Slow Fashion October + Work Wardrobe Planning

I can’t even begin to tell you how thrilled I am to be back working after 8 yrs. as a Stay at Home Mom…I forgot how much I loved it!   I’m working part time at Club Monaco as a Visual/Stock Associate. Before I had kids I was a Visual Merchandising Manager so this is a great way to ease back into the workforce.  The last two weeks have been such fun-training and setting up the new store.   Not much sewing/blogging time but that should change now that I’ll be on a regular daytime schedule while the kids are at school.

One thing I’ve noticed now that I’m back working is that my style really needs to step up a notch. I have a beautiful handmade wardrobe at this point but it’s not really work appropriate or fashion forward.  More hippie/artsy/momma.  I’ll be carefully sewing over the next few months to fill out my work wardrobe as well as purchasing RTW (for the first time in 3 years if you can believe it!) from my company.

My color palette is going to stay very neutral with no prints (although maybe some added texture/tweeds).  Shades of Grey, Pale Mauve, White, Cream, Navy & Black.  I’m planning on working with mostly silks, cottons and linen. I got a free Craftsy class from ASG last month and used it to watch Sew to Flatter  (what an awesome course!!!) which really helped me narrow down my color palette and pattern choices. I love wardrobe planning and color analysis so much!

 Here are some of the Patterns I’m thinking of making:

• Burda Cropped Tee 130-05/2014 (white/cream)
• simple stripe knit tees (using sloper) DKNY V1488 (shirting-lt. blue/chambray/white)
• Grainline Tiny Pocket Tee (cream and white silk)

• Koos Kimono Jacket V1493

•  Pattern Hack of B5504 + Holly Pants  (I wore my orange pair for my interview and they were a big hit!) (Black/Grey/Navy + a pair as shorts in white)

• Lekala Wrap Pants Modified to Culottes

• grey knit pencil skirt

It’s also the start of Slow Fashion October!  I had such fun participating last year so I’m looking forward to a slower month with a focus on what sustainable & eco-friendly fashion means to me. You can see my posts from last year here, here, here and here.

This week focuses on Introductions:

• Who are you, and what does slow fashion mean to you.  I’m Rebecca. Mother, wife, artist, seamstress, visual merchandiser, reader, natural dye artisan, nature lover, organic foodie, natural living enthusiast living as close to the ocean as I can get in beautiful, sunny Florida.   Slow fashion to me is all about intention and creation.  I want to know as much as I can about where everything I make comes form and to take care in all aspects of my creative process.  I’m not perfect by any means but I try to source sustainably, create with care and make it all last.  No disposable fast fashion here!
• What got you started thinking about it — After kids everything changed for me.  As I slowly became a “crunchy” momma I grew concerned with all the chemicals I was using in my home and my art (I majored in printmaking.) I slowly switched our family to a greener and more eco-friendly lifestyle. I was influenced by both birth/parenting and art. Reading about Natural family Living with Mothering magazine’s Peggy O’Mara, about natural dyes with India Flint and about eco-fashion in Sustainable fashion and Textiles by Kate Fletcher and Eco Fashion by Sass Brown all influenced me greatly.
• Are your concerns environmental, humanitarian, financial? My main concerns are environmental and humanitarian.  I want to know who’s making my clothing and that they all are treated well and compensated fairly for the goods I’m buying.  I want to leave the earth better for my children and their children. Truthfully sewing my wardrobe is not cheap so it doesn’t factor as much. You get what you pay for and cheap clothes don’t last.
• How does your thinking factor into your life and closet.  My closet right now is mainly handmade (with a focus on sustainable and organic fabric and notions) or recycled/thrifted/vintage.  It is currently expanding to more ready to wear for work.  I feel good about the sourcing of my new company, the quality of the fabrics and construction.
• Also, any special plans or projects for Slowtober, and what are you hoping to get out of it? My slow project for the month will be a project I’ve been putting off for awhile.  Sashiko stitching a cream Granville Blouse I made a few months ago. My favorite part of #slowfashionoctober is working on one project and taking my time. It’s a wonderful change of pace!

Are you participating this month?  I’d love to hear what you’re working on too!  Hope everyone here in Florida and the nearby areas got through Hurricane Matthew safe and sound!  We crashed at my parents on the west coast for the weekend and had a blast celebrating my son Nigel’s 8th birthday! Luckily no damage at our apartment.  Happy Sewing!