Click for a Closer View
This Aquilano Rimondi blouse is just to die for, but the price tag, Ayyyyy!!! However I think I can knock this off for myself. I’ve been looking for something foppish and feminine but not too formal or spinster-ish to fill in the neckline of my (almost finished!) Burda jacket. This blouse would be great in white silk charmeuse with the matte side out. For a pattern the middle view of Vogue 8322 comes pretty close. It has the covered placket, smooth sleeve cap and narrow sleeves of the original and I think I can redraft the collar to bring the edges together at center front. The princess seams in the bodice differ from the original but that’s not a deal killer for me. One thing I really like are the “pleats” across the front, which are not pleats but more like layers of fabric; notice the top two layers hang free, the one across the bust appears to be stitched into the armsyce and the bottom two layers hang free again. The short sides of each free layer are ever-so-slightly canted inward. I also think each loop of the ascot is sewn individually. The original also has a placket on the sleeve and the neckline fastens with a two buttons on a chain (love that!)
Sublime. The more I look at it the more I love it.
There is a front-tucked shirt in the March, 2005 issue of BWOF. If you have this issue, it would not be hard to eliminate the lower tucks and create the jabot.
Ooooh, it is DIVINE. I’ve added 8322 to my shopping list – it’s a good basic that I don’t have.
Just yummy!
A fabulous blouse. I bet it’s quite a pretty penny.
Wow, that’s a killer blouse and I salute you for taking on the challenge of recreating it. It looks so complicated, but very pretty.
Killer blouse!!!!!!
I LUV IT!!
That blouse is just gorgeous. I think you’ve chosen the right pattern to try to recreate it. Good luck, I’m looking forward to seeing the result.
Phyllis, I am not ordinarily a reader of sewing blogs. I found you through your comment on Scott’s page, and so came to see your trench. Then I stayed a while, looking at your grand parents, the Balenciaga inspired coat, the lovely quote for Ted Kennedy.
I have to tell you, this is the most interesting sewing blog I’ve ever seen. When I have more time, I’ll come back and look through some more of your ideas. I really like the idea of copying that blouse, btw. You must have some real talent. If it was left up to me, it would come out looking like something out of “The Trouble With Angels”. xo d
Well, not only can you knock it off, but it will fit better and you will be able to adjust those pleats so that they will be just exactly proportionally correct for you – so fooey on the price, by the time you end up with your blouse, it will be worth twice as much! Looking forward to the finished product!
I know that this pattern cannot measure up to the superb design of that Aquilano Rimondi blouse, but the BWOF October 2008-113A has a blouse whose layered loop of fabric along the front band could be borrowed.
Sisterbelle
There is a vintage 70s Vogue pattern #2185 by Renata, which is very close to the Aquilano blouse. It has horizontal tucks from the bust up with a bow at the neck. It is looser fitting, but that would be easy to alter and you would have the tucks. Try looking for it on Ebay.