CLOTHES MAKETH THE MAN (or Woman)

I have several photos of myself as a toddler in lovely dresses, which, I am told, my Nan made for me. She was a seamstress in a factory, I believe, as a young woman.  I can remember standing beside her one day and watching her sew on her Singer Treadle and asking who she made the lines so straight.

My wonderful Aunt was probably the next person who inspired my interest in sewing. Each time we would visit she would show me what she had sewn.  She didn't have much money, like all of us then, so it was never anything very elaborate and may have even been recycled, but I loved it.

My 10th grade sewing teach, whose name I can't remember but I remember how she made me feel.  (there's a quote about that) I had not been able to take sewing classes at my previous school, but when I changed schools (as I often did) for year 10 I was elated to find out I could take sewing.  My teacher made me welcome and was always complimentary about my projects, especially as I had not had taken previous years classes.


I bought my first sewing machine when I started work at 15 and began sewing my own clothes (as in the pics).  I bought what fabric I could, usually from Bayards in Queen Street with my $14.00 a week pay packet. It was the 70's and we didn't need much fabric then.

The second thing I bought, by the way, was a little record player. Sewing and Music ...not much has changed.

I loved that I could sew and make clothes for my kids, photos in home made trackies too numerous to show.  Again, not much money to go around raising 4 kids sending me straight to the bargain bin at the fabric store.

Now I have a little more to splurge on fabric should I so desire, but I can't seem to break the habit of getting super, super excited when I see a sale advertised.  Neither can I resist adding to my ridiculously large 'stash' of fabric at said sales.

Clothing shops are probably the most prolific of any retail outlets (assumption).  From thousands of dollars per item to the $10 jeans at Kmart society can't seem to get enough. The babies and children's 'fashion' wear market is huge now.  What's up with that? Thanks baby celebs !
Mine either wore handmade or Vinnies, and they survived.

We see 'makeover' shows on the telly and can't believe the difference in people with some new clobber on and a haircut.  We see 'bosses' dressing down on the telly and going out into the workplace and not being recognised. We have dress up day at school, dress up day at the races, dress up cocktail parties, fancy dress parties, pajama parties, formal, semi-formal and come as you are (never a good idea) all based on the clothing you wear.

I guess my love of fabric makes me more inclined to 'checkout' what people are wearing and look at how things are made and what fabric is used.

I see people who dress, shall we say, without much thought.  Now I'm not one to judge, but I think with the abundance of recycle shops and cheap clothing these days,...... really?  You are wearing a old unclean stretchy t-shirt and crocks and carrying your mobile phone and carton of grog?

I don't wear designer clothes, heck I am still wearing clothes from 10 years ago.  I am determined to update my wardrobe throughout this process.  However, LOOK IN A MIRROR PEOPLE !  It's not about being sexy (please, please, don't make it about that), or even fashionable, because fashion rarely suits everyone.  It's just about being clean and tidy and wearing something that suits your shape. Have some pride. Give yourself permission to look nice. Prioritise you appearance.  Find your 'look'. How do you want to be seen? Think about what look you are projecting.

Happy medium folks.  You don't have to spend zillions, in fact I shake my  head in wonderment at most of the 'catwalk' fashions and those that the billionaire celebs drape themselves in sometimes. I think, 'you got all that money and you chose THAT?'

BTW Men - get on board PLEASE.  Capper shorts - OUT;  Shorts that don't cover your crack - OUT. You guys have it easy, clean jeans and a polo shirt... done, simple.

AND HELLOOOO YOUNG PEOPLE  --- PJ's in public --- aahhh NNNOOOOO

Then it dawned on me...  sometimes it's about looking sexy... Man of the House didn't know what colour eyes I had for 2 years.