My kingdom for a wardrobe

Applying Liberty print seam binding (my new love) to a denim skirt.

Am I the only one whose life has trned into one long clothing crisis?

My body shape has been up and down (well, in and out really) an awful lot over the past four years, what with growing and feeding two children in quick succession. While this has resulted in two (mostly) lovely little boys who bring huge joy to our lives, the net effect on my wardrobe has been somewhat less uplifting.

I solved my summer wardrobe crisis with a couple of well placed t-shirts, but my winter one is a bit more problematic. As of a week or so ago, my seasonally appropriate clothing consisted of:

1. The Liberty cord dress I made
2. The post natal tunic
3. One maternity tunic that I really need to stop wearing
4. A handful of leggings
5. One summer dress I have been (in a state of sartorial black hole-ness) pairing with leggings and boots
6. One pair of (worn out and actually worn through) jeans
7. One corduroy mini that is so huge I can not only remove it without undoing it, but if I run it actually falls down
8. One gorgeous cashmere dress that needs a small hole darning before I can actually wear it
9. Two t-shirts
10. Assorted undergarments
11. One winter coat (maternity, but since I have Jasper in the sling more or less constantly, that's fine)
12. About 12 scarves

I wish I was exaggerating, but that seriously was the sum total of my winter clothes.

Adam took pity on me over the weekend and donated me a gift card he'd been sent for a faulty item of clothing, and I grudgingly (because I've been avoiding clothes shopping until I was a bit richer/thinner. Hah) took to the shops. And spent two hours muttering, "I could make that for less/look at that appalling finish/oh my gosh that colour's all wrong/I would love that if only the hemline were slightly different."

Along with a couple of t-shirts, a warm top and a sweet pinafore dress, I came home armed with two patterns, a bit of fabric from the remnant bin and a determination to stop whinging and start sewing. And here's what I'm making:

1. The perfect denim skirt. That's the preliminary version up at the top of the post. I'm really pleased with the pattern (altered from the skirt pattern in Sew U). I'm happy with the skirt, but there are a few changes to make. I'll post project details tomorrow.
2. A waistcoat (or vest, if you prefer). I tried on a gorgeous Cabbages and Roses one, but (a) I'm not that rich, (b) the colour wasn't perfect on me and (c) I want a different neckline. Step up Simplicity 2556 (please ignore the foul styling on the envelope) and a remnant of navy wool suiting. I've just finished sewing the first draft of the muslin.
3. I also tried on a Cabbages and Roses wool skirt (are you sensing a theme? Their stuff is such lovely quality, but designed for a rather more waif-like shape than me), which was also gorgeous, but way out of my price range and a couple of inches too short. I could have drafted a pattern for this skirt, but McCalls M6402 was cheaper than the two or three hours of childcare I'd need to draft a pattern.

I would have liked to make a pinafore dress too, rather than buy it, but until someone persuades my children to occupy themselves for 6 hours or so at a time, I have to be halfway realistic. Besides, I got a nice grey one on sale for £20.

Incidentally, where do you stand on copying/taking inspiration from ready-to-wear clothes? I'm not feeling terribly guilty as I'm planning on making garments inspired by (rather than totally ripped off from) the clothes I tried on, plus I wouldn't be able to afford those prices even if the clothes were absolutely perfect, but I'd love to know where others draw the line.