I start to think about shapes. This makes a bit of sense because I'm in the middle of a fiddly sewing commission. Some of the people who want me to make stuff are very keen to get something made to measure because they think it will 'fix' an aspect of their body they don't appreciate so much. The last show I did was interesting but I realise the clothes I had the most fun making were those that followed or amplified bodies. It was very interesting to be working alongside a corsetier but I at the same time, perhaps I would have preferred to let my models have more freedom of movement. Perhaps it's all down to personal preferences; I happen to like clothing that shows a bit of shape - especially bellies and hip-curves. I get a little sad when I see somebody who has pleasant, youthful curves squash their figure down flat in front and behind with bodices or those horrible elastic trousers they sell at Farmers. I have a corset but seldom wear it; to me, it's a piece of symbolic fashion (tip of the hat to a particular era and its politics or aesthetic) but wearing a corset is kind of the entry-level phase of dressing. I want to break past that and do something better with my shape on the days when I sport a little belly. It only seems fair to my commissioners that I try to work out, okay, what is going to look good on curves without compromising mobility?
So here is a little photo essay that follows my musings about how to treat curves and curvy people. I'm still not even close to understanding what to do for boys; it's an entirely new world to me. So starting with a less challenging task, here are different treatments of one very nice looking model, Crystal Renn.
Rrrar. *ahem. Picking this lady as an example is problematic for a bunch of reasons - for one, she's a normal size, maybe even a little smallish compared with the average New Zealand population. She's also proportionate - you know, she has a waistline, there's an hourglass figure going on there so it's difficult to conceive of someone like Ms. Renn wanting to conceal one particular attribute like a lot of shoppers seem to. To counter that, I'd remind readers that the shoppers I encountered in retail, as well as the people expressing an interest in my garments, have been all sizes, many of them have been skinny. Skinnier than I am that's for sure. I'd wager that insecurity is far more of a factor than actual measurements.
Here's a treatment I like. I can see a much bigger person in this outfit and looking even better. It's taken me a while to realise that real-woman thighs actually look quite fetching in short garments - maybe a throwback from my slightly puritanical style of dress as a child, who can say really? I'll toss that notion aside first chance I get this year, I promise! Bring on the short pants!
I also like the fact that the top's sleeves aren't disguising the arm but instead mould to it. Arms like this are lovely. I get very sad when women worry that they have big arms - it just doesn't make sense to go through life with stick-like limbs. though I can appreciate an older lady who's been out in the sun a lot wanting to put her upper arms away and be more safe in the NZ climate, I don't see why that should stop people from wearing form fitting tops.
Again a yes to the bare legs... I'm in two minds about adding more fabric to boobal regions, sometimes it feels like a misguided attempt at disguise, but I think this texture is compact enough that it works. At first I thought I preferred Renn in her more glamorous shots but then I saw this:
asfgaskfgjkagn! Daaaamn.
I think we've got proof here that a less obviously put-together look can net some astonishing pictures. and that dress (or even the one above it)? Simple! Not put together with dozens of panels or distressing froofy cling-ons. I can see not just me wearing these outfits, but plenty of people I know. I do like the theatrical stuff but maybe a bit of adipose tissue does its own job of adding interest to a look....
... also this post makes me want to eat more pies.
It's my intention to erect a photoscreen in the sewing room, get a decent light source and do a few shoots. This means I can also take some pictures of myself - oh dear. I'm a bit terrified about the prospect of being on the intertubes, in short pants, but if the Fatshionista can do it then so can I, dangit.
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