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SEWN: THE CAT'S PYJAMAS

Thursday 26 March 2015

 Meow


Really. Seriously. Like the best kind of secret cat's pyjamas.

Better still hubby thinks I look like a supermodel in this outfit. His words. I did ask for clarification because looking like a supermodel is not a personal goal for me...

I mean you look edgy, quirky, hot and super, super confident. You look exactly like you.

And he's got something there. Not necessarily the hot, edgy, quirky thing. But I can definitely see his point about finally being all me.

Oh my lord I have got a badonkadonk. I reckon I could almost balance a glass of champagne off that.
"I" have arrived friends. It's been a bit of a process, a process I didn't even realise was happening. But looking back I can see it culminating in the last year, or even in the last 6 months.

You see, inside me is a woman of bright colours and gregarious prints. A bit like my personality.



But until recently I hated the idea of being noticed. I'm a weird kind of extrovert. Hubby describes it as an introverted extrovert. I'm a full on motor mouth and overly enthusiastic person once I get to know you. A bit of an awkward watcher before.

Awkward watchers don't necessarily like to be noticed, at least not me. I'd rather fade in the background until I am ready to reveal myself.

I've not been a fan of drawing attention to myself. The difference now is not so much that I court attention, it's that I simply do not care if it is drawn. I dress for me, the real me, and try to stride with pride.

I am so in love with these pants I can't even tell you. Delicious, swishy, soft, buttery cotton double gauze. Super robust bonding of the two layers as the "crosses" are woven and incorporate both layers. And it's the best shade of indigo blue.

I used my culottes pattern and simply lengthened the hem by 15 inches (later to remove 4 inches), continuing the outward flare of the leg resulting in SUPER WIDE LEGGED PANTS.

Again, BAM, check that fit. Actually I think I may have lost weight as they feel vaguely roomy.

Where did those wrinkles come from?
And that sunshine yellow cotton drill? Hello deep hemmed, cropped top loveliness. Perhaps the 80's weren't all bad. The top is a cropped-by-6-inches Pattern R Sleeveless blouse with ruffles from Yoshiko Tsukiori's Stylish Dress Book: Clothing for everyday wear. Yep, I'm thinking based on the last 6 months that I am going to be continuing to sew from Japanese patterns for a long time to come. They fit me, without alteration.


Look at that swish potential. Swishy, swish, swish, swish.

Pyjamas, the best possible kind of outerwear.


And just because...


56 comments:

  1. Oh my! Jillian this is one hell of an awesome outfit. And oh so you! Your vision & execution have blown me away. Thanks for sharing your story... it could have been mine... except I needed a stylist and two years to see that I have the confidence & personality to do my own thing. I can't wait for your next instalment... another Japanese pattern?

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  2. Nailed it. You look incredible. Welcome to the new "you".

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  3. Wow! These are amazing! The fit is spot on and both the shape and colors are fabulous. You look great!

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  4. Wowzas, could these possibly be any better?! I think not. Perfectly perfect! And they look hot on you. I love this so much! And I think I *almost* share the introvert/extravert category with you - I'm definitely an observer until I get to know people, which is completely at odds with the way I like to dress, and the fact that at 5"10 it's pretty hard to blend in at the best of times, let alone when I decide to wear my hot pink fancy pants with heels. I'm on a happy path though of dressing for me, and sucking it up it if I happen to stick out like a sore thumb - hey, I MADE these so it gives me license to dress crazier than the average bear. It sounds like you've found your path. Lets embrace crazy pants together! x

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  5. This outfit is GORGEOUS and so are you!

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  6. What an awesome outfit! I totally get the introverted extrovert thing. People are a bit shocked when the real me comes crawling out of her shell!

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  7. Fantastic, the whole outfit. Love the sunshine yellow and especially the cullottes! It's one of the many things I love about sewing, being able to wear colours while the RTW is beige and black.

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  8. www.tresbienensemble.com27 March 2015 at 06:37

    FABULOUS! I love this outfit, and you do look like you're really owning it. I especially love the shape of that top with these pants! The way you describe your personality is much the way I would describe my own, except, you know, I would wear black and grey all day every day. :-D

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  9. I love it! You look waaaaay better than a supermodel, and besides what supermodel makes their own clothes? You're selling me on culottes, I've been resisting for the longest time but I think they might just work for me. And by the way, after your advice on bustlines I realized that the darts on my tank top are too high. So thanks for that - I'll be making the proper adjustments on future Japanese pattern projects.

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  10. Fabulous! Your making me wish I could were yellow.

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  11. Holy smokes, best outfit EVER! I'd never really thought of using double gauze for pants but it works perfectly for this style. So awesome, seriously!

    My mum once said something to me re. introverts & extroverts to the extent that extroverts can almost be a little more self conscious as they're more aware of the people around them. As an introvert I surprisingly don't really care too much about whether I stick out or not because I'm too busy in my little bubble, ha!

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  12. Oh a stylist would have made life so much easier! Actually I've often wondered if a stylist would just squeeze me in somehow to the current RTW offerings. And based on the last time I actually bought RTW (other than underwear) that wouldn't have worked. You, my lovely, are completely and utterly you, and it works big time.

    It was seriously cool to not only see what I wanted in my head, but then to have it turn out EXACTLY as I'd envisaged. Next? I'm not sure. I am obsessing the Marthe blouse, might have to hack a Japanese pattern :)

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  13. Aw thanks Jodie, it does feel good to just be me.

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  14. Thanks Rebecca. We'll see if those crazy wide legs don't actually trip me up today on their first real world wear!

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  15. Oh my God, I wanna go out with when you're wearing your fancy pants and heels. Can I wear my ridiculous blue ones and we'll just stride out together?? I love that you dress for you, it's been so interesting to see you taking that journey. Crazy pants forever!!

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  16. Tassadit, you're very kind, thank you xx

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  17. Hahaha Lauren! I think I'm two different people. I'm a huge extrovert off the bat in a work situation. Stick me in front of group of strangers and ask me to present or teach and I'm all good. But in a personal setting I'm quite different and cautious. I'd love to meet the real you!

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  18. So true Barbara. I truly cannot find RTW for me most of the time. There are some places that I love but the cost of their RTW is cray-cray. So glad I can get what I want at a fraction of the RTW price.

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  19. Thanks Michelle! I was a bit worried about the proportions as I planned this only in my head and we all know our vision of how we expect something to look can be a little skewed. But it did work in the end! I think there must be a lot of introvert/extroverts out there in the sewing world, or are they all just coming out of the woodwork now? :)

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  20. Kate, you're too kind! I think a wide-legged pant would look fab on you. You've just got to find the right proportions for your frame. And by the way, the dart points on this tank are a little too high on me as well. I'm thinking they definitely draft for an a-cup, so yep, you'll need to drop the bust point a little at the very least. Thanks for inspiring me to use this tank pattern!

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  21. I didn't think yellow was my colour either, but there are so many yellow tones you might just find one that works for you!

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  22. Oh wow, I love your Mum's take on this. There might be something in that. Sometimes I'd love to be in my own little bubble. And I was worried about the double gauze too, but it absolutely works. The weight and drape is perfect for this type of pant, unless of course you're looking for crisp line!

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  23. What's that street the Beetles were photographed walking across the crossing. I'd like a photo of us in our fancy pants doing the stride. Hmmmm when I get better at photoshop ;-)

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  24. 1. You have a wonderful husband.
    2. Madonna can go home. Look at that muscle definition of your biceps!
    3. And those pants together with the top are the perfect combination! I will strife to find a pattern that fits me as well as those pants fit you! I think I need a top like this (maybe in grey! ;-P )!

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  25. Hey, and 4. I am an introverted extrovert myself! (Totally comes in handy when you teach!)

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  26. I don't even know where to start. I love your style, I love that it's 'you' and this is simply the latest in a whole series of awesome "Jillian" outfits - you look amazing.

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  27. I'm so ridiculously in love with this outfit! The colours, the pattern, the wide legs. What could be better?! I totally get you on the introverted extrovert thing. I am exactly the same way. Shy till I know you but once I do you can't shut me up.

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  28. Lady you look fit and stylish! Love the pairing of the navy and yellow. They fit you so well and yes your husband is clearly a doll!

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  29. Oh and I'm well jealous that you can wear sleeveless fripperies still. It's arctic down here.

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  30. Oh wowsers! You look fabulous. X So well done, and so you. Yep and I get the whole extroverted/introverted thing. I'm the same, introverted till I tecognise a kindred spirit then it's banter, banter, banter. I'm up late testing my culottes pattern, ready soon to join team wide legged pants. X

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  31. Hahaha Ute! Muscles courtesy of years of weights training in my 20's and very good genes :) This type of top is super easy - find a loose shell top and cut the bottom off. Yes, very complicated. And it would look great in grey ;)

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  32. Nic, you're so very kind. Thanks so much for cheering me on. It's been a journey and I just hope I keep getting it right for me. If others are liking it too, that's a bonus!

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  33. Thanks so much Kat! I think we need to get all these introverted extroverts into a room and let us go mad talking each others ears off!

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  34. Sarah, it's getting down to the wire with wearing short/no sleeves. That day it was 28 degrees and glorious, but each day its dropping about a degree. I'm now planning some kind of coat :)

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  35. Oh I hope your culottes pattern works for you, Leah! Team wide-legged pants forever!

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  36. I love this entire outfit so much! And I love your hubby's comment too!

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  37. That sounds like an awesome plan!

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  38. Oh thanks Gail. Yep, hubby says the right thing a lot. That's why I married him ;)

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  39. This is such a bright, fearless outfit that you must be a fun, awesome person! Great job!

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  40. J, this is gorgeous! And your grin makes it beyond clear you have found your style groove. Own it, lady. You are a rockstar! xx

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  41. so amazing! I remember seeing a picture of all these 1930s bathing beauties wearing similar trousers at the beach and i've wanted a pair ever since. they look amazing!

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  42. Hahaha! You mean the self-satisfied look? I do try to rock it and it's not hard when you are comfortable in your clothes :)

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  43. Thanks Cat! They do look a bit 1930's. I never thought of that when I made them :) Super easy to recreate if you have a culottes pattern that you just keep flaring out with the extra length.

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  44. Love this. You do indeed look like a complete knockout!

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  45. browsing through your blog I realised I did not tell you how utterly gorgeous this outfit is!!!!! bad bad Sasha

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  46. I'll forgive you just this once Sasha! Just kidding, you don't need to stroke my ego everytime xxx

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  47. I'm so late to comment on this amazing outfit! I'm so sorry, but you know that I haven't stopped thinking about this since I saw it on instagram and well before - I was stalking your blog waiting!! Everything about this is perfect - colour, fabric, proportions. The best of course, is how comfortable this makes you feel in your skin and in those fancy pants. I love how enabling sewing (and our community) is!

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  48. You and your "badonkadonk" look positively amazing in your swooshy pantsy loveliness!

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  49. Thanks so much Kirsty. I wore the pants a few days ago and I tell you they are that comfy. I did catch people looking at my pants which made me a feel a little weird. And then I decided to embrace it. I might even be tempted to make a very fancy pair for Frocktails ;)

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  50. Alex, I never realised how much of a badonkadonk I have till that side on shot. Woahhhh nelly! And thank you for the love xx

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