Before you read: This has become long and wordy, and I apologise for the lack of photos. I promise to post pics as I work my way down the list.

 I’ve been clearing out my clothes and chucking out all my fashion faux pas…which has left lots of space in my drawers for new things! And as I’ve been discovering lots of lovely independent pattern makers lately I thought I’d take the opportunity to
a) plan my winter wardrobe properly
b) get sewing and make some one of a kind items in gorgeous fabrics and colours.

For wardrobe planning, you could do a lot worse than read The Vivienne Files. I picked navy for the first neutral rather than black and worked from her Navy & Grey Project 333 post. I added in teal/purple/cream. Grey slowly made way to chocolate, although there is some charcoal in there.

Looking at what I already own shows I have very few autumn/ winter weight shirts, and no knitwear to speak of.

Outerwear is lacking too: so a new trench and a hooded casual showerproof.

My wardrobe needs to be practical, mostly casual (but not as slobby as it’s tended towards recently!), with smart potential for lunch out or shopping.
I need practical Sunday dog walk/pub lunch wear, and everyday at work smart shop wear (no uniform)

4 navy core items:

Navy Boden trousers I already own:

Navy velvet jacket from White Stuff I already own

I’ll make a straight navy velveteen skirt from a TNT Vogue pattern

And a navy spot jersey wrap dress ( Style Arc Kate Dress)

4 more core items this time in grey/brown

Trousers: I own some charcoal tweedy |Boden again

Another straight skirt: chocolate corduroy, yoke and pockets (Truro Fabrics 1012362)

A jacket: Sewaholic’s Cordoba in a charcoal tweedy mix (Croft Mill Blenheim)

And  make a chocolate dress from Susan Khalje’s Craftsy Course “The Couture Dress” (Stone Fabrics 1847,1842 or 1797- or Truro Fabrics 1012589 – I need to see swatches)

Now a bridge 4 items. These must go with both navy and the grey, but not necessarily with everything

Slouchy cardy: Ravelry’s Manu in treacle (a purply brown) Rowan

A plaid skirt in grey/blues/navy (Stone 2645)

StyleArc’s Julia jacket in a crepe print

Jersey print asymmetric top (Style Arc Elizabeth)

4 tops

My ivory silk shirt from Eddie Bauer

Damson Merino Henley tee from Boden

Long sleeved tee in sea foam/aqua (slinky jersey Stone Fabrics 3912)
Long sleeved t in grey marl

4 in my damson/mulberry

A trench coat in a purple/mulberry: Sewaholic’s Robson (Stone Fabric 3218)

StyleArc’s Shelly top in mulberry

Damson short sleeve cardy (Knitty Tappan Zee)

4 more in seafoam/aqua/teal

Style Arcs Coco jacket in Aqua Linton Tweed

Bright print skirt, button front, flippy (Stone Fabrics 3839)

V neck sweater

Fairisle sweater in teal/purple/cream

Some essentials
Dark bootcut jeans
Thin silver grey cardi,
Chunky cable sweater in cream
Hooded waterproof (Sewaholic Minaru) in grey or teal with bright lining (Liberty Tana lawn from Stone Fabrics 3881)
Print navy/cream blouse
Chocolate cargo pants
Print tshirt
Grey bootcut trousers
Stretch lace top in teal (Stone Fabrics 3243) or grey (Stone Fabrics 3291)
Velvet skirt in Stone Fabrics 2408)
Stripe long sleeve T in Stone 3070
LBD navy silk Stone Fabrics 3985

Tights
teal
berry
navy
chocolate

Shoes: navy/brown/purple/teal
Long boots
Ankle boots
Loafers
Laceups
Pumps
Kitten heels

Slouch bag in purple or teal
belts grey/navy/

Scarves: long print ones
wool

Beads
Bangles