In Praise of Casual

Despite the lack of it on my blog, there's been making afoot. I've found myself two-thirds done with three projects, all of which are trying my patience. In the meantime, I thought I'd share some images that have been inspiring me.
 

Juniors Pattern

I was recently in LA, where I met Sarai Mitnick of Colette Patterns at the Sew LA book release party and Christine Haynes, who's launching a new pattern line. I talked too much, ate too much fried food, and laughed lots.

During my visit, a friend took me to this huge warehouse of vintage dresses right on the LA river. For sewing peops, this is a dream. Dresses from every fashion era to fondle and try. I loved it, just like a love vintage fashion on other women, especially styled with hair and make-up. Just stunning, stunning.

But in that entire warehouse, I found two items to try on, and both were ill fitting. What I realized: I love vintage, but mostly on other people.

Wouldn't this make a lovely sundress?

The large majority of vintage fashion, for me, feels too modest, too formal or too matronly. The necklines are too high (hello, square jaw!), there's usually sleeves (crumpled under my omnipresent cardigans), cinched-in waists (breathe, Ali!), or long, long skirts (making me look shorter than I already am). I know, as sewists, we can make many adjustments, but I've been thinking of what I like versus what I'll actually wear.

In terms of vintage, the patterns I'm most likely to wear are summer or junior wear or undergarments as clothes. And of course, the 70s and all its drape and leg and comfort. The point of commonality is this: They're all casual, carefree, and youthful.

After my 90s post, it comes as no surprise that I love casual, no-nonsense clothing. So can we take a moment here and praise casual? In some ways, I think they can be just as stylish as sheath dresses and pencil skirts. They've got that tomboy allure.

70s: Drapey skirts and dresses, casual but lovely

In casual clothes, I feel like adventure is possible, that I'll never have to stop and change my heels or get zipped out of a dress when I'm about to pass out in the desert (true story, half naked in Tarra's car. It might have been the wine :0).

So here's some images I've been collecting in Pinterest that inspire me. And they aren't style schleps either. Here you'll find Jane Birkin, Anna Karina, Natalie Portman, Zooey Deschanel, Francoise Hardy, Mila Kunis, Sofia Coppola. Even though they're wearing denim and knits, tell me they don't look good.

What I love about each of these images: No one looks overdone. And they all look stylish.

So here's to casual clothes that look good, but more importantly, to clothes that can keep up with you. :)

Happy sewing!