Hey everyone! I’m back today with the ladies from the Ageless Style group who get together once a month to show off a theme. I missed it last month because I had taken a hiatus to get our house ready to be put on the market. Hahahahahahhahahahahahahhaahaha! Then the apocalypse. And now I’m here today with this month’s theme of showing an item we loved in the store but after buying it and getting it home, having second thoughts.
So, like many of you, I have just not felt up to getting dolled up and putting make-up on and doing my hair (and I really need a haircut!) and finding an outfit so I thought I’d pull from the archives, knowing specifically which item I wanted to talk about because it had bewitched me in the store, then stumped me at home.
As a big busted woman, I rarely look at button-down shirts because they can fit perfectly everywhere else but still pull and gape at the bust, so I just gave up on them. However, this print pulled me in with it’s moody black/gray and illustrated flowers, and I thought I would give it a chance. The fabric has a bit stretch and it was cut big enough to actually work in the bust. It did pull apart a little bit but I put a few stitches in it and it held. Perfect!
However, to make it big enough to fit in the bust meant it was big elsewhere. The sleeves were too long. (Jodie, I know you’re going to say to do a little bit of sewing to fix that but I never will until I have your mom teach me!) The body of the shirt was flowey, and if a shirt is too flowey when you have a big bust, it just makes you look bigger or like you’re wearing a maternity top or tent.
As an experienced fashion lady (official title) I knew I had to get creative to make this pretty top work. So, I tried it worn open like as if it was a lightweight sweater:
I tried tying up the ends:
And I tried belting it and wearing it under a jacket:
All three of those variations worked for me and gave me a lot more options with this top.
So, the easiest advice if you’ve bought something and now that it’s home, you’re at a loss on how to wear it: try layering it with lots of different items in your closet. You never know what will surprise you.
Be sure to check out how the other ladies in this group tackled this challenge!
Amy ~ Amy’s Creative Pursuits Blog, Facebook, Instagram, Google+, Pinterest
Bettye ~ Fashion Schlub Blog, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube
Daenel ~ Living outside the stacks Blog, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter
Debbie ~ Fashion Fairy Dust Bloglovin, Blog, Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter
Jennie ~ A Pocketful of Polka Dots Blog, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Bloglovin
Jodie ~ Jodie’s Touch of Style Blog, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Bloglovin, Twitter
Julia ~ When the Girls Rule Blog, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram
Kellyann ~ This Blonde’s Shopping Bag Blog, Instagram, Bloglovin, Twitter
Shelly ~ The Queen in Between Blog, Instagram, Bloglovin, Pinterest, Facebook
Shugunna ~ Nzuri N* Simplicity Blog, Pinterest, Instagram
Alright everyone have a wonderful week, stay safe, stay home and keep your chin up. I’m right there with you!
5 Comments
What a beautiful shirt! I’m so glad you found some ways to wear it. Maybe you could take it in to a tailor and have them take it in where you want it taken in (it’s how Jennifer Aniston’s shirts all fit so well). But you were so creative in the other ways, I’m not sure you need to have it fit perfectly as a regular blouse. Wearing it over a shirt and belting it and then putting a jacket on over the look is my favorite!
Ruth
https://voguefauxreal.com/2020/03/23
I remember loving that shirt when you first posted it so I’m glad you were able to make it work!
Bettye
Wow….I guess I have a reputation, haha!! But I will admit, not all sleeves are easy to shorten…trust me, I’ve made that mistake. So many times, I roll them up!! Or heck, just cut them off and have them be a raw hem, LOL!!!!!
I do love the shirt Julie. I’m glad you’ve figured out how to wear it.
OXOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Beautiful button down! I can see why you wanted to give it a try and I enjoyed seeing the variation of style options. I really like your knotted at the waist look. I love button down shirts, but have the same issues with the chest area and gapping. 🙁 I usually layer over a cami and button up to my chest.
It is a pretty button down. I know exactly what you mean about button downs which is why I tend to avoid them as well. I also tend to “size up” when I want something so badly but my usual size doesn’t fit everywhere. Then I regret the purchase because like you said “It’s big everywhere else”. I’m sorry about the timing with your house. We have had to put a lot of things on hold too.