Saturday, May 24, 2014

Vogue 9004 - Armani tops

I decided to make the Vogue top 9004, view C. Described as a fitted top with front seam detail and back zipper.


Vogue 9004
I shopped my stash and used navy and pale lilac silk georgette ( from trimFabrics.com,  8 yard remnants purchase many years ago).  Cutting silk fabrics is a stressful  for me. When I finished, I took a break and sat down to sort through a pile of inspiration pictures I had torn from magazines.  Lo and behold, buried in the stack, was a picture of the sleeveless version of this top on a young actress with a designer name mentioned.



inspiration photo
 Doing a little Internet research, I found that the  tops in this pattern look to be very similar to two featured in Giorgio Armani’s spring 2013 line.  Here are the runway pictures ( courtesy style.com.)





The pattern is rated “easy”.  View C  top is not easy.  The inset corner on the front,  the offset neckline, and the mitering needed to get the angular hem line are all intermediate level or higher sewing tasks.  I made my normal shoulder /back alterations to the pattern.   I did not use a zipper in the back. I am not terrifically busty/wide shouldered and the wearing ease in the garment plus the open neckline made it easy to pull over my head.



I liked the way view C fit so much that I decided to make view A as well. View A top is easy and goes together much faster than view C.  My version is made with more of navy silk georgette and a remnant of bright blue silk from another project.  This top finishes out at a length that I call "cover my hips” (widest part of hip) .  A popular length with women who think they can hide wider hips and bottom under fabric, when in actuality the length makes legs look munchkin short.  The vertical lines of the color blocking detract the eye from this, but if I were drafting the pattern from scratch for me, it would be shorter. These two tops use the same back pattern piece. You can see how the asymmetrical front makes the legs look longer compared to the horizontal front. Again no zipper needed and this time I did do the bias trim finish on the armhole.









I liked the way the actress Emma Robert wore the asymmetrical top. So I am on the lookout for slacks or a pattern similar to the ones she wore.  In the mean time you get to see the tops worn with jeans. The styling of these tops in the Armani fashion show was not inspiring.  But I did notice the view  A top can be worn under a jacket and only the inset shows, looking like a shell. Making it  a versatile, multi look, top for travel.  And I have more business travel coming up. A trip to Franklin Park, IL (anyone know of any good fabric stores in this area) and another trip to Nashville.  It is project Go Live time (one company, two different locations).  In reality I will probably have no time to shop, but one can dream.

On the family front, the sons are home from college for the summer. One has a job; the other does not, but is actively looking.   While I enjoy having them home,  I do not enjoy the mess that comes with them.  The mini microwaves, refrigerators and TV's from their dorm rooms are cluttering up my house.  DS1 has a new found enthusiasm. Brewing his own beer.  He takes over my kitchen and makes the house smell like hops, a very unique smell that I don’t care for.  Carboys of amber liquids, topped with bubbling scum, line the cool dark stairway to the lower level of house.  He asks me to taste test the final brews. Not being a beer enthusiast, I find it hard to find “nice” descriptive words for what I taste.  His last batch is pumpkin oatmeal stout. Pumpkin pie in a beer.  I can’t wait to taste that.

 This young lady is my niece in her prom dress. 



During the family Easter holiday get together, Auntie Audrey was enlisted to alter the bust area of the dress, reducing it by 2”. My suggestion to do it by removing the clear insert in the front was ignored. See all those had pretty crystals and sequins in a  mirror image pattern on the bodice.   Yes, I had to remove a significant amount of them around the seams where I took in the excess fabric.  Boned seams plus underlining and lining.  The final step was to sew crystals back on to cover the seams.  Fortunately there were faint white dotted lines printed on the fabric, showing the size, shape and orientation of the crystal to be sewn in that spot.  My sister had an equally fun job of shortening the length of the dress and hemming  both the voluminous chiffon over skirt and the under skirt.  But it was all worth it to see how beautiful my niece looked in her dress.

 A long holiday weekend stretches before me with no specific plans. Heaven.

24 comments:

  1. Audrey - I just noticed those tops yesterday and thought how great they would look as dresses. Gawd, I see dresses everywhere! *LOL* However, I love the tops you made. I'm sure you will find/make an amazing pair of pants to go with them.

    As for the kids thing, treasure this time because sooner or later they are going to be gone for good and you will miss the smell of pumpkin pie beer...though seriously!?! *smile*

    Have a great weekend! Hope you get to spend some quality time with your sewing machine.

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  2. Thanks for the info on this vogue pattern. I just picked it up this week. Am making a few things for DGD now, but hope to rummage through the stash fabric for two suitable fabrics for a sleeveless version of view B. I figured it wasn't really "Easy" with the hem/neckline angles.

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  3. I think both tops are extremely flattering on you! My concern for view C if I made it for myself is the shortness in the front. The one thing I don't want to do for my figure is accidentally show my stomach:(

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  4. You did a great job on the prom dress. Can't see any alterations and she looks lovely.
    Great tops too. Looks like they would be versatile and go with lots of outfits

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  5. I like both of your tops..the dark blue with white is especially attractive. The style looks very "new" .Life changes when our college aged children are home for the summer..they have become very independent and sometimes require a gentle reminder that your life has changed, too, while they were away! patience !

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  6. I had looked at this pattern before but was inspired to order it after your review. Thanks

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  7. I really love your new tops. I'd read some reviews that didn't like the asymmetry but I really like it and it looks fabulous on you.

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  8. These look like lovely little silk tops. I would like a whole wardrobe of lovely little silk tops.

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  9. I love those tops Audrey. They are very smart, and defintely good for work.

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  10. Thanks for review, Audrey. I was just looking at this top today knowing that Vogues are currently on sale at Hancocks. I love view C but if you don't think it's easy, it's waaaay beyond my skills! I will give A a go, though.

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  11. I've been making shorter tops recently, after being a diehard fan of the "cover my hips" length for a long time. I've been looking at pictures and I do think the shorter length can be more flattering, even with hips totally exposed! I love the top with the asymmetrical overlap. Very chic! Although I can't imagine how they labeled that an easy pattern.

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  12. Both of those tops look terrific on you! Makes me want to give them a go!

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  13. Your tops look exactly like the inspiration photos. What make it even more fabulous is that yours fits you perfectly and at a fraction of the cost! Don't you just love that you can sew!

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  14. I love your versions of this top. They both look great on you, but I like the asymmetrical one the best. I have this pattern and hope to make it up soon.

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  15. What an eye you have for patterns. These are both such simple and chic tops!

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  16. Great tops! So glad to hear the zipper can be left off.

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  17. Fantastic tops and love the colour blocking.

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  18. It's not often you see a pattern that so closely resembles a runway garment! I rather like both of these tops - your versions look wonderful, and so very wearable!

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  19. Audrey, this pattern looks great on you! You're an inspiration as always. Well done.

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  20. I loved this pattern as soon as I saw it. I plan to make view B, and if it looks as good as your versions I will be very pleased. I am not surprised that it is not an "easy" pattern. Thanks for the review.

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  21. I loved this pattern as soon as I saw it. I plan to make view B, and if it looks as good as your versions I will be very pleased. I am not surprised that it is not an "easy" pattern. Thanks for the review.

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  22. Franklin Park isn't that far from Evanston. You might be able to hit Vogue Fabrics.

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  23. Catching up on blogreading so apologies for the late response. Love your new tops. I recently ordered this pattern, and am now very excited about my choice!

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