I have taken a few days off from sewing and designing, although I did have a day of ripping out pictures from swimwear catalogs that come to my home quarterly. Why do I need to do this? Well, this is how the entire idea really began. I will rewind (if that is even a word anymore) to when I first came upon my swimsuit idea. It was the beginning of spring, the flowers were starting to make their way out of a winter slumber and I was slowly completing the process of chemotherapy. I stumbled out of my room from a morning nap, thankfully the nanny had taken my then one year son to the park, and the house was quiet. I noticed on our dining room table a stack of mail. The first piece of mail was from JCrew. I decided to have a snack and flip through my favorite catalog. Although at the time I was not shopping very much because of how tired and unwell I felt most days due to the drugs. I was also not sure if I should invest in any clothes since at the time I was pretty skinny and not sure if I would need to bother in stocking up on items that may never be worn.
I opened up the book and of course was mesmerized by the new spring collection which contained silky shirts, fun patterns, and outlandish jeweled necklaces. I had to keep myself from drooling over all of the items and before I picked up my phone and purchased the entire spring collection (not really but I have to wonder if most females feel this way?) I came upon the swimsuit section. Oh no. I forgot about bathing suits. My drawers were filled with bikinis, very cute 40s style one pieces, and tankinis from after having my son to hide the baby fat. I was a beach girl. I supported the local stores mostly, drive down to the local shops and pick out bottoms that fit my bottom and tops that handled my well...top. The fun of it was the bathing suits were not a set...one could mix and match with different designers etc. It was fun and I normally always found a perfect suit that fit. Except for now. I did not have the top anymore that I was so used to. The mastectomy job was still very real and no reconstruction was in sight because of radiation in the summer. Also, even after radiation I could not wear low cut tops. Another thing to mention, for women who have radiation the process of reconstruction is a lot more difficult than putting in implants. It is a process. One that many opt out of. The radiated skin has to heal which takes about six months and then if the women decides on surgery it is an option of removing muscle or tissue from the tummy or back to build up a breast. The operation can last up to 8 hours with a six night stay in the hospital, this is not even a promise that the surgery will work. It is another hurdle however in the meantime, I flipped through what JCrew had to offer me...nothing. The swimsuits needed to be cut a bit different in order for me to wear them and not feel exposed or scare everyone off the beach around me. So, I started looking at the suits that I wanted and figuring out ways I could make them mine. I cut out the ones that I really felt had potential and saved them. I bring you back to today and I still do this for keeping up with trends. I do not copy anyone or try to recreate what was already made, instead these suits inspire me. In fashion, I have found that designers use an inspiration piece before they start a collection. It can be anything, a beautiful sunset to a piece of trash on the ground. The designers then follow up with trinkets and pictures that may coordinate with this inspiration. The inspiration and the items are then placed on a board and the designer can then figure out what the collection may entail while looking at fabrics and other items needed to create a line of clothing. This is not just for bathing suits too, this can be for people creating a men's line or women's wear. It is quite fascinating to read about the top upper crust designers and to hear what inspired them for their fall or spring collections. I have heard buildings are the most inspiring while creating a line of clothes. I have heard the seashores of different beach getaways or just a person can be an inspiration. For example, the late Alexander McQueen had a woman as his inspiration. If you wonder who she is watch Ladies of London on Bravo and she is on the show. It is, again, quite fascinating. The creation of a line is very fun and creative.
I have also been struggling with the fact that this project could very well fall on the category of hobby right now. My significant other made a point to say that until this makes some sort of financial impact consider it a hobby. He is not normally this negative, he is only being realistic. I felt pretty down about the fact that this project takes so much time and being a mother makes it even more so of a hobby at times. My main goal is to take care of my family and in the extra moments to sew, read up on DE (Design Entrepreneur) or sketch. My hope is that as my son grows this idea will grow too. Then by the time he is in school full time, not needing me to tend to his every need, I will have more time to contend with the life of a DE. I did not feel alone at all while watching a TV show last night. I do like to watch Real Housewives, as my husband calls it Screaming Women, and the new season has a lady who is a mom and she is creating a swimwear line. The episode last night was about how she felt pretty frustrated with starting her line and taking care of her family plus wanting another child. Her husband has the same mentality as mine too, family first. As I watched her send the family off to the park and encourage ice cream as a treat, she then dashed up to her office space which looks a lot like mine, I could understand her situation and felt more at peace. We as women are told to get a career and then also hold true to our regular duties of wife and mother. It can be quite a complex position. However, God granted us with the gift of multi tasking so it can be done! Just in small doses. So I dedicate this blog to the multi tasker!
