sleeveless wonders, adaptive fashion & new collection tests

may 2019


hello dearies!

every so often, i am asked why my frocks are all made as a sleeveless design. there are several reasons actually but probably the main reason stems from a struggle i've encountered most of my adult life. i have long arms and very broad shoulders! if you too, have this issue, you'll understand that to find clothes that fit properly, one must often size-up (sometimes, two sizes) just to accommodate arm length and shoulder width. Even then, clothes may still not "look" right, pulling in appearance and feeling odd or constricting when moving within them.

on the other hand, offering a sleeveless dress opens up a world of versatility to the wearer. if the weather is warm and you want to feel cool and breezy, wear it as is. by the way, my dresses also make ideal swimwear cover ups. you can discreetly tuck a small wallet and your mobile phone within the generous pockets and quickly zip it on and off poolside. if your local climate is on the cool side, layer up with a sleeve shapewear option like sleevey-wonders or over short or long sleeved t-shirts.

the options don't stop there, the interior french seam finishing and larger front sport zippers make these frocks ideal as fashionable adaptive clothing for people with clothing sensitivity and mobility restrictions. the dresses are also a brilliant sustainable wardrobe option as they can be worn before, during and after pregnancy. (that same front sport zipper makes it ideal for nursing mothers, too.) 

check out how model johanna shines in my dress and flag pants, photographed back while she was in her second trimester. stylish, non? it also shows how complimentary french seamed dresses are to curvy bodies.

i recently completed two new collection test designs, an easy wear swingy top and breezy shorts, with mixed results. the top is my second test and nearly perfect. it's feminine and flowing like my dresses, offering a flattering bateau neckline, deep armholes and lovely gathers around the top and bottom. it pairs just beautifully with my flag pants as well as jeans, shorts or skirts from your own wardrobe. my second test top incorporates charming linen napkins i'd never got round to using, purchased from a high end shop 20 years back. a cartoon western-theme, three "dodge" and one "trigger" was all that the shop had left. now, after my second test top, just a lone dodge remains...

the still to-be-named collection is yet another sustainable way for me to use larger remnants of fabrics while allowing more options for you to add darling dearie slow-fashion garments to your wardrobe. of course, as you have come to expect, everything is french seamed and the neck and armholes are hand finished. the tops, like my flag pants, are planned to be one size due to their generous styling, meaning they will fit most. 

the shorts turned out sassy and fun, but unfortunately a little too breezy and far too revealing.  i had planned to name them "pennant" shorts (as they were a shorter version of my beloved flag pants) but it was quite apparent that "cheeky" would have been the more appropriate name.

sadly, this deemed the design a dud and it was proof that some times ideas are better in theory than in reality.  aren't you glad i tested them for you dearies?

with summer vacation on the horizon, don't forget to bestow a medal to your favorite teacher for their stellar school-year service with a selection from my beautiful, one-of-a-kind regalia collection.

present it to them in person or have me send it directly to the school for a truly unexpected yet delightful mailbox discovery!

until my next missive...

xoxo,

darling