We made it through the holidays, readers! Most of them, anyway.
I have so many exciting things to share with you, so let's get started. I couldn't be happier after days of overeating than to slip into my new Rago waist cincher. I was going to include an Amazon link, but I noticed that the price went up from approximately $25 to $38 in the week since I ordered it. Isn't that wack? I've noticed price shifts on Amazon before, but this is ridiculous.
A few of you are likely wondering why in the world I purchased this; others will understand immediately. Mind you, I have very little to cinch -- well, more today than I did a week ago -- but my poor cousin Cathy has really let herself go these last few months, so if she's ever going to wear her Cyd Charisse dress (provided I make it) she's going to need help. I could bone the dress itself, but this seems more practical since she can also sleep in it. I recommend this corset to anyone in need of a little extra back support. Or front support. I'm wearing the Small; any tighter and I would turn blue.
Unless I have my lower ribs removed, a cincher/corset like this is not going to make a radical difference in my shape, but it does make one stand up straighter and it's made in the USA.
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| That's not back fat, btw, it's my tee shirt. |
In other news...
Every Christmas I find something exciting in the garbage. It would be hard to top last year, when I found a featherweight table just a block away. Well, last Saturday on my way home from the flea market, in a paper shopping bag stuffed with somebody's discarded clothing, I found this good-as-new Lucky Brand Western-style men's shirt. It's not something I would ever pay for, but it fits nicely, has some cute details, and it's a good color for me. But why are there, like, six stitches per inch? I wonder if that's a style-thing or a cost-thing. Either way, it looks cheap.
Also in the bag was a black button-down H&M shirt Michael liked, as well as a few pair of corduroy pants and dungerees that were too big for either of us. In my neighborhood, it isn't unusual to find clothing on the street: many people are simply too lazy/busy to bother to bring their used clothes to a thrift store, so they just leave them outside, confident that dumpster diver-types like me will come along and swoop them up.
We spent Christmas with Michael's family in the orderly suburbs of Southern New Jersey. The dogs got toys, we got money -- no complaints there. Some pics...
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| The eyes say it all. |
Oh, before I forget -- my jacket pattern is here! More about that in the days ahead.
Readers, I hope your holidays were merry and bright. Anybody else get foundation garments for Christmas?
Have a great day, everybody!
I have this cincher and I totally love it. It makes everything so nice and smooth. Rago products are awesome and well made.
ReplyDeleteI was actually surprised at how well constructed it is. A good deal, at least at the cheaper price.
DeleteDon't be surprised about the price changing, Peter. An article on NPR a few days ago mentioned that some retailers (Amazon included) were changing prices by the day and even sometimes within a few hours.
ReplyDeleteI have a couple of Rago garments and I find them all to be good quality and rather comfortable.
My old reliable quit sewing the week before Christmas. Having had this problem before, I recognize that it means that I must take it to my repair man for servicing. Still, that meant that to finish Christmas sewing, I had to borrow a machine and I discovered that I hate drop-in bobbins. Give me my 47-year-old Pfaff any day!
ReplyDeleteThat sucks!
DeleteHappy New Year, Peter!
ReplyDeleteDo Willy and Freddy travel well? Do they do a travelogue? Perhaps some Boldness from a dog's perspective is in order in 2013???
"Anybody else get foundation garments for Christmas?"
ReplyDeleteIs this where I shriek PANTIES! and watch all the people who hate that word cringe? Cuz that'd be awesome. :)
"Poor cousin Cathy" whose let herself go ??? Try mean Cousin Pete !!!
ReplyDeleteHi there. I have an awesome friend who is as saving as Peter. She watches Sally Ann recycling bins (for books and stationary), and the donation bins too, when they are over-flowing, some items get deposited on the sidewalk. Never good in bad weather. She takes what she finds, as do others. Note that this situation has just be stopped (alas). For Xmas she gave me a midnight blue bustier, that is 38 D (hit or miss fit). My bust measures 46 at bust, and I am D to DD, but fun to see how it's made. I will make sure it gets a good home. Cathie, in Quebec.
ReplyDeleteWe just got in rib knit trim for bomber jackets like these, Peter. !
ReplyDeleteMy son has some of those lucky brand shirts and I feel that they all look cheaply made (though they are not that cheap to purchase :)
ReplyDeleteNot related to your post at all, but you are the most knowledgable person I "know" to ask...
I am looking for a men's shirt pattern with a "band collar" like Tom Hardy wears in Lawless ( http://i2.cdnds.net/12/35/618x869/movies_lawless_still_2.jpg )
I don't know if it is known by some other name or something, because I am coming up nill when I search. Have you ever come across such a pattern or have any ideas on making one?
amazingly right after I wrote this I found a couple of patterns on ebay. yay!
DeleteAre they raising prices on these anticipating an increase in orders following the holiday treats binges? I've looked at these before, but always get stumped on what size to order. I guess I'm not ready to face the full horror yet.
ReplyDeleteI'd guess there are not many who could wear a Cyd Charisse dress without help these days.
To Brandy Totten above: (I can never get those "Reply " buttons to work!) Any dress shirt pattern with a collar stand would work just fine. Just leave off the collar, and finish the stand. It should look exactly the same.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I am okay with the reply, but I have a time trying to type in the code to get anything to post!
DeleteOMG, Peter! That looks incredibly uncomfortable! I think that cinchers just move things around, but maybe that's the goal for most people. After all, it really can't cinch in that much as there is limited room internally for it to go. I find I like my figure better "un-cinched". I grew up in the age of girdles (yikes, I am aging myself), and I detest them. To each him own, I guess. A lot of people would be happy to be your size.
ReplyDeleteMark,
ReplyDeleteGreat Christmas photos. I have really enjoyed coming on board this year and reading your blog. Best of everything to you. Michael and the pups in '13.
Andy down south!