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A-Lister: SWAP 2020

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So, I did my year’s review, went through all the blog posts of 2019…and finally remembered that it’s SWAP time. Sheesh.
Here are this year’s rules:

Your Perfect Vision – SWAP 2020
11 pieces, in two groups:

    • 9 or 10 that may coordinate (be worn together) to form outfits
    • 1 or 2 that MUST coordinate (be able to be worn with all of the others)  (1 if you make 10 other pieces, 2 if you make 9)
    • no required garments
    • no required colors
    • You may include one garment that is knitted, crocheted, or handwoven

SWAP sewing will begin December 26th, and all garments must be finished by April 30th, 2010. Pattern fitting and cutting may be done whenever you’re ready.

You must choose a theme for your collection to act as a focal point –  something that inspires you and will help give your SWAP wardrobe a cohesive “feel”; it could be a verbal phrase, a photo, a location, an artifact, or even an accessory (like a scarf). You must post what you have chosen as your theme.

You must include, as part of making one (or more) garments, a technique that both stretches your skill set and is something you have been wanting to learn. For example: someone who is a beginner might choose zippers, someone who is further along on their sewing journey might choose Hong Kong seam finishing or welt pockets, someone who loves embellishment might try making an Alabama Chanin style reverse applique garment, etc….

At first, I had no inspiration, but pondered what I need for my wardrobe. I’ve made several colour-themed collections in the last few years [for SWAP and otherwise] and colour generally floats my boat- but I really NEED some monochrome items to fill in a few gaps. The white shirts I made for my wife  [blog post here] have made me crave one for myself.
We have to challenge ourselves though…and I’ve made loads of shirts in the last few years.  How to make it  a challenge?  What about embellishment?  But I need PLAIN shirts.  Hmmm. How can I make a couple of skirts/trousers and then NINE shirts?  More hmm-ing.  A-ha!  I have two wonderfully inspiring books which I have thumbed through many times, but never actually utilised- ‘Creating Couture Embellishment’, and ‘The Art of Manipulating Fabric’.  My challenge will be to USE them!
I’d just about given up on the idea when it hit me- I plan to dress as ‘Gentleman Jack’ for World Book Day this year, so what better inspiration then the wonderful Anne Lister with her shirts and waistcoats?

Image result for fabric embellishment book

 

 

 

 

 

 
Interesting sleeves, a more-than-usually tailored look, and a restrained colour palette.  So I will now present my ‘A-Lister’ collection for 2020.  Sorted.

Light boning, lace up back- kinda hawt dontcha think?
Some couture images
I like these RTW tops with a knit body and fancy sleeves
So of course, straight to t’internet to order the 2 Burda patterns, and some posh linen for the skirt.

So- A gored/panelled linen skirt, black trousers [should I get a pattern that finally fits- I have many on the sidelines to try] and a boned, fitted waistcoat

Everything else will be predominantly black or white shirts and tops, with sleeve detail and monochrome embellishments of various types.

The McCall’s and Vogue shirt patterns have been used multiple times, although I will need to do an FBA on the Donna Karan one as I’ve expanded since I last made it!

I used to have several waistcoat patterns but they long since vanished, so this is a good idea as I often need them for costuming purposes anyway.

And there we have it.  An A-Lister look, if ever I saw one.  What do you think?  Going to try SWAP this year?

23 thoughts on “A-Lister: SWAP 2020”

  1. Wow, your SWAP list is mind boggling and I admire you for setting out on this adventure – I don’t have the staying power or drive to do the challenge. I do hope you blog about them all along the way as I love to read your posts, which inspire me and make me giggle. Keep up the good work!

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  2. Thar’s a very interesting plan. I like the riding skirt and the vests. I think this is something you can pull off and look great. The monochrome black white scheme will keep looking modern with influences from the past which what I think you want – instead of looking like costumes.

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    1. Nothing wrong with costumes though, especially for this woman. She can enjoy the wearing as much as the making for once. Plus there should be at least one day where some pieces come together for a real costume, right?

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  4. I found the SWAP rules yesterday or earlier today – and wondered about following it as it ties into what I’m trying to do, rebuild a wardrobe to work. I’m dithering as I don’t want to churn through nine or ten makes by April 30 as I tend to make slower than that.

    Your list looks amazing.

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    1. I’m keeping the garment choices and fabrics simple, and trying to make the details the key…very different to my usual style of lots of colours and art teacher shapes!

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    2. You can have your own personal swap, without a deadline. If you don’t finish on time there’s no harm, as you still have a better wardrobe for work..

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  5. Wowser! Loving monochrome, gorgeous sleeves and core items of trousers and beautiful riding skirt. Just love the swoosh of a riding skirt. Trousers a nightmare, so looking forward to seeing how you hit the mark (as you will). 2020 bring it on – plenty of inspirational posts please Xxx

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  6. Wow, that’d be sensational indeed, and I have no doubt you’d pull it off brilliantly. But so let’s examine something here.. You love color and extravagant shapes, to make and to wear. Of course that means you need a few plain bit players to show them off. And you need one costume, and want one white shirt, which could easily be an overlap. I am probably projecting here, but I am thinking you could be happy with a lot less than 11 austere b&w garments for your purposes. That is a whole lot of something that is not fundamentally your style. Fun occasionally, for sure, but a whole wardrobe of stuff you never spontaneously wear? With a third of the year’s sewing marathon devoted to what will probably always feel a bit like costume to you? What would you think for instance if Catherine Daze planned a whole wardrobe of what you usually wear 😳? You see why I worry about the scale of the effort.. There is a drawback to having a definite personal style 😏

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    1. several simple black and/or white tops are very much needed…but it won’t ALL be monochrome- I need fabrics with texture/body for some of my plans, [including the waistcoats] which can have plenty of colour, and there’s that wonderful Japanese tattoo print which has always been intended for sleeves…I definitely won’t be making unwearable stuff, it’s not my thing!Wait til I get the fabrics sorted out – there’s a rather lovely lilac/gold striped silk I’m dying to use up…

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      2. planning to start cutting out tomorrow. Most of the garments in the set are going to be pretty straightforward to sew, which is why I can concentrate on those embellishments and variations. I’ll still be sewing my coloured stuff [got some fabulous green/teal goodies over the hols] but I have really been noticing the need for some plaine coordinating blacks and whites

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  7. Interested in following you doing this. Do you know if you have to have a blog to do SWAP or can you do it just on Instagram

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    1. Not everyone blogs, but they ask thatyou open a thread on the SWAP page on the Guild so people can follow that if they don’t do social media. You can add links or pics if you want- which often draws people to your site elsewhere I find.

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  8. My stash is huge and my wardrobe is full, so I am concentrating on a couple of things for the whole year; a work ready jacket and a new Dalek bowler hat (although that jacket could turn into two if it works out). I love your inspiration photos, and am always up for whatever you are throwing down.

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    1. Well, remember that ‘paper wasp’ dress I posted about a while back? Thinking of picking up on that challenge, so I’ve ordered some paper organdie…let’s see what transpires!

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