Practical Sewing vs. "Fantasy" Sewing

So I was thinking about Debbie's panties last night...

Wait.  Let me explain:

Debbie has just completed sewing EIGHT pair of underwear for herself (!) which she created assembly-line style (her term).   Apparently Debbie loves wearing self-made panties, though she hates making them -- but not enough not to make them!

I must say, I admire this kind of sewing: the nose-to-the-grindstone, just do it type that I hardly ever engage in.  Frankly, I don't have that kind of discipline: before I sewed myself eight pair of tighty whities, I'd head over to Rite Aide and grab a bunch of Hanes three-packs.

Underwear matters to me, but so does my sewing time.  Which is not to say that Debbie sews only practical things.  Remember this outfit, sewn for a friend of her son's who was performing at a local Renaissance Festival, or so he told her...?



Not to mention the shirt she made for Michael last year, now one of his favorites.



I guess there's a time for everything, and sometimes our practical needs take precedence over our need to let our creativity run wild.  Of course, with sewing, even practical projects can be creative.  But sometimes -- like for Debbie right now -- free time is limited and addressing real clothing needs becomes the top priority.  Fun -- always relative of course -- can wait.

Now, as you know, while I do engage in some practical sewing, the majority of my projects can be filed in the "fantasy" category.  I put fantasy in quotes because it doesn't quite describe the type of projects I'm talking about but I couldn't think of a better word -- can you?  (I'm talking about my wardrobe here, btw, not Cathy's (completely practical) work outfits; she's a professional fashion plate.)

I guess a better term would be not terribly practical, which is a mouthful.

I know nobody needs leopard print jeans.  (I did wear these out to dinner New Year's Eve, btw, and received a very nice compliment from a neighborhood derelict; can you still say wino?)  But they definitely have their place in my wardrobe.



As do these vivid cranberry cords:



This vintage Fifties jumpsuit I made, on the other hand, might as well be wall insulation or pillow stuffing.

What fantasy was this exactly?

Take sewer/knitter/chihuahua owner Laura Mae (Sorry, LM, you're in my sights again.).  Her sewing seems to exist in both the practical and "fantasy" realms, as it seems she regularly goes to work dressed like Shirley Jones in April Love, Bay Area weather permitting.





Is this practical sewing or "fantasy" sewing?  Only she can say.

How about this stunning 2011 Clio classic?  Practical or fantasy?  (Clio, are you out there?)



Friends, I ask you: how much of your sewing is practical and how much not-so-practical?

How do you define practical:  Necessary for work?  Necessary for a special event?  Something you'll get a lot of wear from, even if, to most people, it looks like one of Lady Gaga's wilder get-ups?

How about those popular (according to the New York Times) duct tape outfits, and don't tell me you haven't heard about them.  They're the latest thing -- probably to be followed by white paste evening gowns and Post-it note peignoirs.  Wait -- I think we may already be there.



If most of the sewing you do is of the practical variety, is this how you want it to be, or would you like to sew more in the fantasy realm but don't feel you should, or aren't sure how you'd explain it to DH or the kids?

How about those of you who sew costumes on a regular basis, for the theater, say -- do you secretly dream you could just settle down in front of the sewing machine and whip up a pair of practical panties -- or eight?

Practical or "fantasy" sewer -- which describes YOU these days?