Saturday, December 24, 2016

A Casual Holiday Look!

I love a casual but festive look for the holidays. The color red is de rigueur when it comes to holiday dressing. And denim always gives an outfit a more subdued feel. But instead of wearing jeans and a bright colored top, I chose to flip the look. I'm pairing a chambray blouse with bright red trousers. 
Keeping in line with the oversized sleeve trend, I reached back to out-of-print Vogue 7604 from 2002. The oversized Bishop sleeve is nothing new. Styles like these are always cyclical. So when these trendy patterns are released, I like to collect them even if I don't want to sew them at the moment. You never know... It just may take 14 years to get around to it!
This is a pullover pussy-bow (collar extends into tie ends) blouse with a keyhole back. It has oversized Bishop sleeves and wide button cuffs.
My fabric is this gorgeous Italian Blue Topweight Viscose Denim from Mood Fabrics. I cut the size 14 and I lengthened the body by an inch. I also lengthened the top part of the sleeve so that it would fall right at the elbow. And also so that the I would have a lot of fullness on the bottom.
On the back bodice, the instructions suggest that you interface the area around the the keyhole opening. But I didn't want to do it that. 
And I also have enough experience to know that for me this process works a lot better by interfacing the the facing and understitching.
I wanted to also make sure that the keyhole was obvious. So I again stepped away from the instructions and did my on thing.
I added an eye & hook.
I'm head-over-heels in love with this top! I've already worn it twice! It works so perfectly with my Simplicity 8058 pants.
Wishing you all, a very Merry Christmas!

18 comments:

  1. In love with this look! The top is gorgeous!!! Merry Christmas to you too!!!

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  2. I love the way you make patterns your own. Beautiful!

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  3. The sleeves definitely have it! Gorgeous outfit.

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  4. Beautifully done! That blouse is everything. I LOVE a dramatic sleeve!

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  5. Stunning outfit, Erica! Merry Christmas!

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  6. The look is absolutely stunning I loveee the top..

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  7. I lurve this blouse so much! Merry Christmas!!

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  8. Very pretty Ms. Erica! You always pick the nicest fabrics too! I really love this Chambray as much as the one you made the Hot Patterns Urban Gypsy top out of! I've never worked with a Chambray and would really like to some time soon. Beautiful outfit for the holidays!

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  9. Your blouse is glorious, but I would not have thought to label it casual. Indeed, I found myself giggling a little at that characterization. The style of the blouse is elegant, as is the way you wear it. Does the nature of the fabric render it casual? Maybe so, but I cannot imagine it looking any more elegant than it does, if you had made it in silk. This is not a criticism; just a question!

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    1. I think the denim keeps it in the casual lane. In an upcoming post, I'm wearing it with a pair skinny jeans for a denim-on-denim look. Thanks Ann!

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