Hi peeps; new blouse!
Amity of Lolita patterns emailed me a few months ago asking if I would like to test their new blouse pattern, the Olive. Thank you so much Amity! I lurve trying out new patterns! I finished it a little while ago and have been sitting on it; awaiting the go ahead to Reveal. And ta da! Apparently I’m part of a “blog tour”. This is a new thing for me. No, I hadn’t heard of a blog tour before either. It’s kinda exciting 🙂
The Olive blouse is a fitted blouse with a waistband, pleated peplum and elbow length sleeves. It has two variations; view A has a draped chiffon overlay, vertically aligned flounce and a rolled chiffon flower on the front, also with or without a little gathered frill on the sleeves too. View B is, literally, the no frills version. Closure for both versions is by invisible zip in the side seam.
So, I did make view A, with the overlay and flounce. Although I left off the flower and the sleeve frills. The sleeve cap is pleated into the arm scye with six teensy little pleats. Tres cute, non?!
My measurements put me at a size 6, however a quick recce of the pattern pieces decided me to size up to an 8, and I am glad I did. It is quite close-fitting. Linen is a fairly unforgiving fabric with zero give to it however, so I reckon if I was using something like a stretch sateen then the given size would probably be fine.
OK, so that’s what my blouse used to look like! It can be seen from the very top picture that it looks a little bit different now. It’s been de-flounced. Sadly I’ve realised I’m not a flounce kinduvva person. I de-overlayed it too. To replace the flounce I made shaped button- and buttonhole-bands for the left bodice seam. This is fully functional and fully button-and-unbuttonable but since I still use the invisible zip to get it on and off the button band is effectively decorative.
I really like mine with the button band, sort of casual and therefore more suited to my fabric choice; a fine-grade white linen from Fabulous Fabrics, the same fabric I used for my patchwork Zsalya dress, with white buttons also from Fabulous Fabrics. I think it’s still quite feminine looking with the sleeve length and the pleated peplum. but has a certain something else to it now, I don’t know what. Dentist? A rumpled one, after a long hard day at the drill. Yes. OK, I’m totally on board with that. A little known fact is that I do actually have dentist blood running through my veins.
Anyway, whatever it is, I do think it turned out very “me”!
But I jest. Seriously now the blouse is a classic style and so therefore quite versatile and would work with lots of fabrics. The jazzy style A in satin or silk would be a very pretty evening blouse and the plainer style B in sateen or crepe would make a very smart option for work.
Since I acknowledge that I do have about a zillion white shirts I am toying with the idea of dyeing it. Or maybe not. I’m dithering.
Details:
Blouse; modified Olive blouse by Lolita patterns, white linen
Skirt;skirt “m” from shape shape by Natsuno Hiraiwa, dusky pink linen/cotton, details here
Thongs; Havaianas
Much improved by the removal of the flounce! I really like the sleeve cap pleats and it looks lovely with your linen skirt.
The dentist look is so hot right now! But sans jest, it is very chic and those sleeves are very cute!
Much better after the flounce is removed.
It's a pretty pattern but I was put off by the flounce too! What a wonderful solution to add the button band with buttons. Lovely as usual! May I also say that even though our lifestyles are totally different, your sewing choices always inspire me and cause me to look at a garment/pattern differently! Thanks for bringing such wonderful inspiration into my life.
I don't mind the flounce… but on someone else. It doesn't feel like your kind of extra but the buttons do. Great modification.
Though the flounce is lovely, I like your button version for you better! Umm…it doesn't feel dentist-like to me… I think that as always your look is simple and very chic.
Oh ! I like it !!!
Love both but you are definitely a button girl. Jo x
Wow! They are both beautiful!
Looks great and you are a wizard with the white blouse variety – always something new. Crisp linen blouse paired with the long skirt gives me the faintest hint of turn of the century Gibson girl, modern version.
It's a very good shape, I think, and looks as if it will slot in effortlessly with the rest of your clothes. I struggle with frills & flounces too – yet I like them so much on others! I just feel a bit silly in them. Wouldn't it be nice to know why!
Totally with you on the flounces. They look really cute, but not on me. It might be a youth thing or not; some of us just aren't frilly! I'm thinking it's not just the white that says 'dentist' but perhaps the buttons as well that suggest uniform? If I imagine it just as a plain front it would be less uniform-y, I think. It is lovely regardless, but my money says you're gonna dye this one. Look forward to finding out…
You are so creative! It looks so lovely with the buttons. I'm not into flounces either.
You are so inspiring with the way you take a pattern and personalize it for you. The buttons and button band add interesting detail to the front, sans flounce. Not being a 'flounce' person either, but admire them on others who are 'flounce people'!, your creative approach opens up more possibilities to a pattern one might otherwise not take a second look at. It is lovely.
I very much like the way you took a lovely pattern that had some elements that were maybe not so much "you," and adapted it so that it fits nicely into your own wardrobe aesthetic.
Really lovely Carolyn-and prefer your version too. Tailored! 😉
A lovely blouse and I do like white linen. The flounce is cute but not you! I smiled when I realised you had removed it!
I really like your version of this top the flounce and frills are just not me or you and the button band is perfect.
Love the two versions! I definitely wear them in different occasions because one is more casual than other. Love them!
Beautiful! And I love the little pleats on the shoulder. Very cute.c
I thought the flounce looked really good on you, but understand completely – I'm not a flounce person either! The buttons do give it a very classy look, and of course I do love a peplum. As usual, a great make.
I've just read this and realised you were wearing it today. I quietly admired it but forgot to ask amidst all the other chat! I really like both versions, but agree the dentist look is more you. I've spent a happy afternoon drooling over that book and plotting my next move. Congrats on 800 members!
Beautiful top and the changes you made are definitely more your style. Love it paired with the linen skirt too.
I was excited to see how you would interpret this pattern. It isn't my favorite at first glance but I really like what you did to your final version!
I agree, it's very you! And beautiful. I prefer it with the buttons also. 😉
Both versions are very pretty. I like your rumpled dentist image 😉
That is a very pretty top. Love it.
I am a girl ruffles! However, I love your choice too, so original … I do not think of it as a dentist … when I saw the first pictures of your post, immediately images of Nicole Kidman in "Australia" came to my mind .
I love the button version better also. I have missed reading your blog! I will be doing binge reading this spring and summer 😉
I love that you had the courage to change the pattern, and make it in a style that was comfortable for you and your life style, and it looks great on you. As a long time flounce lover, I prefer the flounce on the blouse, but viva la difference!
I like the simplified version better, actually. I wasn't really digging the ruffle, but it's a good silhouette. I may have to consider this pattern after all!
Whew, that flounce just didn't make it. Its really cute with the buttons.
Everything you wear looks so comfortable! I think its the background too, it looks so natural and easy.
I love the top, esp. those sleeves. Way to rock pleats!
I much prefer the button band. The flounce just over does it. As Joe Hockey keeps telling us in Oz, less is more!
I like the button band better too!
Hmmm, this pattern hadn't taken my eye when I first saw it because I'm not a flouncy kinda person either, but I really like your button panel in a nice classic fabric – it looks fantastic.
I can be quite partial to a flounce now and again, but i do have to say, the amendment to a button placket makes the blouse look like it has clean lines and really suits the fabric.
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