13 Dec Elizabeth McKay Inspired – Vogue 1323
I spent the first weekend of December in New York and was exhilarated by the Christmas sights and festivities throughout the city. I spent the second weekend of December visiting my parents in Southern Pines, NC thoroughly charmed by small-town Christmas celebrations including the cutest horse and buggy parade.
I went from being among millions of people dressed in black to hundreds of people dressed in red inspiring me to do the same.
On a mission to recreate this Elizabeth McKay top, I chose a red and white silk charmeuse from Mood Fabrics for my first attempt.
I began with Vogue 1323 because the lines of the front and sleeves were similar.
After making a muslin of the bodice for fitting purposes I experimented with alterations on the bodice neckline and ruffle variations until reaching an acceptable resemblance to the original. I eliminated the plackets and standing collar and made a new facing for the ruffled neckline. “Winging it” is hard to document, but now that the first attempt is complete and somewhat successful, I have an organized plan for the next time which I will share in detail.
Overall I believe my efforts were successful resulting in a new top that is perfect for the holidays in South Carolina.
Four distinct differences between my top and the Elizabeth McKay original are apparent:
- There are two sets of little gold ball buttons connected by a chain on the Elizabeth McKay neckline. I could not find these cute buttons anywhere!
- The back of my top features a yoke simply because the pattern came that way.
- I added a full cuff.
- I did not include a side zipper to avoid interference with tucking the shirt into skirts and pants.
But once again I was reminded it never pays to be too proud. While strolling around Southern Pines in my new Elizabeth McKay knockoff, I walked right into this framed sign in a little shop.
After all the work I put into making my top, I’m taking exception with this quote! Herman Melville obviously didn’t sew.
Judi
Posted at 11:11h, 13 DecemberYours is even prettier than the Elizabeth McKay top!!!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 16:06h, 13 DecemberThank you, Judy! I’d really like to find the buttons she uses!
artattack024
Posted at 11:14h, 13 DecemberLove it! Tell Herman to jump off the fiscal cliff…
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 16:10h, 13 DecemberThanks, Dorcas! I’ll give him a break – maybe he’d take his words back if he saw my knockoff 🙂
prttynpnk
Posted at 11:15h, 13 DecemberMelville only really wrote one book that no one ever finishes- your top is one of many marvelous works of your own. Love it!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 16:11h, 13 DecemberWhat a great comment, Anne! Many thanks for writing 🙂
Karen
Posted at 11:28h, 13 DecemberI never much cared for Herman Melville – and now I know why! But I love your blouse and how you look in it!! Can’t quite believe you are without a coat in December – but aren’t you glad you are – otherwise, your beautiful blouse would be under wraps.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 16:12h, 13 DecemberThank you, Karen! The temperatures dropped today so a coat is needed outdoors. The top should still work for the holidays!
chicenvelopements
Posted at 11:34h, 13 DecemberReally beautiful and such a good color on you!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 16:12h, 13 DecemberThank you, Beth!
Junene
Posted at 11:35h, 13 DecemberHerman Melville can go suck it. You look fab!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 16:13h, 13 DecemberUmmm…………. I’ll give him a break 🙂 Many thanks for writing!
oh2bejoy
Posted at 11:39h, 13 DecemberI love it! AS usual, you have made a beautiful garment! and prttynpnk, *I* actually read all of Moby Dick (for a class…I was an English major), but it just about killed me….both from the length of that tome and from boredom……hehehe…..
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 16:15h, 13 DecemberThank you! I never knew a reference to Herman Melville would generate these emotional responses 🙂
Jacq C
Posted at 12:35h, 13 DecemberIt’s a fabulous blouse, you just need a different quote, how about this one:
“Imitation, if it is not forgery, is a fine thing. It stems from a generous impulse, and a realistic sense of what can and cannot be done.” – James Fenton
🙂
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 16:16h, 13 DecemberJames Fenton it is then……. I love this! Many thanks for the nice comment. 🙂
sewbusylizzy
Posted at 14:13h, 13 DecemberGorgeous blouse! I’m sure even Herman would agree x
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 16:17h, 13 DecemberThank you, Lizzy! He might even take back his words 🙂
velosewer
Posted at 14:25h, 13 DecemberYour blouse is really pretty and the ruffles are wonderful.
Herman should have been a sewer to learn more about life…
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 16:18h, 13 DecemberI guess he was too busy writing epic novels and poems 😉 Many thanks for the nice comment – I noticed you received one of the awards too!
velosewer
Posted at 23:00h, 05 JanuaryAnytime:)
Jillll
Posted at 14:48h, 13 DecemberSo pretty!!!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 16:19h, 13 DecemberThank you, Jill!
carolinascallin
Posted at 15:00h, 13 DecemberOooo…love Elizabeth McKay’s things – and your top is just wonderful! I love the way it turned out! Can’t wait to see the next version of it. Herman has clearly never shelled out those big bucks to buy one of her pieces 😉 Plus, yours is an original. Win. Win!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 16:22h, 13 DecemberWhat a nice comment, Cheryl! I love her things too – much better in person than in photographs. Hopefully the next one will be an exact duplicate 🙂
Miriam
Posted at 15:30h, 13 DecemberOh I think you did a great job, your top is beautiful!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 16:22h, 13 DecemberThank you so much, Miriam!
CherryPix
Posted at 17:33h, 13 DecemberHerman’s feathers might have been ruffled if he could’ve seen how you’ve so beautifully disproved his theory!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 17:48h, 13 December🙂 🙂 🙂 LOL!
Herman would be flattered knowing so many people were talking about him 130 years later!
CherryPix
Posted at 05:22h, 14 DecemberOn a completely different topic…are you the author/illustrator of ‘Buddy’s Christmas Joy’ ? (just wondering, based on your first pic in this post)
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:56h, 14 DecemberNo, but I like to write and want to publish a book one of these days!
Lori
Posted at 18:33h, 13 DecemberGorgeous top.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:47h, 14 DecemberThank you, Lori!
Carola
Posted at 19:10h, 13 DecemberFantastic top, Sarah! I love how you are altering patterns, and explaining why you’re doing it. Very inspiring! You’re teaching me to look outside the square! Thank you!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:48h, 14 DecemberThanks for this nice comment, Carola! I’d like to take a class on altering patterns if there is one. 🙂
Deborah
Posted at 19:15h, 13 DecemberYet again, another wonderful piece in your wardrobe! Happy Holidays!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:49h, 14 DecemberMany thanks, Deborah!
Mrs. K
Posted at 19:47h, 13 DecemberSo pretty – I love red! Merry Christmas.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:49h, 14 DecemberThank you, Mrs. K. I had quite a time convincing my husband this top isn’t pink!! 🙂
Peggy
Posted at 22:03h, 13 DecemberWow! This top is beautiful! I looked at the top on the Elizabeth McKay website, and I think yours looks much better, particularly at the neckline where the original had buttons (which I thought looked a little sloppy on the original–yours is clean and crisp!).
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:53h, 14 DecemberHi Peggy and so nice to hear from you! Maybe I didn’t post the greatest picture of the top because the top is beautiful and comes in several fabrics.I’ve discovered all of Elizabeth McKay’s clothes are much cuter in the stores than on the website. http://www.emckay.com/tops/
Teri
Posted at 12:14h, 14 DecemberReally cute top. I choose to disregard what Mr. Melville said!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 18:54h, 15 DecemberThank you, Teri! I’m cutting him some slack since he never sewed 🙂
Julie Starr
Posted at 15:31h, 14 DecemberI’m not yet familiar with Elizabeth McKay but I can’t imagine that her tops are any prettier than this one! Your signature ruffles plus the gorgeous fabric equals another stunner. And how fun to celebrate the holidays in such very different ways on consecutive weekends. Fa la la….
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 18:58h, 15 DecemberHi Julie – tis the season for sure! Elizabeth McKay is a New England designer ( I think) and her clothes are often sold alongside Lilly Pulitzer clothes. The line usually features beautiful blouses, though her website photos don’t capture the beauty of many items. Many thanks for writing!
Myra
Posted at 10:57h, 15 DecemberBeautiful festive blouse! Your version is sooooo very much prettier! I think Herman would agree and change his theory, if he were alive today!!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 18:59h, 15 DecemberHi Myra! Thank you so much for the nice comment. Maybe Herman just spoke without thinking 🙂
gingermakes
Posted at 18:27h, 15 DecemberThis is really pretty! It’s festive for the holidays but doesn’t scream “Christmas”– perfect! I have to be a contrarian and say that I’m a big Melville fan. 🙂
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 19:01h, 15 DecemberThanks, Ginger! I never dreamed the post would generate so many comments about Melville 🙂 Remembering your sweet birthday post – I bet you are a Melville fan!!
gingermakes
Posted at 19:13h, 15 DecemberHaha, I’m a whale lover and an American lit major, so he sits at the intersection of some of my main interests. It’s a great quote, though, and definitely provokes awesome discussion! 🙂
Gail
Posted at 04:35h, 19 DecemberI love your interpretation of this blouse.
Becky may
Posted at 17:53h, 19 JuneCould those be cuff links ? Like on fancy French sleeves?