray pants with each of the five tops     =      5 outfits

The black pants with each of the five tops   =      5 outfits

The grape jeans with each of the five tops   =      5 outfits

The grape jean skirt with each of the five tops = 5 outfits

                                                                     Total      = 20 outfits

I added the black jacket to each of those 20 outfits and got another 20 outfits.

I added the jean jacket to each of those 20 outfits and got another 20 outfits.

I added the vest to the each of those 20 outfits and got another 20 outfits.

                                                                                                      Total    =   60 outfits

Twenty plus Sixty equals a total of 80 outfits!

If you decide to create a core wardrobe, I suggest you make a list of your bottom pieces, top pieces, and layering pieces along with the colors of each.  That way, as you think things through, you can make changes as needed before you buy or sew any of the pieces.

If you are purchasing your pieces, you should use crayons to mark the colors beside each piece on your list.  You can take the list with you to shop to make sure any item you purchase will coordinate with the rest of your wardrobe.

If you are sewing your wardrobe, you can take the fabric samples with you when shopping for fabric for the next piece of your wardrobe.

A good rule to follow regarding adding pieces to a completed core wardrobe is to make sure you have at least three pieces that will coordinate with any new piece.  For example, if I want to add a red top to my core wardrobe, I have four pieces that will coordinate with the red top:  gray pants, black pants, black jacket, and black vest.   So, a red top would make a good addition to this wardrobe.

Have fun if you decide to create your own core wardrobe!

Judy

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Piece of Core Wardrobe Completed

I finally completed the last piece of my 12-Piece Core Wardrobe.  It is a grape denim skirt made with the Tommie Jeans Skirt pattern from Style Arc.  I am relieved that all twelve pieces are completed.  Now I can concentrate on getting my visual aid and handouts ready for the presentation of the core wardrobe to the Lansing Clippers in September. 

The is my first time using a Style Arc pattern.  Style Arc is an Australian pattern company¸ so the wording in the instructions was a little different from the American patterns I usually use.  For example, the instructions for pressing a piece with the wrong sides together read “with right sides on the outer” and “zip” was used instead of zipper.   However, the instructions were clear and the pictures for each step in the process were very helpful. 

I was able to get the pattern fitted to me with only a couple of alterations.  I shortened the pattern four inches because the pattern was drafted for someone 5’6” and I am 5’2”.   I also shortened it a little more after the skirt was completed.  The only other alteration I made was at the waist.  That sounds simple enough, but there were a lot of pieces that were affected by that one alteration.  I had to alter the front and back skirt pieces, the right and left pocket facings, the pocket bags, the back yokes and the waistband.  Pictures of the skirt are shown below:

 

You might notice there is no button on the skirt.  That is because I couldn’t find a jeans button in my stash, so I ordered one online.  It will be a few more days before it gets here.  I have plenty of time to add the button and make a buttonhole after the button arrives.

After I give the presentation of the core wardrobe on September 16^th, I will post a summary of the wardrobe and show how to get 80 outfits from the twelve pieces. 

I hope your sewing projects are going well.  Summer is almost over, so it is time to think about what you want to sew to add to your fall/winter wardrobe.

Judy

 

Faux Leather Vest

The eleventh piece of my 12-piece wardrobe is a faux leather vest.  When I first started sewing this wardrobe, I did not intend to make a faux leather vest.  I knew I would probably make a vest, but I did not intend to use faux leather.  As I planned this wardrobe, I searched my fabric stash before making each piece.  If I had something in my stash that would work, I used that instead of buying more fabric.  When I searched for fabric for the vest, I found faux leather yardage and back and front yoke pieces.  I remembered sewing triple pin tucks many years in a piece of faux leather and then cutting out yokes for a vest.  However, I got distracted and never made the vest.  Apparently, I never cut the other pieces of the vest and I was not able to find the vest pattern I used.

I searched my pattern stash and found Kwik Sew 3172.  This pattern had princess seams, front and back yokes, and a zipper.  This was exactly what I needed.  It wasn’t lined, but I knew I could add a lining.  And best of all, I could use the old yokes to cut the yoke pieces in the Kwik Sew pattern.   I was excited to be able to finish a project I started years ago.

I found the zipper for this vest in my zipper stash.  Yes, I even have a zipper stash.  Most people who sew over a long period of time collect fabric and sewing notions of all kinds.  And I have being sewing since I was seven years old.  That is my excuse and I am sticking to it!  Anyway, I purchased a zipper a couple of years ago when I took a purse class from Linda McGehee.   Linda sells patterns, zippers and other notions at Ghees.com.  The zipper I used is a variegated coil one.  I had no idea at the time how I would use the zipper, but I bought it anyway.  The colors in the coil go well with the colors in this wardrobe, so I decided to use it.

The lining for the vest also came from my fabric stash.  I have no idea how many years I have owned this fabric or where I purchased it.  It is just plain black lining fabric, but exactly what I needed for the vest.

When I sewed the lining, I decided not to serge the edges because they would be enclosed in the vest and would not ravel.  That statement is true if you are referring to not raveling after it is sewed together.  However, when I tried to turn the vest right side out through the side seams, the lining started raveling.  Then it was difficult to hand sew the side seams of the lining together.  Lesson learned. 

This is a vest that did not want to be made.  It fought me through the entire sewing process.  Now that it is finished, I will tell you it is not 4-H ready.  Any of you that ever made a sewing project for 4-H will know what I mean.  It has lots of flaws and it is white ribbon quality!  However, I do like the pintucks.   I refuse to rip it out and redo it.  It is not worth the effort for me.  I can live with a little imperfection.

I am not a perfectionist.  The older I get, the more I realize that I now sew for pleasure.  I like to create, but I will not stress myself out if things don’t turn out perfectly.  By the way, how many articles of clothing have you purchased off the rack that was perfect and fit you perfectly?  Anyway, I realize that I will not be wearing this vest a lot, but it is wearable as it is; so, I will enjoy it for a while and be happy that the fabric is gone from my stash.  I do have a little faux leather left, but I have no plans to make it into a garment.  It may be made into a bag sometime in the future.

A picture of the vest Is shown below along with a closeup of the pin tucks.

 

 

I hope your sewing projects are going well.  Don’t worry if they are not perfect.  Learn from your mistakes and move on.  Sewing is meant to be fun and relaxing.  Enjoy it for what it is!

Judy