Sew: Week 5 & Wrap Up Of Me Made May 2017 #MMMAY17

Me Made May has flown by! Since this is the last post in the series, I am going to skip the usual intro because you’ve seen it four times already! I love that this year I started and began on a 5 day week with 7 day ones in between, it’s just so neat. I may be skipping the intro but I have my thoughts on month at the end instead. Let’s wrap this up….

#MMMay17 Day 27

Weather: Low of 12C High of 21C – Showers developing🌦

Wearing Me Made:

#MMMay17 Day 28

Weather: Low of 10C High of 16C – Showers 🌦

Wearing Me Made:

#MMMay17 Day 29

Weather: Low of 9C High of 17C – Overcast and showers 🌧

Wearing Me Made:

#MMMay17 Day 30

Weather: Low of 11C High of 16C – Shower or two 🌧

Wearing Me Made:

#MMMay17 Day 31

Weather: Low of 4C High of 16C – Mostly sunny 🌤

Wearing Me Made:

Changing up my bags and using totes for running errands and shopping days has been great! It can add some umph to an outfit and it justifies my tote obsession. I like that they are big enough to hold a few purchases and aren’t as heavy as my workhorse bag, the Betty Bowler. My Vovo tote saw loads of use. People thought I was mad when I wanted to make it but it really is a fun and quirky. I have so many tote ideas now!

It wasn’t all about the me mades though. I wear the crap out of my bangles from Retro Respection! They really are my go to for everything and they are just that few mm bigger, so my fatter hands fit perfectly. I have them in all the colours (black, red, yellow and green) and that seems to go with everything. Same goes for my belts from Kitty Deluxe. I love that they come in a plus size, so they aren’t wiggling up all the time and they are great quality. I have black and red and I am considering a few more but there are so many choices, I can’t decide! Highly recommend both sellers, they both Australian sellers that have amazing vintage/retro treasures and are total sweeties to deal with!!

As always, MMM highlights what I am missing from my wardrobe. I think I need to make another black half circle skirt, maybe one that’s a bit longer? I have an applique project in mind that will need a black skirt as the base, so I think I should make a plain one while I’m at it. It would be nice to have two length options. My original one is a bit faded and it might have a swim in some black dye with some other items. I am also thinking I need a couple of longer, looser tops and maybe I will finally get around to making some jeans. The desire for jeans is high but motivation is low, so we will see.

Heat transfer vinyl opens a whole host of options and it’s a tool I think I could make more use of. It’s really amazing that you can make something so professional at home! I whipped up a feminist Barbie tank just in time for my last May outfit and I made a Ouija board tee yesterday. Mr Ask is kinda in love with the silhouette and has some projects he wants to play with. I might have to sneak my own stuff into the queue.

I always try to vary my outfits during May because it’s more fun for me and for those of you who follow along. I mean that’s normal for me (I once had a co worker comment that it had been 43 workdays and I hadn’t worn the same thing once, she was counting!).  It’s a good exploration of what I’ve made and what there really is to wear. Each year seems to have its own flavour and this year there has been more black than ever, as I embrace more of a rockabilly vibe. I think it’s partly a change in taste and my increased desire to be comfortable. My body shape and tights do not agree. Regular sizes are too small and roll down and plus sizes fall off! I am pretty comfortable in stockings and suspenders but I just can’t be bothered on the daily. Leggings (disguised as opaque tights) for life!

Feeling more body positive is a good off shoot of the photo diary element of MMM. I have been wearing more slim fitting skirts that show my stomach fold and I just don’t mind anymore! I’m fat, I have a stomach but my outfit is killer and I am comfortable and that should be enough for anyone. After years of blogging, I’m far less self-conscious about photos (even though I have a chronic case of resting bitch face) but the everyday photos for May are so energizing! Mum takes most of my pics and when I look at them, I am often surprised at how good I actually look. I’m caring less about what I see as my faults and focusing more on the whole and that has to be a good thing.

My friend Kara who writes over at The Dressed Aesthetic wrote elegantly about dressing to suit herself and the nature of compliments this month. It really got me thinking about my own motivations when I get ready each morning. I spend most of my days at a laptop either at home or at my Mums. Very few people see me while I run errands and those who do, will likely pass without a thought about me at all.  But I choose to get up put on my wings and my lipstick, coordinate an outfit and add a little flair with some accessories. It’s all part of my larger personal care plan. When I slob around and don’t bother much, I start to get down about how look. I feel fat and frumpy and old. When I put in some effort, looking in the mirror is affirmation of who I am on the inside, who I am as a maker of wearable stuff and reminder that I am worth the effort.

I love my me made wardrobe and it has been so fun to share it with you. Me Made May may be over for another year but I will try and post outfits of the day here and there for fun. If you’d like to review all 31 outfits from this month and find links to how I made them, I’ll put a list below. Thank you for joining me!

• Week One
• Week Two
• Week Three
• Week Four