Among the t-shirts and jeans and shorts and other standards in a closet is another, more exciting wardrobe basic…the dressy but not too dressy top. It’s the top that does all the work for you; not requiring any extra effort from other items of clothing. Know what I mean? You can throw it over jeans for effortless styling while running errands or put it on for a low-key date night or kid’s performance at school. It’s the “I have an everyday thing I’m going to that’s a little bit more than a mundane thing but not an exciting, over the top thing”. It’s always been a bit of a closet unicorn for me. Easy to imagine but hard to find.
It seems, however, that my moment has come. I have found my unicorn in this navy and coral Datura Top. This top is going to work-it-work-it for me.
The pattern is from the lovely french pattern maker, Deer and Doe. I am in love with the beautiful cut-outs and they are just fancy enough to be fun. The top is breezy and casually wearable. I used a coral lawn fabric for the bottom portion and a stiff flat cotton for the top. Using a standard cotton for the cut-outs portion really helped them come out crisply. I had to use two layers of the coral fabric for the front of the shirt because it is a little bit sheer. As for the shirt construction, I love the side darts on this top, they give it just enough shape.
I made a few alterations. First, I lengthened it a few inches because I have a long torso. I also graded out a size at the hips. I knew I would need more width around my, ahem, juicy parts especially since I had made it longer. I could have made the hip portion even wider, there is a lot of juicy, but I’m happy with how it looks. I didn’t notice until it was too late that the picture makes the back look like it gapes but I’m pretty sure that’s just how I’m standing?
This top is the seventh item of my handmade summer wardrobe from my big plan. I’ve got a bit more I need to blog about before it is officially fall. Speaking of fall, it just occurred to me that another bonus of this blouse is that I’m pretty sure I can throw on a cardigan and make it will a decent cold-ish weather top. Seriously, is there anything this top can’t do?
By the way, I recently started writing a newsletter with updates on my classes but also fun links to patterns, fabric and other things like music and movies that catch my attention. I found I really enjoy the format, it’s more personal and intimate. You should totally sign up!
I love it!
This top is lovely, I love navy and pink together. I have been thinking about getting this pattern for ages, it looks great. Is it just me that always wishes tops like this had sleeves?
It is not just you! I definitely wish more of the tops I like had sleeves but then SOMETIMES I end up feeling like the tops with sleeves look a little frumpy or boxy. Know what I mean? I definitely struggle with this. Cannot win on this one.