You Don't Need That Dress

I have too many clothes. So I'm not buying any for a year. Click here if you want to read THE RULES.

[youdontneedthatdress]

Things That Have Made My Life Demonstrably Easier/Better Since I Bought Them

You know how sometimes you KNOW there is a product that can help you out in some way, but you wait way way too long to buy it and then when you DO buy it, you’re like “omg why did I wait so long to buy this?” These are some of those. (Some of these are affiliate links so I get like 4 cents if you buy something FYI.)

1. This TSA-approved liquids container 

I don’t travel a TON, but I do travel enough that this bag turned out to be a really good investment. It fits SO MUCH MORE than a Ziploc bag and it’s heavier weight and I’ve never had an issue with TSA being like “what is this, we’re searching you now” but bear in mind that I am a white lady with resting affable face so YMMV. 

2. These laundry bags

I literally just bought these last month. LAST MONTH, you guys. I have been doing my own laundry for almost 20 years and it took me that long. I have a handful of bras I have never ever washed which is so, so gross. But I didn’t want to hurt the underwire by throwing them in the washing machine! These bags protect your stuff but also make it not disgusting. Everyone wins.

3. This magnetic pincushion

This thing is obviously targeted at sewists, but I might get one for my bobby pins also. It’s so nice to just be able to remove my pins and throw them in the general direction of a pincushion while I sew instead of having to shove them back into my tomato as I go. 

4. Kitchen shears

I use my kitchen shears for EVERYTHING - cutting packages, cutting raw chicken, cutting up salad greens to approximate a chopped salad, cutting a hot dog into pieces to put in my baked beans - everything. If you spend time in the kitchen at all, they’re a good thing to have around. I like these ones because they come apart so you can really wash ‘em good. 

5. Cheese slicer

Yes, I KNOW this is a one-use tool and I KNOW you can do it with a knife but I just really like a cheese slicer and my cheese slices are so much more uniform and thinner. Plus it’s very heavy and fancy and feels like it cost way more than $10.

6. Compressed air duster

I used to have one of these when I worked in an office and it sort of never occurred to me that I could just buy one to have at home and then I did and I love it so much. 

[musinvenusian]

When you’re online window shopping and see cute shit for fat femmes but cute asf/fashionable plus size clothing is too expensive

Case and point

Bottoms: 64$

Top: 54$

Bodysuit: 68$

Bodysuit: 125$

Dress: 88$

Dress:168

I wish I had the money for these type of clothing. I feel like I would rock the shit out of it

[fatbabecouncil]

Me too. Me too SO HARD. ;-; I would love cute stuff that wasn’t depressingly expensive.

[youdontneedthatdress]

FYI because I wanted to know: these stunning clothes appear to all be from Rue 107, a small New York-based company. (These prices probably reflect the fact that the clothes are made in small batches in the United States rather than in megafactories overseas.)

[youdontneedthatdress]

So, officially, my year of not buying clothes is OVER. I celebrated by buying a vintage dress at a store in San Francisco for 1/3 of its original price because I pointed out that it had some sun damage (that my friend initially thought was just part of the design). 

I may or may not do, like, a write-up about WHAT I LEARNED this year or whatever, but the biggest thing I learned over this year was that I personally can’t buy fast fashion anymore. It’s gross in a bunch of ways, both human rights-wise and environment-wise. And most of the stuff I buy from those types of stores (leggings, tees, cardigans) - I can now make myself. 

Today I accidentally wore an outfit that is ALL THREE of those things and I made all three! The cardigan and leggings I drafted myself and the tee is a Cashmerette Concord tee. 

[youdontneedthatdress]

If you frequent the same places on the internet that I do, you’ve probably heard about THINX, which are some absorbent period underwear. The company was founded and is run by women. They support girls all over the world and seek to reduce the shame surrounding menstruation. Their mission statement sounds awesome:

They even recently addressed the fact that women are not the only people who get periods and made boyshorts for people who menstruate but don’t identify as women! Okay, great, YAY THINX. You are doing great things and the underwear are even pretty cute, too. 

Here’s the thing, though: I’m fat, okay? But on the small side of fat. I usually wear about an 18 in most brands. Usually I’m at the smaller end of the plus sizes, sometimes I can fit in the biggest size of the straight sizes, and sometimes I can't shop at a store at all. I do have a lot of privilege in this regard relative to those fatter than me.

So it is a little off-putting that I - a smallish, hourglass-ish fat - am wearing the largest size Thinx available, which is a 3X. I don’t care that I’m wearing a 3X, 3X is a fine size (and sizes mean literally nothing, but that’s a topic for another day). I just think that a company who says they want to serve everyone with periods should include, you know, everyone. When I am the fattest person your product fits, you are leaving out a tonnnnn of people. 

Obviously, I wish every company offered every size, but the realities of the marketplace mean that lots of small companies start with a limited range of sizes. That’s fine. But THINX seems to believe that they are a size-inclusive company. They’re not. They seem to want credit for offering plus sizes, when in fact they BARELY offer plus sizes. Do you really want to support everyone who menstruates, THINX? Because you've got a little ways yet to go if so.  

Related: One thing I’m personally trying to do a better job of is spending my dollars with companies that include groups that are often left out, whether that means not buying clothes from companies that don’t offer sizes above an XL, or not buying cosmetics from companies that only offer one “black person” shade of foundation (which means I said goodbye to Tarte recently). This isn’t an option for everyone, for a wide variety of economic and accessibility reasons, and with THINX specifically they’re kind of the only game in town right now, so if you enjoy yours, keep enjoying them! But I would encourage you - especially if you’re a person who can easily find your size at, like, Zara or Madewell or Anthropologie, or if you can easily find a shade of foundation at the drugstore that matches your skin - to stop and think about where you spend your money every once in a while. Those of us who get left out would appreciate your support.

[youdontneedthatdress]

I made a hacked Appleton dress with a neckline that ended up being sort of a cowl because I was just like "uhhh I guess I should cut it...HERE." Since the pattern is for a wrap dress, I just took one of the front pieces and cut it on a fold so that it made a hilariously-too-large v-neck, which I then filled in with a neckline of sorts. I think it's a little too low so I might tack it a little or something, but so far it's okay? It's a flowy knit cotton blend with little fox heads on it. I'm into it.

[youdontneedthatdress]

I made a pilgrimage to Fabric Place Basement in the suburbs of Boston after Jenny of Cashmerette mentioned it on her Instagram and there was a big bin of nice knit remnants for $1.99 a yard which I was powerless to resist. I got these two chunks, plus a bright pink one and a coral heather one that I think I’ll be saving for Cashmerette’s Concord Tee. 

Since I work from home, I like to have comfy things to throw on, but I do like feeling A LITTLE BIT like I’m wearing real clothes, and these cozy throw-on cardigans make a tank top and leggings feel like an outfit. The brown stripy one is a super-soft fine sweater knit, and the purple one is a burnout lightweight cotton. 

These are made of all square pieces and are super quick and easy to make, which is a nice way to feed my “I want a new thing” cravings. I don’t see myself wearing the brown one out of the house since it’s a little short, but the purple one looks cute with a belt and the fabric is lovely and drapey. 

I’m almost to the end of my year of not buying things!! Technically, it ends on April 30. I said back when I started this that I was going to get myself a Jibri jumpsuit as a present but I did buy three jumpsuits when I wasn’t supposed to, so. I’m still thinking about getting this dress, but now I’m kind of like...I could make that dress? I do like supporting small plus designers, though. We’ll see.  

[youdontneedthatdress]

I made pants! This is burdastyle pattern 6789, which includes a pattern for a top as wel as these elastic-waist pants with a mild taper in the leg. As a long-waisted gal, I went ahead and added an inch in length to the waist-to-crotch region, which actually made these almost TOO high (almost). I also added elastic cuffs to the ankles to make them more like a jogger, but I didn't have to make any other adjustments. Making the pants was super easy. I used a lovely flowy cotton from Mood (thank you, Mood!) and managed to squeeeeeze the pants out of 2 yards even though the pattern said I'd need a little more. And they have pockets!

[youdontneedthatdress]

I haven’t been doing a great job of keeping up with this tumblr, but I have been making things and (mostly*) not buying clothes still! I went on a trip to SXSW recently and brought a few me-made things along: the sweater dress and leggings in photo 1 and the caftan/dress in photo 2. The secret of the caftan dress is that it’s just two rectangles sewn together (on my serger) with a space left for arms and head. The fabric is a soft, flowy cotton blend (I think) that I got in Britex Fabrics’ remnants room the last time I was in San Francisco. 

I also finished a short, flannel-lined wool cape (just in time for Spring!!!) but the clasps I got won’t stay clasped, so I have to find a more robust fastener to keep it closed. 

This project is officially done in just over a month! I’ve done pretty okay! I feel like when this is over, I’m going to sort of stick with the habits I’ve picked up while trying not to buy things: giving more thought to the clothing I do buy, and still making lots of things.

*I bought a denim boiler suit so basically all my lapses in 2016 have been jumpsuit-related, unsurprisingly

[youdontneedthatdress]

Accountability post: I'm supposed to not buy any clothes until the end of April, but I've given myself a bit of leeway on this project, shopping-wise, in 2016, mostly because I have found that my shopping impulses - the ones that whisper "buy this now, what if you never find it again, it's only $10, what if you never find anything in your size again, you can fix that annoying thing about this piece" - have all but disappeared from my mind's ear. I went into Primark the other day and I didn't have to fight off any temptations - partially because their selection is a bit shit when it comes to larger sizes, but also because I thought about where that $3 tshirt came from. And whether I really needed it. (I didn't.) I used to order a pile of stuff from the ASOS sale section whether I needed it or not. Now I take a moment to consider whether I will wear that thing. Whether I have something similar. Whether I will still be thinking about it years later (like the pink knit cap that said "LADY TRUCKER" that I did not buy at a rest stop in 2006). Most things, the answer is: you don't need that dress. It really is. But there are always going to be things I can't make exactly the way I want them. Sometimes I just want McDonald's chicken nuggets, okay? So I bought two jumpsuits from ASOS, one of which the fat fashion gals have been touting for ages, so when it was back in stock, I grabbed it (and another slightly weird one that was on sale). They're both great. I do not regret this decision.

[youdontneedthatdress]

I drafted a pattern and made some leggings! I'll never buy them again. I can make the rise on these AS HIGH AS I WANT (which is very high).

[youdontneedthatdress]

When you work from home but also love Sporty Spice Top is Xhilaration, made in Cambodia Pants are City Chic, made in China

[youdontneedthatdress]

I made a dress! It’s the Appleton pattern, from Cashmerette. Wrap dresses are a little bit of a cliche in fat fashion land, but this one looked easy to sew, and I wanted to try my hand at a pattern that was aware of breasts (it comes in three cup sizes!!!) and I found some perfect fabric for it at Winmil Fabrics. 

I ended up cutting it a little wide at the hips (I graded from one size at the bust to two sizes larger at the hips) in the interest of erring on the side of too big rather than too small, but it’s fine and is just a bit flowy. I also lowered the waist tie because I correctly assumed I’d find the hole as marked too high #longtorsoproblems

This is the first thing I’ve made with a pattern I didn’t just sort of ~make up~ in a while, and it was super easy! Mostly, I think, because I didn’t need to worry about a full bust adjustment, so it was just cutting as instructed and putting together. 

I also just sort of crossed my fingers on the length and it ended up being exactly where I wanted it (for reference, I’m 5′7″). Also what appears to be pattern-matching on the shoulders, where they meet the sleeves? That was just good luck on my part. The top fits pretty much perfectly, which is fully a result of me selecting the correct size from the size chart and not due to any adjustments I made, because this pattern knows what’s up. Although I love wrap dresses and tops, they always seem to gap and require either a pin or a camisole, both of which ruin the whole line - this one does not! Mad props to Cashmerette. 

[youdontneedthatdress]

This skirt (which isn’t hemmed yet) turned out pretty well except for one tiiiiiiny problem which is that I was careless whilst serging and caught some of the fabric up, causing a tragic hole that was located RIGHT in the front of the skirt. After crying and calling myself an asshole for 5 minutes, I bucked up (with the help of my beau) and covered the offending hole with some makeshift appliqué-type deals made from the bits of extra fabric I had around. Most people probably won’t notice them and those who do will assume they were a choice. So I guess sewing is like being onstage. As long as you don’t let the audience know you fucked up, THEY WILL NOT KNOW. Of course, I’ve now just let you know I fucked up.

[youdontneedthatdress]

I broke my fast on my birthday and bought myself a lovely coat online that ended up not fitting right at all, so I sent it right back when I got it on Thursday. Yesterday, I stopped into Marshall's and found this coat which I might have avoided - it's black, which zzzzzzzzz - except IT HAS A SITH LORD HOOD. And it was $60. And it's Calvin Klein. So I feel okay about this purchase. My old wool coat is ready for retirement. Also I forgot to open the pockets before taking these photos.

[youdontneedthatdress]

I’ve been wanting a blanket-y coat/shawl thing for a while, so when I was in NYC over Christmas, I picked up a yard of this pretty boiled wool and made a really simple one. I trimmed the collar and front in bias tape but left the sleeves and hem unfinished (so far). No fasteners, just a belt. The thing that took the longest time was getting up the courage to actually cut into the fabric!!

I also made the velour houndstooth leggings I’m wearing in this pic because my beau got me a serger for my birthday. SERGERS FOREVERRRRR

[youdontneedthatdress]

I'm traveling today and wearing a fully Dorothy Perkins ensemble for my work holiday party. Top made in Vietnam, dress made in Romania, leggings made in Bangladesh. All from DP.

[betterthankanyebitch]

[sparklybongwater]

gpoy