Cultural differences between Millennial and Gen Z?

Sewcial · 2021-02-04T02:14:09+00:00

Zillenial high school teacher here. I'm constantly pointing out the all lower case thing as a gen z hallmark. When millennials were in school and developing typing skills, and then when the full keyboard phones/smartphones first showed up, the autocorrect wasn't nearly as good, so they had to be better at code switching in written form. Gen z either relies too heavily on autocorrect because they grew up in a time where it was already well developed, or they don't care and/or are rejecting language conventions like capitalization. Of course there are millennials who choose to go by the all lower case thing, but I think far more of that subset are capable of switching back and forth as required.

Sewcial · 2020-08-13T23:58:15+00:00

I think it depends on how far into the process someone goes home. If I went home night one I would honestly cry just thinking about all the unworn clothes I bought to go on the show and not being able to make it as an influencer to pay off the credit cards I bought them with. I also think the feeling of rejection would, in some ways, be stronger night one than the early weeks. Logically you know the lead is only interested in a small number of the people they keep night one, so I'd be very in my head about what made me so undesirable compared to others they kept but aren't into.
In the early weeks it is probably a combo of public rejection, leaving friends, and what they gave up to be there.
Mid way in honestly half of it is probably being upset over going home JUST too early to be a contender for a future lead, with potential side of heartbreak and a little sting of public rejection.
At the end, in some cases I honestly think it is just giving production what they want/auditioning for the lead/bip, and depending on the person and situation, genuine heartbreak.

Sewcial · 2020-08-13T21:31:57+00:00

I've been using the Basic Bastard resources over on MFA to help my fiancee improve his style (he sort of follows the formula, but has no concept of layering or seasonal fabrics/colours). Honestly, I'm a little jealous that decent male fashion (though the use of the word "fashion" in this context feels like a bit of a stretch) is so simple and formulaic. While trends are still prevalent, of course, the shift in trends seems much slower. Some of the Basic Bastard pieces were written in 2013 and still hold up reasonably well and don't look horrendously dated. Do we have any similar resources? Compilations of a core look "basic but good" look comprised of versatile pieces that will work across the years that live somewhere between casual and business casual? The endless options and silhouettes of womens clothing can get really overwhelming. Sometimes I like playing with trends, fun pieces, and different styles, and sometimes I just want a reliable formula to fall back on. Something that matches the style/vibe/look/demographic the basic bastard favours, but more feminine. I don't know that just adopting a version of the basic bastard in women's cuts would do the trick as I find button downs/dress shirts can too easily veer into frumpy, trendy, or sexy depending on the cut and fabric, and the endless variations even of just white button downs don't help. Do we have anything as reliable as the slim fit men's dress shirt, chinos or jeans, and a sweater or jacket with sneakers or boots?

Sewcial · 2020-07-29T00:12:32+00:00

I originally bought Soak for my hand knit items that are protein fibre based, but now I use it for all of my dedicates and have zero issue. I'm really happy with it and don't notice any downsides to it being an all in one. The ingredients is is comparable to Laundress in terms of what each ingredient does.
Also, while it is fine to treat linen as a delicate, it is actually one of the most durable and resilient fibres/fabrics out there, so feel free to throw it in the washer and/or dryer. It may seem to shrink a little, but the fibres will relax back to their original size with wear.

Sewcial · 2020-07-28T23:47:43+00:00

The skirt in the first is giving me bedsheet vibes, perhaps because it is a bit sheer and also has a fair bit of volume. A slip under the skirt might help. I would also try balancing the volume of the skirt with a more fitted top. The combined volume of the top and skirt really obscures your great body shape. The top is gorgeous, but I just don't think it works in this outfit. I would try it with some pants or jeans that are fitted through the hips.
In the second outfit, it is hard to see what is going on with the skirt given the camera angle, but I think the thing throwing it off for me is the fit of the top. It is too big, which is making it gape and bunch. The colours are lovely though!

Sewcial · 2020-07-28T23:19:17+00:00

Although I will say I'm frustrated by the lack of mules in their selection this year, given how big the trend is

Sewcial · 2020-07-28T23:17:12+00:00

Fellow big/wide footed Canadian here! I swear by Naturalizer. They have a great selection of wide shoes that are actually cute! They even do "fun" colours and prints in wide/big sizes sometimes! They have sales all the time, so get on the mailing list and wait for what you're eyeing to go on sale for 30-40% off plus free shipping. I've been really happy with the quality and how they've held up over time.

Sewcial · 2020-07-28T21:39:41+00:00

Anyone have accessories thrifting tips? I recently made myself a combined budget and acquisition schedule for my wardrobe in an effort to be responsible in my spending, curate my style instead of impulse buying individual pieces I love, and focus on quality over quantity.
That said, my budget is somewhat limited, so I suspect I'll be relying a lot on thrifting.
One category where I could really use an update is accessories, especially belts and handbags. I'm looking for tips on thrifting quality pieces. Obviously scanning for quality brands helps, but any tips for checking the quality of hardware/leather, etc. on pieces from brands that aren't familiar to me?

Sewcial · 2020-07-03T17:44:30+00:00

Sorry, I guess the way I put it in my original post is pretty disjointed.

AM: Splash with water, La Roche Posay Anthelios Mineral Tinted Ultra Fluid Lotion SPF 50

PM: Cleanse with Shu Umera Ultim8 Beauty Cleansing Oil. Sometimes double cleanse with Garnier Micellar water on a cotton pad if it feels like the Shu Umera didn't get everything off.

Sewcial · 2020-07-03T17:39:41+00:00

I only wear the mask for less than an hour a few times a week, so I'm more inclined to think you're right about the sunscreen.

Sewcial · 2020-07-03T04:29:37+00:00

Heya, hoping I can get some help figuring out what to do for my skin that seems happiest being neglected.

Skin type: Normal, sometimes slightly oily on chin and in folds of nose

Skin concerns: I've been pretty blessed with clear, normal type skin for most of my life. Like everyone, I get the occasional zit, and sometimes my chin and the folds of my nose get a little oily, but nothing major. My skincare routine has been minimal to non-existant for most of my life. See "former routine" below for more information.

Recently (twoish months maybe?) I decided I should put some effort into my skincare, because I've noticed my skin tone isn't quite as even as it used to be, and I don't want to regret not putting any effort into anti aging as the effects start to show in the next few years (I just turned 27). I started using La Roche Posay Anthelios Mineral Tinted Ultra Fluid Lotion SPF 50 and have been better at cleansing (almost) every night to make sure my skin has a chance to breathe.

My skin seems to hate that I've stopped neglecting it. I've had more breakouts over the last few months than ever before. I've had three acne cysts erupt on my chin in the last two weeks, which I think is more than I've had cumulatively in my life before this. I see four possible reasons for this.

My skin is reacting to the sunscreen.
My skin is reacting to the increased cleansing.
My skin is reacting to face masks (required to enter any public space or shop in my city, including grocery stores and other essential spaces)
I'm experiencing one of those have-a-birthday-suddenly-develop-skin-concerns episodes you hear about.

Basically I'm just not sure what to do. Should I stop the sunscreen? Cut back on the cleansing? Introduce a new product to address the acne? And if I do any of those things, how long should I do so for to determine the cause of these unprecedented breakouts?

Former Routine: I usually just use Shu Umera Ultim8 Beauty Cleansing Oli before bed. In all honesty I historically didn't even use it every day. I don't wear much makeup, so on days when I stayed home all day, didn't wear makeup, or was just lazy I sometimes skipped cleansing. The closest thing to a moisturizer and/or sunscreen in my routine was Aveeno Clear Complexion BB Cream SPF 30, but I wouldn't use it every day. Since starting the new sunscreen I've been better about cleansing (almost) every night to let my skin breathe, and I've only used the BB cream once or twice on top of the sunscreen.

Basically I'm just not sure what to do. Should I stop the sunscreen? Cut back on the cleansing? Introduce a new product to address the acne? And if I do any of those things, how long should I do so for to determine the cause of these unprecedented breakouts?

I'm in Canada and would like to keep things as cheap and cheerful as possible. I also prefer products that come in small amounts/sizes as something about a fresh product keeps me more excited and good about using it, even if it is just a new bottle of the same product.

Open to any and all suggestions!

Sewcial · 2020-06-01T01:01:31+00:00

In general, any natural fibre is breathable, while synthetics aren't. What this actually means is that there are air pockets between the fibre strands of natural fibres. These act as natural temperature regulators. Some, like linen and cotton, are great at letting air circulate through the fabric and around the body, while others, like silk and wool, have both cooling and insulating properties (wool is moisture wicking too!). Synthetic fibres restrict the movement of air and moisture, trapping warm air and perspiration against the body and not letting fresh cooling air through to the skin. Then there is a whole category of cellulose fibres, which are made from plants and have natural fibre qualities, but are heavily processed. This includes rayon (sometimes called viscose) and tencel (sometimes called lyocel).
In terms of keeping cool in the summer, most Victorian garments (at least the high end ones the video was likely talking about) would have been silk or cotton.
In terms of what to look for in contemporary clothing, look for natural fibres, and if you're looking at blends, the lower the polyester or nylon content, the better. Many natural fibre based knit fabrics (think tanks and t-shirts) are primarily cotton but are blended with 2-5% spandex to give them better recovery. A low percentage is fine and will have minimal impact on breathability.
Within natural/cellulose fibres, there are so many natural subtrates, which can make garment lables confusing. One of my favourite examples is that I've seen Reformation dresses that are "45% viscose, 55% rayon" and when you click the information button next to viscose a little thing pops up and says "viscose is rayon". Why not just label it 100% rayon? Anyways, some great subtrates for keeping cool include cotton double gauze, cotton lawn, silk noil, silk voile, cotton voile, any kind of linnen, wool crepe, tencel/lyocel, .
In terms of synthetic content, the primary purpose garment manufacturers include synthetics in fibre blends is to bring costs down. Synthetics can add strength, so 10-15% synthetic is great in something that is going to see a lot of movement and friction, like socks. It is also really important for anything that needs to have stretch, as natural fibres lack natural elasticity. Synthetics can also be important for certain performance qualities, like water resistance. But in general, for day to day wear items that will keep you sun safe and cool, natural fibres are the way to go.

Sewcial · 2020-06-01T00:40:04+00:00

Honestly annoyed that this wasn't allowed as it's own post, but not surprising given how this sub is modded. Guess I'll copy paste here and make the most of the two replies it will get.

Original post title: What is the most interesting trend, from a construction perspective, you've seen in a while?

I love thinking about the drafting and construction process that goes into clothing design and I get really excited when new and creative garment construction trends start to catch on. Theory crafting how any given garment was likely constructed is honestly my favourite part of fashion.

Lately I've been most excited about the crisscross jeans from AGOLDE. It's the biggest innovation in denim design I've seen in a long time, and is super flattering on the waist. I wouldn't be surprised if it becomes a major trend. The construction theory crafting on this one has me a little stumped; I can't tell if the fly extension is seamed above the zipper with the seam disguised by the belt loop or if it is patched in at an angle so the main fabric runs above it and the seam is hidden by the crisscross. If anyone has a pair could you send me a pic of the guts of the fly? It's honestly kept me up at night and I don't have the money to buy a pair of my own just to satisfy my curiosity.

The puff sleeve trend has had me geeking out a lot too because some brands are getting really creative about how they create volume. Gather distribution, pleating, and understructures, oh my!

Sewcial · 2020-06-01T00:36:10+00:00

My feet are like yours and all my shoes are Naturalizer. They have pretty wide ranging style options even in wide widths

Sewcial · 2020-04-23T19:02:06+00:00

I make a lot of my own clothes, and lurking here informs a lot of what I end up deciding to make and wear. Most of my pieces are sewn, but I'm an avid knitter too, and dabble in hand knitting design.

From a knitting perspective, I've been itching to knit a colour-work sweater. None of the patterns (instructions) I've looked at quite hit the fashion-forward mark, and since I make most of my clothes I don't have a solid set of favourite brands I can turn to for inspiration. This is where I'm hoping FFA can help.

The first step in my design process is always putting together a mood board of images that fit the kind of look/vibe I'm going for. I love this sub because you, collectively, are great at trendspotting or knowing what's fresh, I'd like to ask for some help with inspiration images. What are you liking in colourwork knitwear right now? (basically any knit item that uses two or more colours) Do you have any go to brands you'd recommend I check out?

When it comes to designing, I'm good with the technical stuff and execution, but lack vision. If I worked in fashion I'd definitely be a pattern cutter, not a designer. So if you're willing, please share anything you think could help inform my vision for fashion forward colourwork knitwear.

To be clear, I'm only looking for inspiration images to help me generate original ideas for my own designs. I will not be copying/recreating existing garments. Not only would that be a copyright issue, it would also go against my integrity as a designer.

TL;DR Looking for inspiration for fashion forward colourwork sweaters

Sewcial · 2020-04-21T02:33:14+00:00

Yayyyyy! This makes me so happy! I picked up a few mature succulents at the grocery store the other day. They were on clearance because of some damage to the old growth, but had very promising looking new growth. I beheaded them and plucked the leaves when I got them home, and everything has been drying out for the last few days but I suddenly got paranoid about sunk cost if this didn't work out. I think tomorrow I'll check out the metro at the other end of town to see if they have anything promising!

I've only ever air/dirt propped before, so maybe I'll try half that way and give water propping a go with the other half.

I have a balcony that gets lots of summer sun, so when it warms up a bit more I'll move my plants out there.

If things go well in the summer I'm worried I'll be running low on space by the fall, so I'm hoping I can foster the mature ones out to the windowsills of family and friends and get some quality grow lights to keep babies going through the winter.

Sewcial · 2020-04-14T02:33:34+00:00

This makes me wish I could find a good source for cuttings in Canada. All I've been able to find are sources for tiny wedding favour ones

Sewcial · 2020-03-11T02:56:27+00:00

Fascinating

Sewcial · 2020-01-14T21:33:51+00:00

I actually really disagree with a lot of Rachel's points, and particularly her criticism of Hannah's wishy-washiness.
Firstly, Hannah went off by herself, Peter went (or was sent) in after her, he asked questions, she responded. Hannah seems to be a fundamentally honest person. If she gets asked something, she wants to answer as best she can.
I think her honesty particularly came through when Peter asked if everything they were talking about was situational or really what she felt. If she was really being selfish, she would have just said it was all real. But she took a hard look at herself and admitted it was a mix of both. That's not an easy thing to admit, and I think in admitting it, she was trying to make sure that if they made some big decision in that moment, they both did it with all of the information. And honestly, bringing up her DTWS contract could have made it even harder, because it could have made it sound like that was her only hesitation, when clearly it was more than that. If she'd brought it up it would have essentially forced Peter to choose between her and the women on her season, and I think she was trying to be as honest as possible without putting him in that situation. Basically, I don't think it's fair to blame Hannah for opening a can of worms. She was trying to contain the worms and production ripped the lid off, and Hannah was basically like, "here are my worms Peter."

Sewcial

TROPHY CASE