Several weeks ago I posted some highly controversial musings on The Fatal Allure of Prints, in which I confessed a push-pull relationship with print dresses and suggested that the desire for prints might be sublimated more wisely in printed blouses.
The lure of this printed camisole proved too powerful for me to resist.
The print is very old-fashioned, which makes it interesting as a slinky camisole. Because there is no such thing as Business Slinky, I’ve paired the camisole with a lightweight cotton lawn blouse. And to modernize the print, I am wearing it casually with khakis and bright flats.
I’ve had this white blouse for ages and wear it all the time. Some day it will simply disintegrate in the laundry and I will be bereft. I have scoped out a possible replacement, but it’s horribly expensive.
On to happier thoughts! While the camisole requires coverage, it deserves to be seen — hence the filmy blouse. The camisole also has a shirt-tail hem, exaggeratedly long in the back. Perhaps the tail is too long and should be shorted two or three inches.
Because it’s summer, I need a jacket when indoors.
And . . . scene!
Have a fantastic weekend!
Jacket: JCrew Downtown Field Jacket; White blouse: JCrew; Floral camisole: Theory Vaneese Cami; Shoes: Tory Burch Reva flats; Bag: Les Toiles du Soleil
I agree with the need for shortening the back hem. Otherwise, it looks spot on!
Hi Directrice!
I had a cotton voile blouse quite similar to the one you show and it did fall apart, not before I had worn and washed it to complete transparency. Your jcrew finding seems to be a good replacement, and for the price it should withstand more than a few washes, but I wonder if it would make sense to buy fabric and have a tailor replicate the one you have. I’ve never done anything like that, or heard of someone who actually did it, but I have dreamed of doing so with a few loved, irreplaceable items. However, I’m not sure whether the time and cost would be worth it, and I don’t have a trusted tailor to begin with.
I agree, that the back hem should be shortened! I really like the print under the white blouse and don’t think I would have thought of that!! Beautiful! jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
I agree, the back of the camisole should be shortened. It may also be worth spending an hour or so at a fabric store looking through all of the pattern books. There may be a similar blouse pattern available to buy and then you could make (or have made, if you are not a seamstress) one, or even a couple in different colours…..
Such a fun old-fashioned print! Would love to hear other ways/color schemes could you wear this with. Could be very versatile.
I particularly like the long hem and think it adds a surprise modern element to the sweet print.
Hi, just discovered your blog and having been poring over the archives from the beginning. This is as far as I’ve gotten so I don’t know whether there’s been an update on the state of the white blouse, but I clicked over to that J. Crew possible replacement and it’s on sale this weekend. I’m very much enjoying your senses of humor and style – looking forward to reading on.