Orange juice or Champagne, sir?
This top is a blatent knockoff of a top in January Vogue. The Vogue top, oddly enough, is from H&M. After I completed this project, I realized that I probably could have headed to the H&M in the local mall to see if it was there and save the trouble of making it. Somehow, it just seems easier to use some fabric that I have lying about and make it myself. I started with a Vogue pattern, 1084, and changed it considerably to get the lines I wanted. I chose this pattern because it has the shoulder that I wanted, and that’s a difficult thing to get right.
The fabric is a lovely cotton sateen. I bought it at a warehouse (London Textiles in Cherry Hill NJ). They have great prices and quality, but terrible lighting. I thought the darker color was black when I bought it, but when I got it home, I realized that it’s dark brown. I have a lot of it, and I may try to use color remover and dye the rest of it. Anyway, it’s perfect for this project, and a nice contrast to the tan color. The tan is also a cotton sateen.
Since I had some extra fabric, I self-lined the skirt to add a bit of heft to it. The top is unlined, with serged seams, except for the peplum part. The peplum is self-lined. It has a side zipper, which makes it rather difficult to pull over my head. It’s definitely the kind of thing that I need to put on before I do my hair. I put lingerie carriers at the shoulder seams.
back view
Front View. I'm wearing false eyelashes, which look nice in the photo. In person, they are extreme.
lingerie carrier at shoulder seam.
Zipper detail. If I were to do this again, I would insert the zipper upside down, opening at the bottom edge. It's hard to pull over my head the way it is.
My Christmas Present
Lastly, let me wish you a Happy New Year and I hope Santa brought you everything you want. He brought me this ring, which I just love. As I age further, my hands may begin to resemble the talons on the ring more and more. One of my sewing teachers at FIT, an older gentleman, had very talon-like hands. I see my future.
Rolling in Cloth 
12 Comments
You cracked me up with the eyelashes. Did you wear them out of the house? Once when I was in a show, after the performance, I got back in my street clothes but didn’t remove my make up and forgot about my fake lashes. My sister said I looked very funny.
Love the new top.
Don’t un dye your fabric. Just wait for more brown opportunities. I love brown!
Thanks! No, I did not wear them out of the house. I bought them ages ago, and had not tried them yet, so I figured they might be fun for the photo. Not exactly a normal Monday morning look, though.
You live in a land of such interesting ideas and visuals. Cool outfit and such unusual colorblocking. That ring is wonderful! LOL on the talons. I am blessed with chubby “practical” fingers and thin, splitty nails, and rarely wear any sort of ring. I love bracelets, watches and neckwear. 🙂
I remember that top from the Jan Vogue and I love your version of it! Especially the first pic with the tray! The eyelashes do look stunning in the picture and I love the ring! Happy New Year to you too!
Haha, the eyelashes are fun, especially in this excellent stewardess picture. I have often wondered how it must feel to wear these at home (and not for the purpose of LP covers etc.). Guess I can spare myself the experience now.
Love the top!
You look very doll-like in the full-front shot … I mean this as a compliment. (Perhaps it is only the wide-eyed stare and the extra eye-lashes.) Love the hint about installing the side-seam zipper upside down. I try to remember to do this each time I install one — why is it that sewing instructions on commercial patterns do not tell one to do this very practical technique? Even if you have undue strain across the bosom, or from lifting one’s arms, the zipper stays shut: No nasty self-un-zipping-itself mishaps occur when the thingie has to slide up, not down!
Right after I read this post I read a post from Keep it Chic and what is the top photo? Your blouse. The blogger wanted a peplum piece to add to her wardrobe and btw, it’s not in stores yet so you are way ahead of the game. It’s a great top.
Can’t your just overdye the brown black? If you are going to go black you’d be better starting with a dark underbase I would think. It will probably end up a warm black but you can try adding some dark blue dye with your black. I’ve found that this gets me a better black than just using straight black.
Hmm, I had not thought of that. In the past, I have not had good luck with black dyes. Maybe I could try again.
Definitely gives you a smaller waist (not that you needed it, but it does) and who doesn’t want that! Bonus points for the carriers!! And love the ring – but doesn’t it get caught on things?
It definitely gets caught on things. It’s a party piece. And not a party that I am hosting.
I love the colour blocking. Does the skirt match the top or is it just the effect of the light?
Thanks! Yes, the skirt matches the top. There’s not much to say about the skirt, really, so I did not focus on it in the blog post.
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