Making the 1955 Blouses

I was able to make both of these blouses. This is a wonderful pattern that is easy to make and very flattering. I made View B first from a wonderful piece of Dolce and Gabbana mulberry silk I found online. I’ve never used an actual mulberry silk before and it is very opulent and easy to work with. I didn’t need any alterations for the pattern. The blouse has a wide shallow neckline and double darts in the front.

I made View A from Spoonflower’s Essex Linen, which is a linen and cotton blend in my diatoms print. This is one of the first fabrics I designed but it took me well over 10 years to make something with it! The fabric was lovely to work with and I think it complemented the pattern. This view has an off the shoulder “V” neckline and a front slit. I used an invisible zipper for both blouses.

The only thing that I’m not sure I like about the pattern is how wide the neckline is. I have broad shoulders but I still felt that the neckline was falling off my shoulders. In spite of this, I do wear the blouses often. I like that I can wear them with jeans or dressed up with a slim skirt. This is another instance where a vintage pattern really looks current when styled correctly.

It’s a quick make and I suggest you give it a try to create a versatile top for every day.