My parents always provided me with nice, classic clothes (picture Jan Brady in the early episodes). I was happy, and I didn't care all that much about what I was wearing. Then a couple of my older "cool" cousins sent care-packages filled with bell-bottom jeans and other treasures. Finally I had some outfits that were more "with it" (more like what the Partridge Family would wear instead of the Brady Bunch).
I learned how to sew in home-ec at school and from my mom at home. I continued sewing some of my own clothes (including my own wedding dress with lace and beading on the bodice),
When Project Runway first aired, combining reality tv with sewing and fashion, I knew I'd have to watch. While the fashion aspect feeds my creative side, the competitors are such characters and I get my reality tv fix (one of my guilty pleasures). Personally, I'd never want to go on any reality show, but I have to say I always think about what I would create for the challenge each week. I appreciate the creativity and workmanship of practically every garment they make - even the most avant garde creations. Rules are made to broken - fashion rules anyway.
(But my good friend would still insist that you can't wear white shoes after Labor Day.)