Paper Bag Waist Breaks the Rules with a Zen-like Glee

There is something about a paper bag waist that intrigues me. Maybe it’s because it’s a rule-breaker. To create a paper bag waist, I scrunch a bunch of fabric around the smallest part of my waist and cinch it there with a belt. It creates bulk in a place I usually try to make look smaller. And yet, here I am, wearing pants with a paper bag waist.

Expressions Through a Paper Bag

For me, nearly everything I wear tells a sort of story, expresses a mood, or illustrates what kind of creative energy I’m channeling. When I made these pants out of an old flat sheet and some acrylic paint, I was channeling the whimsical, rebellious, Zen part of me.

Yes, you can be whimsical AND rebellious AND Zen at the same time!
On any given Tuesday I’ll be one or two or all three!
Or something else altogether.

Hubby drew the little characters I painted onto each pocket. The character above is me and the one below is him. I painted the stripes to have the look of a Zen artist who paints knowing that her art, like her body, is finite.

According to Peggy, the owner of Sew House Seven and the creator of this Nehalem pant and skirt pattern, she was inspired by Thai fishermen when she designed these pants. In the picture below, I wore the waistband upright so you can see how the pants wrap around on the front and stay closed with the attached belt. To me, it does have that Asian fisherman feel in the design.

To Wear, or Not to Wear

Will I wear these pants outside of my condo? I’m not sure yet. They are made out of a cream color sheet that is not flattering against the color of my skin. Plus, I haven’t yet found a top I absolutely love with it.

Still, I ponder the idea of these fishermen-styled pants and I love their rebellious, whimsical, Zen-like nature. It was fun painting the stripes and cartoon figures. There are no pants like these anywhere else. So, maybe, once I’ve finished all the sewing projects stacked in my office, I will track down a darker vintage fabric and break out the paints to create a different pair of paper bag waist pants.

I will leave it to my rebellious, whimsical, Zen-like muse.

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Linked to the lovely Patti’s Visible Monday link-up on Not Dead Yet Style.

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Affiliate Links: I didn’t intentionally link this post to any shops with whom I’m affiliated. I’m not being paid by Sew House Seven, BOHO Republic, or Sassafras to advertise their shops. There are, however, ads and links throughout my blog, that when clicked, take you to shops I’m affiliated with. If that happens and you purchase something from those places, I might see a few pennies from that purchase. Those pennies add up sometimes, enough for me to pay for my domain name, download another pattern, or purchase a top from a thrift shop. Whether I see money from a transaction, or you’re just here to read and visit, I thank you for your support.