This is the time of year when my creative self seems to emerge from hibernation and I start to fondle my stash, daydreaming of all the beautiful clothes I’ll make one day!

In reality I seem to plan dozens of garments (and buy the fabric & patterns for them) but complete very few, but now Elizabeth over on the Stitcher’s Guild forum has coined the phrase “Fantasy 6PAC”, I’m OK with that. The planning is after all most of the fun.

A while ago I pinned this picture of an Autumn capsule. I could wear every item in this picture, just as it is. It also works for a Spring capsule in a different colour scheme. Spring in the UK is fickle, so layering is the perfect way to cope with those days when we go from winter to high summer and back again. The jacket-two tops-skirt-dress-trousers formula gives loads of flexibility.

I’m starting with the dress, as I have a length of vintage wool I’ve been wanting to use for ages. Mostly purple with a mix of  pinks, coral,  green, some turquoise thrown in there too. This Boden dress has an interesting seam detail and would look good in my lightweight wool.

 

A pair of Barbs in a marled grey bengaline, also from stash

A skirt in this grey/white tweed, maybe with interesting detail

A blouse to wear as it is or under the dress, in a coral silk mix print. Maybe the Archer without the breast pockets?

A long sleeved knit top, to wear over the blouse or as it is, like this. Lilac or grey.

A grey boiled wool jacket using Vogue 8982 (Marcy Tilton)

 

7 items that can be worn together in a lot of different looks:

Dress as it is (1) or over the blouse (2). Either of these options with the cardigan (3 & 4) or the jacket (5&6). You’d see the blouse collar so I’m counting with/without the blouse as 2 different looks.

Trousers or skirt with blouse (7&8) or long sleeve top (9&10) or both (11&12) and with jacket or cardigan (13-25)

There’s an article here about one woman’s experiment with accessorising a dress in as many different ways as possible.

I think my plan is coming together!