Sunday, June 29, 2014

Pretty in Pink - Burda Style 5 2015 130

 
I love stripes and I was attracted to the casual look of this striped top.

Burda 5 2014 top 130

 I wasn't sure the style would be good for me though.  There is a lot of fabric in the waist area.   I felt the strip was critical to the top not looking like a baggy mess at the waist, confirmed with the only other version I could find on the internet, at theBurdastyle.ru site, which was  made in a solid color knit.  I decided to sew this top if I could find a semi sheer, drapey, woven fabric in a wide black and white stripe, preferably silk. I'll bet some of you are probably chuckling and thinking "Good luck with that"  Yes, the only black and white fabric I could find  was poly. Buy right next to it was a pink and white strip. Looking at the two choices, the black and white said "same old, same old", the pink and white  said "pretty!, pretty!". The pink came home with me.

The most time consuming part of making this top is the cutting out. Making sure the  front edge of the garment and all the yoke edges fall on the bottom of a dark stripe, and careful matching of stripes for the bias cut back. The sleeves are very slim fitting all the way to the wrist. I checked the sleeve width before cutting to make sure they would fit my arms.  The sleeve length is below the wrist as shown on the model. And because they are so fitted, the sleeves cannot be pushed up the arm for a 3/4 length casual look, which I  had considered doing. Before sewing the button/buttonhole bands of the ends of the draped pieces, I tried on the top and played with the draping to make sure the length was enough to lay nicely on my hips and maintain the low "V" in front.  I cut off about an inch on each tie to achieve this. If the ties are too long the draping at the hips drops below the bottom of the top and looks weird. A comment to this effect,  made by the burdastyle.ru sewer, alerted me to check this.
Front



Front before draping

Back before draping


Front draping step 1



Back


requisite back view 


with white jeans
I am very pleased with this top.  I can wear it with blue and white jeans and grey slacks.

  What I have not shared with you yet is that the dress code in my work place changed about a month ago.   Jeans are now permitted, with a lot of conditional criteria for client facing personnel (like me).   In a nut shell, you can dress at the level of your client or above, but not below. Since most of my clients are in a manufacturing facility, it can be jeans 90 % of the time.  I am completely perplexed with what to wear to work these days. For comfort and professionalism, I prefer slacks.  Still I don’t want to be overdressed. The males in my department embraced this change with enthusiasm. My boss, a male in his  mid 40’s promptly started wearing, baggy blue jeans. It startles me every time I look at him.  His superior is a woman about the same age as I am.  We have always dressed very similar and often in the same colors on the same day, which we joke about.  She has continued to wear professional looking clothes.  Complicating matters  further is my new office, which has all glass on an east facing wall.  Even with sun shades drawn against the morning sun, it is quite warm until about 3:00 PM every day, when for some inexplicable reason, a blower starts up and icy cold air pours out of the ceiling vent. I can‘t wear the beloved jackets I like to sew, but for 2 hours per day.  I have three partially completed jackets in sewing limbo  until I can get my wardrobe compass steady.  In the meantime I will continue to sew tops.

24 comments:

  1. It looks great on you, although the colours and the pattern are really something new!

    A sudden change of work clothing style would through me off the rack as well, although I'm a labrat, so my style is rather casual... ;)

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  2. My sister, an attorney, always says to dress for the job you want, not the job you have. So if you aspire to a more senior position, I suggest you continue to wear professional work attire. The top is cute and interesting - I'm so glad you chose the pink and white. Can you wear jackets in the winter instead? Maybe that window of walls won't be so warm then.

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  3. This is great! I think the pink stripes are better than the B&W, which can look circus-y or costume-y. So cute!

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  4. That's really lovely. I actually love it not tied up just as much as I do when it's tied at the back. Beautiful.

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  5. Really like your top. Thanks for all the drape/wrap photos. I couldn't figure out the intended way to wear the top from the magazine photo alone.

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  6. Great job of engineering the stripes. They match perfectly! I love the look of this top on you. Very flattering.

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  7. This is really lovely! I was drawn to that pattern but haven't found a need for me to sew it up. I love the color choice and fabric... it's perfect!

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  8. You have shown that this is really lovely top if handled correctly. Love the stripes!

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  9. I love your top. I was really drawn to this pattern when the issue came out but hesitated making it due to a lack of examples on the web. Your version has more than convinced me - you look so beautiful in it. Definitely giving that model a run for her money!

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  10. This is really nice on you. I prefer your version to the one in the magazine. The pink stripes are lovely.

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  11. This top turned out so wonderfully! I had glanced at this pattern in the magazine but didn't give it a second chance until now. Looks great!

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  12. Very cute top. It does look nice in the pink stripes. I like it better than the black and white.

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  13. Do you make your own jeans?
    I ask because in the last really casual office I worked in my boss told me that it looked like I was trying to out-dress her…
    I now have the option and sometimes its nice to wake up and pull on a pair of jeans.
    I love this jacket. The pink isn't quite as faddish as the black and white, its softer. I even like it untied, very pretty casual look. It will look terrific with any color or style that you choose to pair it with.

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  14. You look gorgeous in that top. The pink is great; the style makes the soft colour smart. I find it a little nerve wracking making something that has not been reviewed much. Congrats.

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  15. Oh this looks amazing on you! I would never have looked twice at that pattern, but it absolutely shines on you. So glad you went the pink and white over the black and white - so much fresher and happier. I love the buttons at the back - it's such a wonderful top.

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  16. I really love this color way on you. I'm going to have to copy the look. I'm going through something similar at work in that I'm moving to a casual environment. I'm a bit stumped as I don't have much by way of casual and like you -- don't want to be overdressed. I look forward to seeing how your sewing might adjust to accommodate.

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  17. What a wonderful blouse, this is one of the most attractive I have seen in a very long time.

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  18. Beautiful top -- I never would have thought to make this one, but your version is inspiring. Work attire is definitely more casual here in California -- some people have worn shorts and flip flops to the office! -- I hope you find the right balance for you. I tend to be on the overdressed side, but that is because I prefer a more tailored look, and I always get a boost of confidence when I know I look pulled together.

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  19. I was intrigued by this pattern so I am really happy to see it made up. I love it and will be on the hunt for some striped drapy fabric now too, the stripes really bring out the design.

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  20. I consider you a 'style sister'. On the other side of the world you are planning my spring/summer wardrobe by making clothes I adore!

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  21. How fantastic to see this top made up in real life!

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  22. Thank you so much for this review! I really couldn't figure out how this top looked from the back in the magazine, or really how the drape worked (I couldn't tell if the crossunders just went to the side seam or what). I am going to keep this one in mind for winter.

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