A Peek From Indy's Closet

Plus-size lady who marvels at the mid-century fashion and aesthetics.

[whatindywear]

Back then, whenever I went through some period of time of not doing anything creative (drawing, writing, sewing, make a blog entry), I brush it off as, “I’m too busy for it”. But, it just clicks on me, that pushing myself a little for doing something creative, although small, keep me sane when my day job* workload is overwhelming me.

I am working on a project that have quite an intense schedule, often requires me to work on weekend. But by taking some hours in the morning or in the day off for doing a creative project, I feel more energized.

I can’t say that “busy” is not a reason, because sometimes, we have no energy left after full day of working, but if you’re being a bit more strategic, you can squeeze in some hours to be on your creative endeavor.

It is Sunday here, and it is my day off. I took the time to shoot this ensemble I planned to shoot a while ago. I forgot the last time I wore a white T-shirt in a fancy get-up, but I feel like I got to with this piece.

lol ur not Shawn Mendes T-shirt: a local online merch shop

skirt: handmade

headband (it is actually a scarf): unbranded

shoes: Payless

[whatindywear]

One misconception people had about me, is that I spend a lot of money on my clothes.

Perhaps, because compared to most people, my look was rather fancy--’too much’, some calling it. But I absolutely don’t feel I spend much. Compared to people whose wardrobe staples are T-shirt and jeans, perhaps. But compared to most people who are into dressing up, absolutely not.

Aside from me sewing many of my clothes piece by having rather unconventional taste, I am just a sucker for cheap stuff. I don’t get why people bought hundreds of dollars for piece of clothes such as what looks like regular tracksuits or just a shirt. Aside from online shopping, I shop at thrift shop most of the times. And so does my make-up. I am not big on high-end products.

But, sometimes I feel this weird hurting feeling for being a cheapskate. No, I won’t spend my salary on branded clothes, at least some time soon. I hear stories about people who insist on buying high-end items and how I believe at the end of the day, expensive items have more to do with status symbol rather than the item’s quality itself. But sometimes I think, “what if me being a cheapskate really just have to do with how I am not well-off enough?”

Is it because capitalism have us all believing, at the end of the day, that our value determined of how much we make? Or am I being unnecessarily melodramatic?

Nevertheless, here’s my with DIY accessories, a $11 shoes, a skirt I sew with scrap fabrics laying around and me drawing the pattern myself, and a $5 crop top.

[whatindywear]

Another day, another handmade dress.

Thw fabric been sitting on my wardrobe forever. But it just now got the chance to turn into a dress.

I based the pattern from 1950's day dresses but draft the pattern by myself. And I figured it out myself how to draft that elongated cap sleeve (what do you call it?) pattern from different sources. It works. Not perfect, but works. But what I learn is sewing button lining is trickier than I thought.

And the flower clip, it's another DIY accessories from me. I bought the artificial flower that used for home decoration, clip it from its stalk, and assemble it and stick it to thw hairclip with white glue.

In another somewhat related news, I was thinking about opening sewing commission! I've been planning it since forever but promise I'll do!

Dress: sewn by my

Flower hairclip: DIY by me (should I make tutorial?)

Shoes: Adorable Project

[whatindywear]

I got this beautiful orange batik fabric from my aunt, who remembers how I "love flowy skirt". And I'm quite touched. However, the sewing process is quite pain in the ass. I don't know how, but after sewing lots of skirt, I still got problems every time. This time, the gathering needs a lot of time to be done, and I have to re-done the elastic two times. I am quite happy with the end project, though. Although I feel like the process could be a lot shorter in time. Perhaps I should stick with the same technique every time?

As for the shirt, I found my mom's old blouse from the 80's with this cute embroidery front. But the model was... Let's just say it was not my cup of tea with its straight silhouette and shoulder pad. I did not make that much adjustment, though. Just took off the pads and cut the sleeves.

Shirt: modified from mom's old blouse

Skirt: handmade by yours truly;fabric from gift

Necklace: gift

Shoes: Adorable Project

[whatindywear]

I bought this batik fabric with my mom on our last trip to Yogyakarta in 2016. Yes, that means it been sitting on my pile of fabrics for two years.

Anyhow, I based the design on dresses from the 1950's with a twist of lot cut back. Also it was the first time I made a clothes with cap sleeves. I gotta say the result is better than expected.

But I appreciate it of anyone can gives me a tip on how to not having to deal with excess thread hanging from every seams on end product.

Dress: sewn by me;fabric from Pasar Beringharjo

Shoes: Adorable Projects

[whatindywear]

So this is actually a dress my mom ordered from me years ago. At that time I don't like how it fits on me and it spends some time abandoned in my closet.

When I organized my clothes, I feel like I can't give it away since it was made from a pretty pricy fabric (and I like the pattern and color), so with a bit of snip-snipping and stitches, I turn it into separates with crop top!

Too bad I don't have the before picture.

Dress: unbranded, altered by me.

Shoes: Adorable Projects

[whatindywear]

I wear it to a day wedding of a relative. This is one of the outfit that doesn't turn out as good as it was in my mental image. But well... I like my hair and my lip color here.

Shirt: The Executive

Skirt: made by me

Shoes: Payless

Necklace: thrifted

[whatindywear]

Featuring my cat Rui!

I took this photo to two months ago, but for God knows what reason only uploaded it now.

Story time: I wore this dress to a friend's wedding and wear a spanx underneath. When it's buffet time, I was about to took off my spanx in the bathroom but there was queue to the stall. So I just took it off from under my dress outside of the stall and then there's this lady looking at me weird. But can you blame her?

Dress: Monsoon

Necklace: thrifter

[whatindywear]

I have this blue floral fabric for a while. At first I decided to sew a dress, but I changed my mind. I always doubt about wearing separates, as most models I saw is tacky. But for some reason I give it a try anyway.

And, I gotta say, the end result is not too shabby. And the thing is, it is a versatile clothing. I can wear the top and the skirt with other piece of clothing!

Separates: sewn by me.

shoes: Adorable Projects.

[whatindywear]

No post long time, eh?

That’s what happened between my camera break, bout of depression, and getting so unexplainably tired all weekends that caused me to get uninspired.

Anyway, Eid Mubarak for my muslim friends! It’s Eid day, and it’s good day. Sorta. But we get there.

I’m back sewing, and a while ago I made this skirt from a fabric that been sitting in my wardrobe for quite a while. I sew the top with the same fabric and made a separates. But today I feel like this turtleneck was more fitting for the event.

Top: Tokopedia

Skirt: handmade by me.

Shoes: Adorable Projects

[whatindywear]

Have you ever had an outfit that just looks better in your head than it was in the execution? For me, it was this.

I am not sure what particularly makes me not really feeling it. I love the piece of the ensemble individually, but seeing it together just doesn’t quite hit me. Perhaps because my hair just doesn’t work like I want to.

Did not mean I despise it though. Two reasons, my faves compliment this outfit, and secondly I just glad I found a new spot for outfit posts.

Top: Pluffy’s Choice

skirt: custom made (fabric from traditional market)

scarf: thrifted

shoes: Share Shoes

[whatindywear]

I start to get into the whole gothabilly look late last year. Personally, I am not into goths as a personal fashion choice, but I do fond of it as a style and movement.

But I thought, why not? Or I might just want a reason to whipped out this spiderweb skirt I sew and painted for last year's Halloween.

Skirt: handmade by me

[whatindywear]

One of the biggest challenges of being a pin-up girl/vintage fashion enthusiast who live in a tropical country is: how to make one‘s hair hold up.

vintage-like clothing is pretty easy to acquire, with the right undergarments and thrift shop trip. But it takes me a while to find the right product to make my hair holds up for a long time. At least not being completely straight by the end of the night. 

And then I cut my hair a little too short, and it lost bit of its the ability to hold curls. If so, one thing that can make your overall look authentic enough, for me is hair decoration.

I got the scarf from scrap fabric my mom give me. I think it is pretty good fabric that doesn’t slip easily. And it comes in a color that can easily paired with most of the outfits in my wardrobe.

Turtleneck top: Tokopedia

skirt: custom made

hair scarf: custom made

shoes: ShareShoes

[whatindywear]

Today I experimented with the hairstyle. Never succeeded with victory rolls before, but finally, I made it! I am pretty satisfied with how I can make the bandanna hold my hair up for the rest of the day.

The top are actually a short off-shoulder dress, and as you can see, the strap keep falling off. Guess I just tie it unevenly, tho.

Scarf:  elzatta

dress (worn as top): unbranded.

skirt: custom made.

shoes: Adorable Projects 

[whatindywear]

How it’s going? It’s been more than a month since I posted anything. I know I said I’m going to commit. But this month I’ve been feeling unwell and just don’t have enough spoon to dress myself up.

But hey, I’m back.

shirt: H&M

skirt: sewn by me. Fabric from Beringharjo Market, Yogyakarta.

shoes: Payless

necklace and earrings: Berrybenka

[swnews]

Lupita Nyong’o at National Board of Review Annual Awards Gala in New York (01/09/2018)

[whatindywear]

It seems like most girls and women have their anti-pink phase. That certain phase in life where they learns that girly things is something frivolous. That phase where they distance themselves from other girls for a make-believe reason like “girls are full of drama”.

So do I. Yet today I donned all-pink ensemble. I wore pink eyeshadows as well. It wasn’t shown clearly tho.

shirt: Magnolia

skirt: custom made

necklace: unbranded.