Clothes

Hi Sarah

The clothing story is that garments need to give you freedom to move and freedom to adapt your posture without looking ill-fitting. You need to be able to allow your belly to relax and not feel constricted when it does.

Any stretchy fabric will work. Any bias cut will work. Any skirt that is slightly A-line will ride up slightly when you sit and allow your belly to expand. Just steer clear of skirts that are rigidly woven fabrics and fitted from waist to butt. Any design is OK below butt level. I find that longer skirts are better because I can sit with my feet and knees apart without offending or feeling embarrassed about the colour of my knickers. When you stand in WW posture skirts really do fall from the waist at the front, and my belly is less obvious now than it was in suck and tuck posture (love that phrase!!). I wear skirts almost all the time now, cos they feel much more feminine and it is easier to find or make skirts that hang well than it is to find or make trousers that hang well.

Trousers are a whole different story. I have finally decided that I will never find trousers that hang well, cos I am kind of a weird shape. I have just made a pattern off one pair that did fit me OK and amended it so it will allow more belly expansion. Now I can just run them up myself, or get somebody else to, when I need new trousers. Again, stretchy is the go with trousers, but I find that jeans and the like with lycra in them go all floppy around the butt after a while, so they need replacing more often, which is expensive.

My pattern is a simple gathered waist (either elastic or drawstring) with plenty of extra fabric at the front. The legs are wide at the bottom and hang from the widest part of my hips. They have slit pockets set into the side seams. The bottom of the pocket opening is below the widest part of my hips so the pocket opening acts like a placket or pleat, and opens wide when I sit down. It closes again neatly when I stand up. It is a little hard to explain the construction of the pocket, but the side of the pocket that sits next to my skin is a continuation of the back of the trousers, rather than a separate piece of fabric, so when it gapes, it doesn't look like it is gaping, cos it there is no seam onto the back part of the trousers. The pocket is deeper than normal so it can flop over the outside of my leg when I sit down, so it doesn't make an uncomfortable lump on my hip.

I find that longer woven tops need splits, either at the front opening or the sides so they can expand at the belly level when I sit. Shorter tops are not a problem. I feel more comfortable in longer tops because I can allow my belly to relax and not feel I am looking like a jelly belly (which society can find unnecessarily confronting). As I have gotten older I feel less need to look like somebody out of a fashion magazine. That is a real relief. I can now dress to look stylish and neat, rather than fashionable, when I cn't get around in loose T-shirts and stretchy tracky daks.

We have had a few discussions about clothes in the past. Christine swears by gussets in the crotch of trousers. Search 'trousers', 'pants', 'skirt', gusset and other specific keywords with the Search box to find these topics and posts. some of them are quite old, as we haven't discussed clothing for a while.

I am so jealous of you younger women cos the choice of maternity clothing is so good these days. Some members find that different pieces of maternity clothing, particularly trousers are really comfy. Feels a bit funny buying them, and is a bit unpalatable after not being able to wear ordinary clothing for so long during pregnancy, but once you find comfy, cooperative clothing that's not a problem any more. I have found trousers with a gusset in golf clothing. Golf clothing can be quite good, cos it has to be smart on the fairway or in the Clubhouse afterwards, but is designed for sportswomen, so it has to work when you are squatting, sitting, bending over, walking or moving your arms around up in the air.

Retail therapy can be good fun sometimes but I find it more like pulling toenails out, so I just make a lot of stuff myself. I know that sewing is difficult with little kids around, and it may not be your cup of tea. I enjoy it. Good luck with the clothing search.

Cheers

Louise

http://www.girlskirtmission.com/yoga-pants.htm
http://www2.victoriassecret.com/collection/?cgname=OSCLOSPTYGA&cgnbr=OSC...

the first are indian pants and the second link is yoga pants - both work really well at home or out and about. The trick is getting the right shirt (long for me) and making sure the pair you buy are well under the belly button.

Fresh produce makes nice skirts- I got one and then my mom made me 2 more like it.

I love jeans- I don't know if you can shop the juniors section- but if you can you are in luck- super low rise jeans are everywhere. If you find a nice name brand they make them high in the back and low in the front - which is perfect. I have a pair that buttons right above my pubic bone (just high enough to cover my panties) with two buttons and I love them. They have some stretch to them.
I also wear dresses- but not much - I don't find them nursing friendly most of the time-

Most of the time I wear skirts I pair them with leggings- I am bending over and squatting all day and just prefer not to show my butt to everyone.
I also like to wear leggings with fitted longer shirts- the kind that look a little like a dress but not quite long enough to qualify-

also since I know my belly is going to stick out I like to wear shirts that cut in a V to kind of break up the roundness- So that most people don't get past the boob- to see the big ol round belly-

so those are my fashion secrets- wear low cut shirts- get leggings (low rise of course) and shop the juniors section.

oh ya and you can totally buy tights in the maternity store- and even jeans.

http://store.girlskirtmission.com/-strse-193/Harem-Pants-White/Detail.bok

I only wear skirts. I recently got a denim skirt at H&M, its not very low rise, but low enough. and cut wider at the waist than I need. I also do well at AnnTaylor, the skirts there almost always fit at the hip. I had a fav. maternity skirt that I wore until my little guy was 6 mo and then it no longer fit, too bad it didn't come in smaller sizes. but I'm still wearing maternity hose and tights.

as for long tops, the Gap online now has some items in tall sizes, that might be helpful. also I get tops (I'm not particularly tall, but I have a long torso) at American Eagle. sizing runs small, but the tops are looong and cover everything even with a low rise skirt..

I learned to sew in hopes of making myself clothes that actually fit, but to date I've only made one skirt that fit me well. If I had more time to devote to learning the art of fitting the patterns that would help I guess. I'm also a bit of a perfectionist and don't want to look like "happy hands at home" to quote Tim Gunn. but I do hate shopping, which is why I have very little in my closet.

I'm going to check out the brands alemama suggested. thanks alemama!

I love skirts too, but this fall/winter for me it’s low-rise cotton leggings in black and brown (and forest green if I could find them!) with long smocks belted low in front and high in back. Check out Kwik Sew #3538. It turns out really well (not all home-sew patterns do) and goes together in a flash.

The pattern also contains a belt – shown belted at the waist. I ditched that, but made instead a belt patterned on a support belt for the lower back. It’s very wide in back and sits high on the sacrum, then narrows to Velcro in front at bikini line. I made it out of tapestry fabric and very stiff cardboard-like interfacing that I think is used in hat making. Anyway, the cool thing is that the belt fits snug in back when standing in proper posture, but gapes when not. How about that? A “smart belt” that lets you know when you’re slouching! :)

love the belt idea christine!

and I bet you could make yourself some low rise leggings in forest green.
spandex house in nyc has awesome knits, I'm not sure if they have a website, but their customer service is fabulous. I've ordered stuff over the phone and always get what I had in mind.

Sweet!, gmom. Thanks for the fabric idea – I’ll check it out. I need one of those bumper stickers, I’d Rather Be Sewing…but have to draw a strict line how much time I give to it – only a few evenings per week – and much of that is sewing for my toddler granddaughter! Her grandma-outfits this fall/winter are mid-calf, gathered print skirts with solid leggings and long-sleeved t-shirts. It only takes 15 inches of 45”-wide fabric to make a longish, full skirt. Too cute!

I can just picture nori in cute little skirts with leggings and a t
too bad my dd refuses to wear anything I make for her, so I'm stuck sewing dipes and pj's for the boys. boys pants are just not fun for me.
have you checked out ottobre patterns? they've got delicious girly things.

www.makeyourownjeans.com

I've finally been able to check out both these sites and they look really interesting.

So much to sew, so little time!

Thanks for sharing them.

:) Christine