Suitably Paired

Their response to my gleeful “Happy New Year!” was a just-as-gleeful, well-meaning and pulsatingly pregnant “This is the year that we’ll come to eat your rice!”

Totally unrelated but perhaps a co-traveller on the same locomotive train faithfully conveying my thoughts, I’ve often wondered about the enigma; Why do long-married couples start to look alike?

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Well, after much pondering, I’m convinced that I just might have cracked the code to finding The One that one grows old and withered with. Alas, it’s hardly complicated:

Step 1. Spot a prospective “The One”.

Step 2. Squint and turn one’s head ever so slightly sideways.

Step 3. Find a semblance of one’s face in theirs.

Step 4. Silently murmur “Eureka”.

Step 5. Proceed to mentally pick trendy aso-ebi colour(s).

Now, the small matter of 20:20 vision is another issue entirely.  Giving kind consideration to those with less than perfect vision, whatever might be one’s preferred metaphor for ‘glasses’ would be required for the effective execution of Step 3.  For some, it’s a dash of Hennessy in their Coke. For some, it’s the proverbial butterflies fluttering in their toned or not-so-toned mid-section.

It’s rather imperative that I mention that the Men-folk might have considerable challenges with this searching-for-my-face-in-yours business, what with all the baking/highlighting/contouring high tech innovation in make-up application.

However, Males, I urge you to not be deterred, a polite but determined “‘Ello bae, do you mind going barefaced for a moment?” might be necessary, except you possess laser vision capable of penetrating layers of creams and neon-hued talc.  Also, I suspect a sensual baritone might help make this request less offensive.

My somewhat scientific theory backing this facial morphing phenomenon is the aptly named “The DNA Mirror” – genetic bits deposited like travel souvenirs during coitus.  This sounds plausible, you see.  A cellular mix-mash. Chromosome smoothie. Exchanges of micro portions of Self.

Well, they say little drops of water make a mighty ocean, perhaps likewise, little splashes of genetic paint will eventually produce a self-portrait.

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Anyway, the way I see it, fabric print-blocking somehow aligns with all of this; the union of fabrics with different “backgrounds” but with a resemblance buried within their similar patterns. I sewed tailored drawstring trousers and a blouse, using a light crepe fabric with a geometric print in playful bubble-gum colours.

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Before attaching the waist band

I modified my basic trouser sloper by ignoring the waist darts and adding fullness (done either with a slash and spread from waist to mid-thigh or by adding ease at the side seams) till the final width became my 150% of actual waist. The fullness would later be contained with gently elasticated gathers and drawstrings.

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Attached a separate waist band 1. 3/4 inch high, which doubled as the tunnel for the elastic band. A half-inch black velvet ribbon was inserted as drawstring cords and the exit holes were stitched used the button hole setting.

Pocket pieces – Shell and Lining

I added inserted seam pockets because pockets are always a good idea, besides there’s something quite chic about the hand-in-pocket pose.

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A fuchsia silk was used for the pocket lining, which was then under-stitched at the outer seam.

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I modified my basic bodice sloper into a blouse by adding a 3/4 inch ease at the side seams, lowering the armholes by 3/4 inch, extending the Shoulder Point (SP) down by a half inch and also extending the length from the Neck Point (NP) to 26 inches.  The bust dart was distributed evenly between the armscye and the waist line, but no darts were stitched.

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The blouse neckline was finished with bias facing while the CB seam was finished by trimming the sewing allowance to the zipper width, and then attaching both using the zig-zag stitch edge-wrapping technique.

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And just in case you missed it, they say pink is for girls and blue is for boys. Yes, I clothed myself in my own musings…

Sign

45 comments

    1. Hi Sky,

      I know right! I like when a garment has “feeding allowance”, not every time suck belle, sometimes breathe easy and still slay.

      Lol @ “Chromosome smoothie” It does sound rather off. XD

      Thank you so much for stopping by.

      Like

      Reply

    1. Hi Bookie,

      Ah! No worries, one has now made a mental note to serve surplus rice at one’s wedding party reception.

      @ “Mix and match vibe”, I love the sound of that, feels like a fabric party. 😀

      Thank you so much for stopping by, have a happy new week!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  5. Hi Nedoux, good to be on this space again. Lovely post, I was more curious about why couples tend to look alike after the awhile, didn’t realize when it switched to fabrics lol. Love what you do

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Hi Kewan,

      Ah, someone suggested that “spousal resemblance” might be caused by a spiritual connection, when a couple bonds in the spirit, it transcends into the physical.

      Me, I think it’s a biological by-product from long-term intimacy.

      Thank you so much for your kind words. 🙂

      Enjoy the rest of the week.

      Like

      Reply

    1. Hello Osham,

      Thank you so much for loving this piece, “sublime” sounds so grown up. 😀

      @”Chromosome smoothie” I remember laughing as I made that up.

      Have a great week!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  7. I smiled all through while reading this (I got a bit lost when the technical sewing terminologies showed up though, lol). You write so beautifully.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Hi Ihuoma,

      I’m glad this piece made you smile.

      Thank you so much both for reading and for your very kind comment. “Beautifully” is such a beautiful word. 😀

      Have lovely weekend!

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      Reply

  8. Lol…You and your words eh. I was just smiling as I read.
    I had to note this: Also, I suspect a sensual baritone might help make this request less offensive. Now that was funny but true.
    And this: they say pink is for girls and blue is for boys. Yes, I clothed myself in my own musings… Perfect.
    Much love dear. Xx

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Hi Itunu,

      Thank you for reading this piece.

      Ah, there’s something about a baritone that’s bound to melt even the hardest of hearts, the babe will trip a little bit. XD

      Have a great weekend!

      Like

      Reply

    1. Hello ‘Laitan,

      Lol @ “Humans to Fabrics” Ah, there’s always a related thread if only one would find it. XD

      Thank you so much for your kind words.

      Have a fab weekend.

      Like

      Reply

    1. Hi Madmoiselle S (I know you are quite smitten by all things French),

      Well, one decided to test the writing waters again. One noticed the waters felt quite nice. One hopes they don’t remember the rapturous bliss of being a lazy writer.

      Lol @ “Hiatuses” XD

      Thank you so much for stopping by.

      Enjoy the rest of the week.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

  12. Yay!!!! Aunty ‘Nedu is back! 🙂

    You see I have often wondered about long married couple mirroring each other genes and facial configuration too. I couldn’t really wrap my head around the whole thing and I will agree with your assertion.

    Lol………… As if it is easy to spot one’s soul-mate, everyone ought to have found one by now but the scientific and tedious procedures aren’t smiling at all – watching keening at us in an amusing stance. The thoughts of having to penetrate the layers of feminine face-beats to decipher true facial configuration of the said prospective I perspire

    Hehehe @ “Also, I suspect a sensual baritone might help make this request less offensive” I’d acquire that sentence as a keepsakes – , who knows when it will be needed

    As usual, this post is interesting, witty, funny, poignant and of course awesome as the personality behind it.

    * PLS DON’T LEAVE US AGAIN ON THIS SIDE

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Hi Immanuel,

      Thank you so much both for the kind welcome and for stopping by.

      Lol @ “As if it is easy to spot one’s soul-mate, everyone ought to have found one by now” Indeed, if only it were that easy. XD

      Yes o, you never know when that smooth baritone will come in handy.

      Hahaha! I missed writing.

      Enjoy the rest of the week.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  13. Woop! A blog post from youuuu! As you know, I’m all about this union and fusion. Really my fav outfit you’ve made and I love your thoughts behind it.
    Now and again, I do see articles with pics of celebs and civilian couples in similar clothes but it’s not something I notice in my day to day life.
    Here in Berlin, the straight men have no style whatsoever and have no interest in attaining it, so I don’t see any morphation happening, if, IF/when I get into a r/ship. X

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Hi Biki,

      I’m glad you like this outfit, I like it too, dressy with heels and casual without.

      Lol… Your observations about the straight men in Berlin cracked me up majorly. Never say never, your fashion sense might just rub off on the lucky gentleman. 😉

      Thank you for stopping by, enjoy the rest of the week!

      Like

      Reply

  15. Hi ‘Nedu 😃,

    Are you back with us in this side, just testing the waters, ah, never mind, I shan’t bother myself too much with that.

    Classic post here, cleverly weaving nuggets, metaphors, tales and of course fabric together.

    “…co-traveller on the same train conveying my thoughts” – love this.

    Does that really happen, long term married couples looking alike? Ive heard but never quite seen it.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Hi Timi,

      Lol… Ah, being a lazy blogger has its perks but I’ll rather be back on this side with you. We’ll see how it goes… 😀

      Yes, it’s an actual thing that I’ve noticed in a number of long-married couples. I was prompted to write this piece after a colleague showed me a photo of their spouse, the resemblance was uncanny.

      Thank you so much both for visiting and leaving a delicious comment.

      Have a great week!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  19. You are so clever, delightful, creative, and amusing…this post is absolutely fantastic…”clothing yourself in your own musings”….now that is originality at its finest…bravo….thanks for sharing 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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