Kaylee's Jenny Trousers

In honor of #slowfashionoctober I have been really assessing my wardrobe. Taking inventory of all of my most loved pieces to see the common thread that ties them together, purging some of my old ready-made clothes that don’t fit or don’t get any wear, mending well-loved clothes to make them wearable again and most importantly figuring out where I have holes in my closet that need filling. One thing I realized about my wardrobe? It is very much lacking in wearable, comfortable, everyday pants. This fall I have committed to really filling that gap with 3-4 pairs of pants in different styles that I can rotate through to give my look a little bit of variety while sticking with handmade garments.

Pattern: Closet Case Files Jenny Trousers
Materials: Robert Kaufman Ventana Twill in Bordeaux
Modifications: Raised Hem 3”

Originally I wasn’t sure these pants were a good shape for my body, but when I saw Sarah’s overalls I decided I loved them too much not to at least try to make them work for me. For the #ftcsummersewingchallenge I took the plunge and made a pair of ankle length Jenny Overalls with the Woodland color of Ventana Twill and I really like them! They are not, however, an everyday pair of pants and I don’t wear them more than a few times a month. I’m so happy I have them, they are fun to wear and great for mixing up my look, but what I really need is a more simple pair of pants. 

I love the ultra-high waisted fit of the overalls and decide to try making just the trouser view for a more wearable pair of pants. I have tons of cropped sweaters and tops, so a high-waisted pair of pants is a must for my wardrobe. 

I went with Bordeaux Ventana Twill to add a little color to my mostly neutral wardrobe. My original urge was to use Black for a simple and classic pair of pants. I always thought that I only liked neutral colors for my wardrobe basics, but after reassessing what gets wear from my current closet I learned that a pop of color works for me as long as it is in a darker tone. I stepped outside my comfort zone a little bit but tried to do it in a thoughtful way. I also knew that my other pants would likely be made from either blue or black denim so this was my best chance for adding something a little different to the mix. 

No surprise, I wear these pants all the time and completely love them. Now I am working on another pair of Closet Case pants, the Morgan Jeans. I love Closet Case patterns for their beautiful finishes and effortless styles and shapes (+ incredible instructions and online pattern tutorials). You can't go wrong with any of their patterns! I snapped up some 100% Cotton Cone Denim in a deep Indigo color to use for my Morgans that I just know will be perfect for building up my wardrobe. 

What are your fall sewing goals?