New peplum top experimentation

New peplum top experimentation

• 4.01.2013

New kind of peplum time! I got a little experimental with this one, inspired by the looser, softer, more casual peplums I've seen this season, and I'd say for the most part it worked.

So here's some less-structured peplum inspiration, then the rest of the story...

Source: mlovesm.blogspot.com via Suzannah on Pinterest

Source: margaretjacobsen.com via Suzannah on Pinterest

I've also been into tribal and Mexican prints, like many of us this season, and I had this very cool vintage woven Guatemalan-looking fabric, like a yard and a half, on the shelf. I'd saved a pic of a cute, loose tribal print top from InStyle or something last year, and kept it folded up with the fabric. But I figured I could combine the trends, right??

So, which pattern to use? I have some looser top patterns, but I hardly trust them to fit better than a pillowcase given modern pattern fits. So I used the same (type of) basic fitted dress pattern I have for several of my peplum top pattern modifications--Simplicity 1873.

Here's the experimental part: to make the fit looser and less fitted (and, as it turns out to make it pull over the head rather than zipper! So the sewing only took like 20 minutes!), I just didn't put in the waist darts. Whoa. Crazy. (I also cut the sleeves a little more open, wider down the shoulder.)

I wasn't sure if this would make it super unflattering, but I think it worked... (you tell me, I guess). The good thing about this pattern compared to Simplicity 2444 or some others is that it does have side bust darts, so I was able to give the bust a little shaping without the waist tapering. I've never felt confident making one of those flat square tops with arm openings like some people make... they're sometimes cute on them, but I'm not sure I could pull that off! I need a little more feminine shape!

Here it is!

Worn loose, or belted! A skinny belt would be cute, too, but this one was the first I grabbed.

Not bad for 20 minutes of sewing! Largely because there was no lining or zipper--I used black single-fold bias tape for the neck and arm openings. Whew!! Speed sewing!