WIW: Possibly the dumbest thing I ever bought (2 alterations later...)

Hi YLFers --

[Apologies for the non-ideal selfie situation]

Like many of you I'm so ready for warmer temps. Cold and rainy again here, though. Explains the hair, sigh!

So BLACK wool sweater + jersey sheath + boots got a lightweight (ok sheer!) lurex-threaded overlay today.

I fell in love with this top across a crowded room a year or so ago. It was way out of budget so I put it on a watchlist and eventually it was mine. Except it was way too voluminous even for me.

It should have gone back but I'm telling you, the colors in this make me look angelic.

Alteration 1: slim the sleeves and torso

After a year of wear, I realized there were so many times I wanted to layer this UNDER a dress or something but the peplum was in the way. And yes, I was still in love with the fabric.

So this spring...

Alteration 2: Deep chop to a crop

So loving the versatility of being able to wear this over or under (should those warmer temps ever come). It's obviously boxy, but we ended it at the narrowest point on my torso, which helps.

I'm not advocating you try this at home -- but I'm not going to stop ya if you do!

ps You can see the original top in Photo 3.

8 years ago

jussie

Veteran

Beautiful fabric!

Anonymous

It’s a beautiful piece and I can see how you were drawn to it and determined to make it work .

I agree with Jussie and Lisa. It is beautiful fabric - light ang floaty and in a lovely print, I too can understand why you had to get it.
I actually like what you did to it. Good job making it your own

Barbara Diane

So glad you made it work for you.

Vix

Jussie, Lisa p, Efbgen Barbara Diane --

Thank you for seeing why I couldn't let this piece of fabric go! The metallic threads make it extra-beautiful -- to me, anyway! -- at night.

I had done my "wear a certain kind of dress or top as a scarf" trick with it so I knew if alt 2 didn't live up to my hopes I'd have a fallback (or something to frame on the wall!).

Bonus that it's forced me a bit out of my style comfort zone.

unfrumped

I am a sucker for specific colors and fabrics, so I get it!

Cardiff girl

You sure have earned your top!I can see why you fell for it,beautiful floaty fabric.

It is gorgeous and it is gorgeous ON YOU. I really like it a lot and I am glad you found a way to make it work.

Katerina

What a beautiful top!!! The fabric is divine. You look gorgeous in it.

I am intrigued - how do you wear a top or a blouse like a scarf? Would love to try ...

Unfrumped -- Thank you; I think you and I were textile merchants or museum curators or something. Very hard to pass on the raw materials we love even when the execution is off!

Cardiff Girl -- Yes, it was a journey but my stubbornness paid off! Thanks for the fabric love.

Sterling -- Thanks much for the compliments to both parties involved in this union. I think you know I wear these colors all the time so I should not have thought it was anything sooooo special, but the print's pattern plus color combos = catnip.

Katerina -- The top or dress as scarf [inverse of the usual!] is not hard to do as it's more art than science. It does seem to work best with a lightweight sleeveless item or one with wide sleeves.

Not sure if this description will help but let's try. You're a scarf expert so I have no fear you can get there. There may be a tutorial online -- I developed this when I had a dress I couldn't fit into but loved the fabric...eventually got to wear it as a dress.

[Link goes to an old post of mine which shows the dress-as-scarf + dress-as dress...it was a lightweight silk with a silk jersey lining]

https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....ues-greens

1) Drape top or dress around shoulders lengthwise

Note: Tanks generally need to be slightly longer, around hip-length, for this to work.

2A) If sleeveless: there will be a natural "loop" created by top of garment; bring bottom through that and fuss til any tags or seams are hidden. This simple treatment has stayed in place for me but you cna always knot where desired. ALT: thread each end of garment through a scarf ring

2B) If sleeved: start by bringing end of garment through each sleeve and check bulkiness. You may want to knot or tuck one sleeve higher than the other, or you may want to twist the sleeves together before knotting them...use your instincts

Vix, thank you very much for the idea and the explanation. Its brilliant! I have a couple of silk tops which do not fit well any more, but the fabric is nice. Can’t wait to try to give them new life as scarves.

Colette

I'm so happy you were able to make this work for you, the fabric is lovely. I always forget that you can alter tops and not just pants.

Category