Good weather feels good, doesn’t it? What if we had the perfect #memade clothing piece to go with that? Fast to make, classy yet sexy, wearable at work or on the weekend? If this description speaks to you, you will be up for creating your own version of the “Anderson” blouse by English pattern designer Sew Over It… Shall we go?
Are blouse really that flattering?
Personally, I’ve never been into blouses. As soon as a garment doesn’t mark the waist I feel like wearing a potato sack. It draws the attention to the hips without having the wasp waist effect to compensate. So while it is tremendously à la mode in Parisian fashion (have a look at brand Sézane to see for yourself) it left me a little cold…
But that was before I knew about the “high waist + blouse” combination that makes my fashionista’s heart beat faster.
Pleats and drapes are the new craze of the season
The trend seems to be into drapes and folds right now, especially if, like me, you follow a lot of French pattern making companies like Louis Antoinette and their latest collection (Betty dress, Elvire top)…
or even Cousette’s Paulette blouse (I made a dress version using a Vogue pattern V1337 that I can’t wait to wear and show you!)
And precisely at Sew Over It, folds are a thing. That’s precisely what seduced me in this Anderson sewing pattern… For the anecdote, it is inspired by Gillian Anderson in the series “The Fall”, where the character’s wardrobe is filled with flowy pleatsy blouses…
Choosing the right fabric
The most obvious choice seemed to be silk. There are some very nice examples on the designer’s website (I may succumb to create another version in silk soon hi hi hi…) but since I had struggled on another project in silk, I preferred to test a simple very fine cotton with small pink origami flamingo motifs (it came from french fabric provider Mondial Tissus. Cute flamingo themed fabric available here and here (but more colorful))
As always with thin white fabric, it was necessary to add a lining to remain work appropriate (the remnants of my wedding dress were finally reused!). I always avoid using the classic polyester lining fabrics, those with a “satin” look that crunches under the fingers. They are ugly, make everything electric and are not that pleasant to the touch.
Instead, I am a big fan of elastic mesh fabric, close to what you would use for swimwear lining. it exists in many colors but I most often use only neutral, white, black colors which is more than enough. I love this fabric which can also be used to customize other clothes as in the case of this sweater:
It is a real pleasure to use and the contact with the skin really feels smooth.
As for modifications, I made it without the elastic at the bottom, hence creating “swaying” sides to be able to adjust according to what I wear. It’s not bad but you have to be a little careful with the opening. HINT: If your interlocutor has trouble looking you in the eyes, it’s time to go and check that décolletage of yours…
How to wear it
I still don’t have the high waisted pencil skirt of my dreams to wear it (this kind of skirt looks awfully uncomfortable, yet it’s so beautiful!) but it’s surprisingly versatile and works with a whole bunch of (more or less) high waisted pants.
The best combination I cane up with are my leather shorts that I wear most of the year (it’s always a bit cool in San Francisco). To have a fresh take on this otherwise retro blouse, there is nothing better!
This is the second pattern I made with this designer (my previous Eve dress from Sew Over IT is available here) and I am very happy with it. It has a definite retro touch while being very wearable in everyday life.
I can only recommend it!
The “Icecream Museum” phenomenon
Let me digress to say a few words about where we took the pictures of this creation. It’s the very popular Ice Cream Museum in San Francisco. It is marketed as a new kind of museum, especially designed to appeal to a millennial audience.
The marketer in me was very attracted by the advertising masterstroke: even before taking your ticket, one watches fascinated an avalanche of highly instagramable photos. It’s pop. It’s overflowing with color. It looks like people are having buckets of fun. I say, why not.
My feedback?
What can I say.
The museum girl in me admits she felt a little cheated. A museum completed CENTERED around selfie taking has something ultra superficial that I found disturbing. It’s a bit like replacing Harper Lee or Mark Twain’s books in middle school with “Keep up with the Kardashians”. It might be more entertaining, but I can’t say we are going to learn a lot from it…
Well, it’s the same here. Apart from a few fun facts here and there, you won’t learn anything very exciting. On the other hand, you will fight with the groups arriving behind you to take THE best selfie, with no one around and putting your best profile forward.
I’m not sure that’s what I want from a museum, actually.
That said, there is a real regressive pleasure (in the sense, “back to childhood”) to plunge into a 100% cartoon universe, with giant candies and psychedelic colors. Perhaps the most interesting thing is to put on your ethnologist’s glasses and observe: the average age (millennials), the smartphone obsession, the aggressiveness in front of any photo bombing…
In short, I didn’t love it but the experience was worth it for the sake of the blog. But if that’s the future of museum, then I’m not going to be a very regular customer…
And you, blouses and the museum, how do you like them?
See you soon
La bise
Alicia