What is spring and summer without a great linen look? It's even better when it's a matching set, that works together or as separates in your wardrobe!
The top retails for $795. I'd had this saved on Pinterest for a while... so I was glad when it was released by Vogue Patterns last year.
I'd recently acquired this beautiful cut of linen from Zelouf Fabrics. It's the Rebecca Stripe Linen in Ivory. The fabric is so subtle... it just makes perfect sense to use it for a design that has some flair to it. I thought I would be making a jacket and pants. But after I pre-washed my fabric and all of the sizing was removed, the linen was so soft that I knew it would make a great top.
My top is Vogue Patterns 1700. It's a perfect replica of the Rosie Assoulin Lantern Sleeve Top.
This top is pretty simple to sew and it has really cute designer-esque details. I cut a 14 and graded out to the 16. The bodice is really roomy, so I didn't need to do a FBA.
One of the main draws to this pattern is how it's designed to allow you to play with the stripe placement.
The bodice is lined. I used a lining fabric from my stash.
Have you seen my tutorial on how to sew a shirt yoke?
When this pattern was first released and posted to the McCall's social media accounts, there were comments like: "Who's going to wear that?"; "I can't wear a neckline that low. That's too much boobage!"; "I don't like it. The sleeves are silly and impractical." Insert eyeroll! You don't have to buy and make every pattern that is released. Everything isn't for everyone. And you're sewing the garment. Make necessary changes to suit you! Like, I sewed up the bodice to a level that I was comfortable with. The sleeves were extremely long. If I'm telling you a sleeve is long, it's long AF!
My shorts are the Closet Core Patterns Pietra Shorts. And they're my new favorite summer item. If you'd asked me a couple of weeks ago how I felt about pants with elastic waistbands? I would've given them 2 thumbs down! But I liked the way the front of these are drafted and I knew my top would be long enough to cover the top of them if I hated the back waist, so I went for it. And I love them!
One of the things I used to hate about RTW shorts is how they would ride up on the inside of my thighs and make the crotch are look horrible when I'm walking. Once I learned to do a full-seat adjustment and to lengthened the crotch curve, my life was changed. As long as I've been sewing and engaging the online sewing community, I rarely see women that look like me with similar body types making pants fit adjustments. Pants get such a bad rap when it comes to fitting, because there simply isn't the RIGHT information out here to help women with curves properly fit. I've read A LOT of fit books over the years and through trial and error, I've learned to make the adjustments that I need.
