I spent the day sewing my Thanksgiving dress. It is made with a rather lovely fabric that I have had my eye on for over a year. The fabric, which has black cutouts in a floral motif pasted on a white net background, is one that I recently acquired. Luckily, I was not too scared about cutting it so my Thanksgiving dress is coming to life. I am excited to show off my creation once it is done.

Recently, I have come to a point where I have to acknowledge that I have a fashion problem. The thing is I hate shopping…I truly hate shopping for clothes or shoes or anything that has to go be sized and goes on my body. It gives me anxiety.

When I got into sewing last year, I made a deal with myself that I would not shop for clothes. I promised myself that I would spend time making my own clothes instead. I made the deal as a sort of commitment to sustainability. What I have found though is that it has become an excuse to hoard fabric and avoiding shopping for clothes.

So I have to rethink this strategy. I have to find a way to shop for clothes and make my clothes at the same time. I really have to go back to the drawing board and plan my closet. With my experienced eye, I know that I am lacking both basics and stand-out pieces. Since my clothes are not well edited, I constantly find myself feeling insecure about the way I look. This is especially true when I have special events to attend.

I am taking the first step by making this Thanksgiving dress. I made a lovely dress last year that my darling friend, Bi, cut out for me and then I sewed it. This year, I have used a McCall’s pattern from my stash. Bi is still helping me install a zipper since I am scared to do it myself.

Beyond Thanksgiving, I have to sit down and plan my wardrobe. I am dreaming of basics from H&M and then dressier pieces that I can make myself. I am excited to see the evolution of my closet.

Is anyone else looking forward to curating their clothes?