Me Made May 2023
2023-May-31, Wednesday 12:15 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
chebeAs we stand by the window, watching things collapse, I turn to MeMadeMay and say, "You met me at a very strange time in my life."
I first took part in MeMadeMay back in 2021. I needed to force myself to remember what outside clothes were. I skipped out on 2022, due to just not being able to get my head into that space. But this year I was keen to get back on the bandwagon.
I even had a plan. With the world deciding to pretend some things didn't exist anymore, I was needing to go to the office more and more. I hadn't needed office clothes in four years, and what wear and tear didn't take away, fit issues did. So I wanted to make more clothing suitable for the office, but also suitable for brunches, garden parties, and funerals. You know, smart clothes. So I steered my intentions in that direction, selected the patterns, gathered the fabrics and notions, and got stuck in. (This may explain why this blog has been so weighted towards sewing projects for a while now.) The world wanted to get moving again, and I needed to be able to participate.
I made the pledge over on mastodon - "I, chebe, pledge to wear items I have made, modified, or repaired, each day throughout May 2023." It was all going so well.
Until. Work informed us they would be closing the physical office. My need for office-suitable clothing evaporated. This was followed by more lay-offs. I escaped, but work-friends weren't so lucky. May became a month of hard feelings, commiserating, leaving drinks, hang-overs, and capitalistic (as distinct from existential) dread. This has impacted the clothes I chose to wear each and every day. I apologise for not providing a more exciting spread, but I was wallowing. (I'm surprised I managed as well as I did.)
Monday, 1st.
A Monday, but a Bank Holiday Monday, so new for this year purple Mel joggers and a t-shirt.
Tuesday, 2nd.
A work day! Jeans, tshirt, and New Look 6036 waistcoat.
Wednesday, 3rd.
Tartan trousers, tshirt, and light grey Skipper zip-hoodie.
Thursday, 4th.
Jeans, strappy top, new for this year Stokx Hacker Top hoodie.
Friday, 5th.
Today was tartan trousers, and a tshirt that I repaired. The left shoulder and neckline came out of the wash looking like they'd lost a fight with a cheese grater, so I patched it up as best I could. The only photo is over on mastodon.
Saturday, 6th.
This was the day I finally got my second COVID booster shot, so a nice and easy jeans, t-shirt, and new for this year dark grey Rudy zip-hoodie.
Sunday, 7th.
Needing to take it easy we see a return of the mended t-shirt, and a loose pair of trousers I had to replace the waistband on after the original elastic disintegrated.
Monday, 8th.
Not just a work day, but a day in the actual office. Here I'm sporting some combats, a t-shirt, Audrey denim jacket.
Tuesday, 9th.
A taking it easy approach, with jeans and new for this year, long-sleeved Teen Spirit t-shirt. (I fixed the holes in the back by making features out of them, with rivets!)
Wednesday, 10th.
Scene missing.
Thursday, 11th.
Another office day, and leaving drinks. New for this year purple Margo skirt, stripy t-shrit, black Paranoid flannel shirt (not yet blogged), and a faux-leather jacket.
Friday, 12th.
Delicate form, new for this year dark grey Mel joggers, t-shirt, and cropped hoodie.
Saturday, 13th.
Those purple Mel joggers and t-shirt.
Sunday, 14th.
And repeat, purple Mel joggers and t-shirt.
Monday, 15th.
Temperatures heating up. Long shorts, tank top, and black Natalie shirt, which while too small now still covers the shoulders well enough for zoom calls.
Tuesday, 16th.
Long shorts, and new for this year grey Julia tank top. (I shortened the straps by ~2" (front and back). Which is a little snug.)
Wednesday, 17th.
Long shorts with long-sleeve Teen Spirit t-shirt.
Thursday, 18th.
Another office day, and team dinner. I actually wore the shirt and waistcoat closed, but I needed to show you the layers. Me-mended bra (patched the underwire casings closed), new for this year me-made Butterick 6031 camisole, dotty short-sleeved shirt, and New Look 6036 waistcoat, with cropped jeans.
Friday, 19th.
New for this year short-sleeved Teen Spirit t-shirt with grey Mel joggers
Saturday, 20th.
And repeat, short-sleeved Teen Spirit t-shirt with grey Mel joggers
Sunday, 21st.
Short-sleeved Teen Spirit t-shirt with purple Mel joggers.
Monday, 22nd.
Temperatures again proving tricky for my layers-based wardrobe. Today was me-mended that loose pair of trousers I had to replace the waistband on, a vest top, and loose shirt.
Tuesday, 23rd.
Loose mended trousers again, grey Julia tank top, and cropped hoodie.
Wednesday, 24th.
Jeans and new for this year black short-sleeved Aberdeen t-shirt.
Thursday, 25th.
New for this year black Everlong trousers, and a t-shirt.
Friday, 26th.
New for this year black Mailbu dress, t-shirt, and leggings.
Saturday, 27th.
Grey Mel joggers, and t-shirt.
Sunday, 28th.
And repeat, grey Mel joggers, and t-shirt.
Monday, 29th.
Black Everlong trousers, and a t-shirt.
Tuesday, 30th.
Jeans, t-shirt-dress, light grey Skipper zip-hoodie.
Wednesday, 31st.
New for this year, but not yet blogged, linen Megan Nielsen's Tania culottes, and a t-shirt.
Note; Throughout the month I also wore some of the underwear I've made over the years, and tended to end up in a pair of joggers and/or hoodie most evenings, even if I didn't start out that way. The as yet unblogged black Paranoid flannel shirt was also in my bag whenever I left the house.
Conclusions? I think I have the joggers situation sorted. I also have sufficient hoodies / jumpers for this time of year. This time of year has better weather than most of the year here. I can't get by with layering pieces, I need foundational pieces. If I really want to fill out a Me-Made wardrobe I need to make t-shirts, trousers, and jeans. But not giving up on the smart tops and shirts kick either. Maybe even a suit?
I first took part in MeMadeMay back in 2021. I needed to force myself to remember what outside clothes were. I skipped out on 2022, due to just not being able to get my head into that space. But this year I was keen to get back on the bandwagon.
I even had a plan. With the world deciding to pretend some things didn't exist anymore, I was needing to go to the office more and more. I hadn't needed office clothes in four years, and what wear and tear didn't take away, fit issues did. So I wanted to make more clothing suitable for the office, but also suitable for brunches, garden parties, and funerals. You know, smart clothes. So I steered my intentions in that direction, selected the patterns, gathered the fabrics and notions, and got stuck in. (This may explain why this blog has been so weighted towards sewing projects for a while now.) The world wanted to get moving again, and I needed to be able to participate.
I made the pledge over on mastodon - "I, chebe, pledge to wear items I have made, modified, or repaired, each day throughout May 2023." It was all going so well.
Until. Work informed us they would be closing the physical office. My need for office-suitable clothing evaporated. This was followed by more lay-offs. I escaped, but work-friends weren't so lucky. May became a month of hard feelings, commiserating, leaving drinks, hang-overs, and capitalistic (as distinct from existential) dread. This has impacted the clothes I chose to wear each and every day. I apologise for not providing a more exciting spread, but I was wallowing. (I'm surprised I managed as well as I did.)
Photos and collage by chebe
Monday, 1st.
A Monday, but a Bank Holiday Monday, so new for this year purple Mel joggers and a t-shirt.
Tuesday, 2nd.
A work day! Jeans, tshirt, and New Look 6036 waistcoat.
Wednesday, 3rd.
Tartan trousers, tshirt, and light grey Skipper zip-hoodie.
Thursday, 4th.
Jeans, strappy top, new for this year Stokx Hacker Top hoodie.
Friday, 5th.
Today was tartan trousers, and a tshirt that I repaired. The left shoulder and neckline came out of the wash looking like they'd lost a fight with a cheese grater, so I patched it up as best I could. The only photo is over on mastodon.
Saturday, 6th.
This was the day I finally got my second COVID booster shot, so a nice and easy jeans, t-shirt, and new for this year dark grey Rudy zip-hoodie.
Sunday, 7th.
Needing to take it easy we see a return of the mended t-shirt, and a loose pair of trousers I had to replace the waistband on after the original elastic disintegrated.
Photos and collage by chebe
Monday, 8th.
Not just a work day, but a day in the actual office. Here I'm sporting some combats, a t-shirt, Audrey denim jacket.
Tuesday, 9th.
A taking it easy approach, with jeans and new for this year, long-sleeved Teen Spirit t-shirt. (I fixed the holes in the back by making features out of them, with rivets!)
Wednesday, 10th.
Scene missing.
Thursday, 11th.
Another office day, and leaving drinks. New for this year purple Margo skirt, stripy t-shrit, black Paranoid flannel shirt (not yet blogged), and a faux-leather jacket.
Friday, 12th.
Delicate form, new for this year dark grey Mel joggers, t-shirt, and cropped hoodie.
Saturday, 13th.
Those purple Mel joggers and t-shirt.
Sunday, 14th.
And repeat, purple Mel joggers and t-shirt.
Photos and collage by chebe
Monday, 15th.
Temperatures heating up. Long shorts, tank top, and black Natalie shirt, which while too small now still covers the shoulders well enough for zoom calls.
Tuesday, 16th.
Long shorts, and new for this year grey Julia tank top. (I shortened the straps by ~2" (front and back). Which is a little snug.)
Wednesday, 17th.
Long shorts with long-sleeve Teen Spirit t-shirt.
Thursday, 18th.
Another office day, and team dinner. I actually wore the shirt and waistcoat closed, but I needed to show you the layers. Me-mended bra (patched the underwire casings closed), new for this year me-made Butterick 6031 camisole, dotty short-sleeved shirt, and New Look 6036 waistcoat, with cropped jeans.
Friday, 19th.
New for this year short-sleeved Teen Spirit t-shirt with grey Mel joggers
Saturday, 20th.
And repeat, short-sleeved Teen Spirit t-shirt with grey Mel joggers
Sunday, 21st.
Short-sleeved Teen Spirit t-shirt with purple Mel joggers.
Photos and collage by chebe
Monday, 22nd.
Temperatures again proving tricky for my layers-based wardrobe. Today was me-mended that loose pair of trousers I had to replace the waistband on, a vest top, and loose shirt.
Tuesday, 23rd.
Loose mended trousers again, grey Julia tank top, and cropped hoodie.
Wednesday, 24th.
Jeans and new for this year black short-sleeved Aberdeen t-shirt.
Thursday, 25th.
New for this year black Everlong trousers, and a t-shirt.
Friday, 26th.
New for this year black Mailbu dress, t-shirt, and leggings.
Saturday, 27th.
Grey Mel joggers, and t-shirt.
Sunday, 28th.
And repeat, grey Mel joggers, and t-shirt.
Photos and collage by chebe
Monday, 29th.
Black Everlong trousers, and a t-shirt.
Tuesday, 30th.
Jeans, t-shirt-dress, light grey Skipper zip-hoodie.
Wednesday, 31st.
New for this year, but not yet blogged, linen Megan Nielsen's Tania culottes, and a t-shirt.
Note; Throughout the month I also wore some of the underwear I've made over the years, and tended to end up in a pair of joggers and/or hoodie most evenings, even if I didn't start out that way. The as yet unblogged black Paranoid flannel shirt was also in my bag whenever I left the house.
Conclusions? I think I have the joggers situation sorted. I also have sufficient hoodies / jumpers for this time of year. This time of year has better weather than most of the year here. I can't get by with layering pieces, I need foundational pieces. If I really want to fill out a Me-Made wardrobe I need to make t-shirts, trousers, and jeans. But not giving up on the smart tops and shirts kick either. Maybe even a suit?
