Helen Chesshire wearing Fun Fumbalinas dress!

 

At th London Wine Fair in Olympia, London, I saw Helen Chesshire wearing this wonderful sequinned Caftan. Large size clothes with hidden ribbons. Not cheap, but they offer a swap shop service so you can get some money back and put it towards another outfit.

How to make a Quick caftan dress with a DIY Newspaper pattern

My DIY dress made from a scarf. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

Here's a story of two dresses, the blue caftan with the V shape neck I made years ago, and the even easier red slit-side shift dress above from a scarf which is nearly no cut and nearly no sew.
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I made my first dress years ago when I was a member of an Australian Women's expat sewing circle in Singapore.


Copying a Caftan - With A Paper Pattern - and The Help Of A Sewing Teacher
I took a paper pattern along to the class. I needed help. Each piece had a series of parallel lines for different sizes of dress. Which size should I cut?

The girls gathered around full of advice. What size was I? Er - um. Maybe 3X. When I was a teenager I was British size 8 or 10. Then I went up to 12. I was probably now 14.

Really? big bust. Big bottom. Better check. 'Your body expands in the heat,' the sewing teacher told me, diplomatically.

We made space on the floor for the pattern. Whilst the others, including two sewing teachers, tried to tell each other what to do, I retreated.

Malay Dressmaking
One girl, a Malay, was sitting. alongside, watching with disdainful horror, pursing her lips and shaking her head.

I asked her, "Do you know how to use a sewing pattern?"

She shook her head. "No need. Waste of time and money. It's a western thing. In school we were taught how to make clothes without patterns. Take off your dress."

I obeyed. I took off my dress. A good thing I had taken the precaution of wearing a slip underneath!

She shouted to the hostess, "Hey - Sue - do you have some newspaper? And scissors"

Sue was busy. The scissors were guarded like gold bars.

I pulled out of my tote bag a free newspaper I had already read..

Paper Pattern Problems
How big was the seam allowance? So many pieces, looked like more than would fit onto my dress length - how should I arrange them, big piees around the edge, in the middle, from the top down. Some of the pieces were mirror image, you Had one piece for the upper sleeve and had to cut and then remember to reverse it. And if you had a repeating pattern on the cloth, you needed to decide where to join the seams so they matched, how to have a big orchid in the middle, not lopsided.

Before using the paper patterns, I thought I would start with caftan as practice. Less cutting out. Just fold it over helf way. Run up two seams.

I used a cheap cotton. Not much lost if the experiment went wrong.

The first challenge was how far in to place the vertical sewing lines. That depends on your girth. If you already have a cheap caftan to use as a pattern, that helps. If not, take any dress which fits loosely.

Failing all else, use a tape measure to measure yourself. No tape measure? Use a piece of string, or the edge of a towel.

No pins? Scared of pricking yourself? Use paper clips. Use hair clips. Use bulldog clips from your office or study. Use washing line clips, wooden or plastic clothes pins. (UK clothes pegs.)

My Malay Newspaper Pattern
My new friend drew around my caftan with a pen. She folded the newspaper along the edge of a table, pressed the creases, and carefully tore the newspaper along the lines. Hey presto, a sewing pattern. You have to use the fabric inside out in case the newspaper makes black print on a pale fabric.

The first set of girls had cut out two large oblongs for my caftan, with a v neck. The dress was too long. The piece cut from the hem could be a belt or scarf to match. The piece of fabric cut out to make the v neck could be used as a pocket in the side seam, a patch pocket on the front, or twisted in a spiral to make a mock flower.

My Recent DIY Dress From A Scarf
I made a dress by folding a long piece to make an oblong shift dress shape. I cut down the top of the long side to make an armhole.

For the shoulders, I seamed from the two short side corners, from the top left and top right outsides of the short top section. I left a space in the middle large enough to go over my head.

 Yes, it must allow your whole head, not just your neck, unless you cut out a v shape notch at the front and edge it with fancy ribbon, or make a short seam at the centre back to fasten with ribbons, a hook an eye, or press stud or zip.

About the Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
I and my family have lived in the UK, Spain, the USA and Singapore. I am a travel writer and photographer and teacher of English A level and English as a foreign language.

Please come to a Toastmasters International Club where the English clubs have a language evaluator or grammarian.  We also have French, German, Mandarin Chinese, Tamil and other language clubs based in Singapore and many more online around the world which because of Covid-19 are now meeting online.

I am President of Braddell Heights Advanced, meeting every Wednesday, on zoom the first Wednesday of the month but the other Wednesdays are workshops on app learncool.sg
Or quicker to type and easier to remember:  tinyurl.com/BHACOOL

useful Websites
https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogs
https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2019/04/how-to-say-thank-you-in-several.html
https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2019/05/introducing-yourself-in-english-spanish.html
https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2020/01/second-set-of-portuguese-words.html Please share links to your favourite posts
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8384769/Major-breakthrough-hunt-Madeleine-McCann-police-identify-German-suspect.html
https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lista_de_patrim%C3%B3nio_edificado_no_distrito_de_Faro
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How To Deal With Spilled Yogurt On An Airline Seat

Problem
I am sitting in an airline seat and I feel something wet. Oh, my goodness. Is it stress incontinence, diarrhoea, am I disintegrating, having an abortion or miscarriage from the fifty year old baby, or what?

The good news is that I am not leaking. The bad news is that I have found a yogurt pot containing only a little of the contents.

I must have had a yogurt with breakfast. The collecting was so fast and efficient that they were grabbing my plate before I had finished. I must have kept the yogurt and lost it. Just before landing, I discovered I was sitting on it. Yes, strawberry or similar yoghurt, all over my caftan, my silk skirt and slip - plus the seat.

Protective clothing
Incidentally, the protective caftan on top of the skirt was a good idea. I had felt daft, wearing two layers of skirt. However, I am not alone in this. Muslim women all wear umpteen layers of clothing. This recent incident confirmed common sense, that a washable top layer protects the clothes underneath.

The staff were very efficient. The male steward gave me two hot towels heated in the galley microwave. By the time I came out of the toilet, wet, but free from yogurt stains and smells, another crew member was wiped off the seat.

I had already forgotten about the seat. Of course, they had not. Evidently, I am not the first and only person ever to have sat on a yogurt, or other liquids, on a plane seat.

She suggested that I use the blanket on the wet seat. I agreed. I didn't want to be a wet blanket. Goodness, I have just noticed another metaphor whose practical meaning I had previously never noted.

Lessons Learned From Squashed Yogurt Pot
I have always wanted my travels and life to be a shining beacon to others, not a terrible warning of what not to do. I admit it, you can learn from me to finish your yogurt immediately and never save it.

Author

Travel writer and photographer, author and speaker, Angela Lansbury.
See my other posts on this blog and:
http://luxurytravelforless.co.uk

Buying Three piece outfits: UK, USA, Singapore, Asia, Africa, S America, translating dupatta

At the World Travel Market I saw lots of ladies in gorgeous three piece outfits with matching scarves.
Even mixtures of red and pink and yellow and green and gold seem to work if you have the colours linking each piece and a matching hat or even a fabric flower in your hair.Notice these outfits have a short skirt over a contrasting long skirt, and short sleeves. Little gold shoes peeping out.

Vibrant colours come from sunny countries where the flowers and even the birds are brightly coloured. Here's another lovely lady. Looking at the photo again, I see she has a large 'shawl' , a thigh length tunic, and knee length trousers which tighten in a contrasting cuff. Because she is wearing trousers, (pants one would say in the USA), she can wear heavy, practical walking shoes, in black, and when I met her and at first glance the photo I was not even aware of them.

I was looking on line for three piece outfits, skirt, blouse and scarf, when I came across some indian outfits. Here are the translation of the names:

dupatta - scarf

You can find the pronunciation of foreign words:
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/pronunciation/english/dupatta

UK
I found Indian outfits on sale in the UK in London at Northwick Park hospital. You also find them in Indian areas such as Southall and in ethnic shops in central London.

In Singapore you will find them in Little India and in the Mohammed Mustafa department store on the edge of Little India (one stop further north on the MRT) as well as in stores and supermarkets all over.

Malaysia
Malaysia has co-ordinated outfits with long skirts. Cheaper in Malaysian shops and stores and markets. Take a bus from Singapore. Or hire a car and drive across the bridge into Malaysia. Or shop in the suburbs of Singapore. Bargain in small shops, walk away and come back, or ask a local friend to buy for you.

Singapore
I bought caftans in Singapore at Tang's department store in one of their many sales. I was horrified to learn from a Singaporean Chinese friend that Singaporean women would only wear loose outfits such as my Malaysian caftan at home as housecoats. They wear fitted garments, mostly suits with pencil skirts, to the office. For years at meetings and on the train I had been wearing the equivalent of a dressing gown or night-dress! For several months, every time I looked at my caftan, I felt mortified.

But I also had some very elegant entirely silk caftans which I wore at home for entertaining. I got lots of compliments. (Well, I was the hostess.)

I gradually recovered my courage and thought: To hell with local customs and fashions. I set the style. If it suits me and my Western and oriental friends who have the same tastes as me compliment me on my clothes, that's good enough. Maybe I shall be a trend-setter and change the fashion.

India, Parkistan, Bangladesh
Other countries of course are India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Many African countries have national dress or local dress consisting of  a dress or skirt and matching top. Often instead of a shawl they have a piece of cloth worn wound around the hair like a turban.

If you make an expensive purchase, or several items, you might be given a matching scarf for free, or you could ask for one.

Men's outfits are similarly co-ordinated.

I noticed that in hot countries the local ladies even though they were shorter or plumper than Western women often looked elegant and slim. I think wearing either plain or co-ordinated colours with long skirts. Vertical patterns or patterns around the neck keep a pencil like profile.

Looking on eBay you can also buy two piece outfits in so called Thai silk, often a synthetic which is as pretty as real silk and as soft to wear.The skirts are wrap around so they fit most sizes if you buy a large one, which can always be pulled tighter and the bodice taken in. If you look carefully you can find a co-ordinating scarf to wear as a wide cummerbund or shawl.

Thailand and Singapore
They are much cheaper if you buy them in Thailand or Singapore, especially if you buy them from a market stall and bargain. (Easy to wrap around or hold them against you to try the size. Or take a tape measure with you.)

World Travel Market
At World Travel market I met lots of ladies who were wearing their national dress. I should have asked them where to buy budget clothes and best clothes in cor-ordinating patterns and fabrics.

Look at this lady looking gorgeous in her national costume from Colombia on the North West coast of South America. The turban adds to the height. From the shoes to the top of the head, the line is elongated, the colours co-ordinated.

Brides
Do check which colours are worn when and which outfits are worn where. All white, following the fashion set by Queen Victoria's daughter, is worn at weddings in the UK and worldwide. But Indians and Chinese brides often wear red for part or all of the day, so my outfit for a wedding in Singapore must not rival or outdo the bride's. White is also worn for funerals at some Asian events.

Mother of the bride
To find an elegant outfit in co-ordinating colours which is not too revealing, try searching for mother of the bride outfits. They are often sold new or second hand (vintage) with a matching hat or shoes or handbag.

The mother and mother in law of the bride may want to consult each other so they match by design, or do not default, and do not clash in photos with one in red and another in orange. They must decide whether they agree to look different, or agree to co-ordinate.

Made to measure
Made to measure clothes can be ordered in many countries such as Singapore, India and China. You can also order online from China, sending your measurements. See eBay. Warning. If you order online you cannot be sure the garment will fit and if it doesn't you might not be able to return it. Another option is to make it yourself or get one garment as cheaply as possible, then get it copied in other colours and better fabrics, either in your home country or when on holiday.


Fabrics
I find that some saris have beautiful gold or glittering brocade. But sometimes the brocade is scratchy.
I like to feel the fabric or look for the word soft. On the other hand, I buy reversible dresses in a rough, tough fabric. Just so long as you are aware of what you might be getting. I also like washable clothes because if they arrive creased I can hang them up to drip dry. Also when travelling it is handy to be able to drip dry to remove creases.

Internet terms which are useful in searches:

bag
balloon
batwing
belt
blouse
boho (short for bohemian, casual, gypsy look)
bolero
bride
bridal
brocade
caftan
calf-length
came / camisole
cardigan
Christmas outfit
clutch (small flat oblong evening / party handbag with short, small or no handle)
coat
coat dress
coat and hat
cocktail
co-ordinating
complete outfit
cruise
cuff
culottes
cummerbund (wide belt)
custom made
cutout /devore
diamond
dress and jacket
dress and top
dupatta
embroidered
ethnic
evening dress
fascinator (hairband or hair clip with flower, feather, lace or other flat or projecting headpiece
flute cuff
four piece
formal outfit
groom
gypsy
jacket
kilt
knee-length
lace
lagenlook (German for layered)
layered
leisure outfit
long dress
long skirt
long sleeve
matching
maxi
mother of the bride
occasions
one size fits most
outfit
overdress
p a l a t i o pants
pants
party
pashmina
prom
pure silk
raglan
satin
saree / sari
scarf
sequin
set
shawl
shirt and tie offer  / suit shirt and tie offer
silk
silk velvet
skirt suit
sparkle
special occasion
stretchy
suit (try suite - sometimes Asian sellers mis-spell words, but your search for suit or suite often brings up three piece suites of furniture so add the words women or ladies)
Sunday / Sunday best
tailored
Thai silk
three piece (again you are likely to get furniture, kids clothes as well)
trouser suit
trousers
tulip
twin set
two piece
turban
underdress
wedding  / guest outfit
waterfall

Warnings
Watch out for so-called gold which is merely a dark yellow. Gold and silver might be a really nice shine but a stiff metallic, non-stretchy finish on a tee-shirt.You might be happy with a scratchy surface if the garment has a lining or if you wear it over another item.

Indian outfits sometimes say, skirt needs to be sewn. They are sold that way sometimes so that you sew it to fit. Also it's cheaper.

Sometimes the scarf shown with an outfit is no longer available, is sold separately, or is in the photo to enhance the colour or effect. Check the specifications before you click on the buy now button, to be sure the scarf is included.

The most misleading ads I have seen are those where the colour is not the same as the picture.Sometimes the headline gives the colour. You click on the picture which is red and up comes the description, jade suit. Read the description carefully, or email the seller to confirm the colour. Other outfits are sold in several colours but when you click on the options you may find your favourite is out of stock. You can then look for another supplier, email asking for an update, or watch the page daily.

Some brand names and stores: Ann Balon, Anthony Sicari, Coterie, Jacques Vert, Gray and Osborne, Marks and Spencer, Debenhams, J D Williams, Frank Usher.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer, author, speaker.