Women's Clothing and Weight Fluctuation Patterns

One of the major problems I have while dieting is feeling good about how I look while trying to make myself look better.

Now that the boys and I have finally settled somewhere, I've been able to work on my weight issues, brought on by the anti-depressants the Doctor had me on a couple of years ago. Since I've also started menopause this extra weight has really gotten me down, I mistakenly thought that once menopause started I wouldn't have the weight fluctuations I've had all of my adult life. I couldn't find clothing at any of the stores that were somewhat fashionable (one size does not fit all), but adjusted to the various sizes my seemingly out of control body has been going through.

I don't want to have to buy a completely new wardrobe every couple of months while I'm dieting and exercising to get back in shape. I tried to remember various pieces of clothing I've seen through the years, and find patterns for them on the net, so that I could have a wardrobe that will look good as my body goes through this stage. I'm putting up this hub so that other women in my predicament can have a resource for these beautiful, yet highly useful, pieces without having to spend all the hours I did trying to find these "out of date" retro clothes.

Another big plus with these clothes is that they are ethnic in nature so they are appropriate for any age. We deserve to look good no matter what our age, or size, happens to be at the moment.

There's always the over sized scarf, a sarong, or pareo, and the infinite ways you can tie them into various pieces of clothing, but I remembered back in the 1970's, when I was a kid peasant clothing was all the rage and that's what seems to be the "latest fashion" again (thank the Gods). I wish I had thought of these while going through my pregnancies, I would have felt less frumpy. You can easily "update" these pieces by using the latest "hot" colors in your choice of fabrics. Since these pieces are very simple in structure almost anyone can make them for themselves. The patterns that I've found scattered around on the internet are:

sarong/pareo http://www.alteredcloth.com/blog/2007/05/how-to-make-a-sarong.php

wrap pants http://community.livejournal.com/craftgrrl/10571744.html?style=mine, If you'd rather not have the bottom of the legs open and flapping around you can put garters of some type around your ankles giving these pants more of a blousey harem look.

wrap skirts http://fitzpatterns.myshopify.com/products/2211-dana-a-line-wrap-skirt-sewing-pattern,

peasant blouses (I like the off the shoulder ones as they look less childish, being a short person this is of high importance to me) http://wkdesigner.wordpress.com/2007/09/13/off-shoulder-ruffled-blouse/

hooded cape http://home.clara.net/arianrhod/Aldebaran/DoItYourself/Cloak02.html

and the Infinate/Infinity dress also known as the Marilyn Convertible Dress after Marilyn Monroe now this is a dress they should have used on Star Trek for dinner dresses and evening dresses, they give you a sense of large variety in just one dress imagine having a few of them. http://diyfashion.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=diyfashion&cdn=style&tm=14&gps=504_329_1072_524&f=22&su=p284.9.336.ip_p504.3.336.ip_&tt=3&bt=1&bts=0&zu=http%3A//rowena.typepad.com/rostitchery/infinity-dress.html. This dress looks great on any size woman. My Mom had something similar to the Infinity dress that she bought in Hawaii while on vacation, I had variations of the other pieces that I've listed here.

I've also thought you could change the skirt pattern for the Marilyn dress, if you don't like the circle skirt, or you could make it with out the skirt altogether for a multi purpose top.

The wrap pants could be made any length you like for shorts and capris too.