Body/Weight Angst
I gained a few pounds of "happy married weight" in the first couple years of our marriage, but in the past year or so I've managed to gain 10-15 pounds. I know I'm still a healthy weight for my height and I don't think I'm fat, but it's a pretty significant amount on a small frame like mine. Significant enough that my modern clothes don't fit like they used to (I don't think I've worn real pants in like two years). The real problem, though, is that my painstakingly hand sewn historical clothes don't fit like they used to, or don't fit AT ALL. I tried on all of my 18th century gowns last night, including the gown I was planning to wear to the tea in three weeks, and NONE of them fit. Part of this is due to the fact that I was trying them over my new stays, which don't cinch me in as much as my old stays. I'm happy that the stays are so comfortable but it totally sucks that none of my clothes fit! I was trying so hard not to push myself to make new clothes for every event but to wear existing clothes with new accessories. Well there goes that plan. I'll have to alter all of my 18th century gowns if I want them to fit, which of course is so boring. I'd rather be making a new gown but it's not the smartest choice when I'm trying to help my messed up wrist and when I can't afford to be buying more fabric... Piecing, altering, and remaking is SO period, though, so I'm trying to make myself feel better by telling myself that it will make my historical clothes even more authentic. Heck, What Clothes Reveal has an entire chapter on alterations! But... boring. And disheartening. I know I'm still a healthy weight for my height, but it is so discouraging to try on a beautiful gown you love and not have it fit...
So I guess instead of having a fabulous new hat for the tea, I'll be making the sleeves and bodice of my white silk gown bigger... *grump*