Dressing up? Not in Oregon, you're not.

Last Saturday I was getting ready to go for a walk up to the fabric store, with Joseph in towe. A forty-minute round-trip stroll it would be, on a 84 degree day. Sundress weather, right? I put on a sundress and suddenly I felt extremely self-conscious. Usually my arms are covered beneath a cardigan, especially if I'm out in public. Sure, the "look" could work for strolling through downtown or the mall... but that thar is high' livin'... I'm out here in the 'burbs. So I wimped out and instead wore some longer shorts and a normal t-shirt. This is Oregon, after all, where polar fleece reigns.

This got me thinking: is a casual, feminine, comfortable, summery, modest dress possible in Oregon? Better yet, how about one for a mom of three? Anything that makes me actually look youthful and trendy and edgy would, I'm afraid, make me feel like a "teeny bopper"... something I am not really going for.

I remember once, maybe three years ago, actually having to google the term "house dress" (because the name itself wasn't clear enough for me). You mean, like a dress that you wear in your house? You mean women used to actually wear dresses voluntarily, on a weekday, just to wash dishes and do laundry? Whoa. That's hardcore (here's a great blog post about housedresses, by Gertie).

And yet, the quintessential fifties housedress seems so "dressed-up" to me! Comfy and adorable, for sure. But I'd feel a little pretentious and/or overdone if I was taking the kids for walk in one of these numbers. Then again... who knows? Maybe it's all in the way you accessorize.

Shirtdresses are supposed to be "casual," and yet I couldn't see myself strolling down to the library or digging in the garden in one.

And yet, I can't stop making dresses! They're too fun, even if the only place I wear them is to church. I'd love to find a pattern or a style that is both casual and feminine, without feeling too overdone or frilly.

I picked up this pattern at a thrift store. Don't judge! I think that, despite the horrific 80s styling, there is potential for a nifty, casual dress. After some recent intense sewing escapades, I'm eager to "veg out" and enjoy making a simpler pattern. Ahh... nothing ever is simple, though, right? What's that saying? "The devil is in the details." Hemming, pressing and finishing seams, interfacing... nothing is instantaneous, even easy-looking patterns... not to mention fixing any mess ups. It's all worth it, though.

So, the quest is on for a casual dress that won't make me feel too self-conscious, that I can wear (or muster the guts to wear) around the house, in addition to church. We'll see if it's possible. Let me know if you have any good ideas.

Next up? I'll show you my most recent projects. Summer means I get a wee bit more time to sew, and I've been a sewing maniac.