Wardrobe Woes

My wonderful husband has informed me that I could update my wardrobe with some new things. This sounds like a blessing right?? Its not. I have the hardest time finding clothes. Now that doesn't mean I'm picky in a bad way. I have certain requirements that need to be meant before I buy something.

First - it has to be modest. About 5 years ago I started wearing skirts roughly 90% of the time. I also started wearing my shirts either long sleeve or 3/4 length. I have found that, while "modern" women will give me looks of disgust, I receive more respect while out in public. I have had people carry my groceries out, put my carts away and even offer to stow my luggage. Those things were not the norm for me before my skirt transformation. Now finding long, modest, loose fitting skirts is a hard task. There are plenty of choices out there, but they always have something wrong. Maybe there is a slit up the back (or front - eegads!) or maybe its so tight you can't walk or genuflect. OH and don't get me started on colors!! What I think is toned down and what designers think are two very different color patterns.

Second - it has to be wearable. I do not like dry clean only or line dry clothes. I barely have time to fold my clothes let alone line dry special or dry clean! Those days are long gone. I also like the material to be durable so I can wear it working outside or to church 50 times before it wears out. This is a problem as most nice, modest skirts are made with lovely material that doesn't work with my expectations.

Third - it has to be long and have room to grow. I don't like my skirts to be calf length or higher. I feel almost naked when I walk out with a skirt that exposes any of my leg. Granted I am almost always wearing long socks in the winter (or long underwear) so no one would see a thing then. As for my shirts, I prefer them with extra long sleeves if they are long-sleeved and of course a high neck line. I can't stand to see a women bend over and expose her God-given gifts for all to see. Also, I like a little room to grow. Sometimes shirts of today hug your belly to the point that everyone knows you put on 5 pounds over Thanksgiving. I like to have breathing room for expanding baby bellies. Makes me feel like I'm not THAT fat that soon if I can get away with wearing my regular clothes.

Fourth - it has to be cheap. Ohhh, this is by far the hardest thing I have to deal with. Now to be fair to my wonderful husband, money has never been an issue. We buy nice, once, so we don't have to buy again in a few months when it wears out. That being said I can't bring myself to spend more than $20 on a skirt and $10 on a shirt. I am cheap, cheap, cheap. I love shopping at Goodwill for their $3.99 skirts or great sales, but finding anything worth buying there is hit or miss (heavy on the miss).

My closet is lined with quite a few clothes. Most of them I found at Goodwill. The skirts are waiting for a matching shirt (I will find one I know I will!) while the shirts are waiting for a non-patterned skirt. So here is a perfect example of when I should have just spent the money to buy nice, once, and called it good. And I shouldn't even tell you about my everyday skirts. Imagine holes and stains and most wouldn't cut it as rags for cleaning. EEEEGADS!!!!!!

I enjoy the colors blue, brown, green and tan. Sometimes I branch out to gray and black, but not often. That leaves me with 4 hues of brown shirts (which match maybe 2 skirts total), a couple of green shirts that match very little and a lovely collection of every darker blue I love. Still a problem matching them to skirts...arrrr!

So, my solution to this problem has always been to buy material and make skirts. Simple, elastic waist skirts that are long, roomy and usually priced right. I am cheap after all...I even work cheap. I did buy over $70 worth of material once. Nice, lovely designs that would match most of my shirts. I cut out the patterns, sewed them nicely and tried them on only to find out - my hips grew since the last time I used the pattern. THEY REALLY GREW! Ok...plan B...give skirts away and find more material. I managed to give the skirts away, but never bought more material.

Now that Darren wants me to update my wardrobe I am full of frustration and worry. I would like to dress to please him. He tells me to wear whatever I want, yet will point out that sometimes my clothes are mismatched (yah I know!). He says he doesn't mind that I wear skirts, but I know that he likes it when I wear my one pair of jeans as well. Oh double arrr...arrr.

My style of clothes is an interesting mix. Think Edwardian plus out west way back when plus a little bit of modern and you have a pretty good idea why I have trouble finding clothes. I have a feeling I will just buy material, sew like crazy (using a pattern that fits!) and continue to skirt by the problem for the time being.