Wrap Blouse
Introducing a sophisticated women's sleeveless top featuring a tailored lapel collar and a gracefully draped wrap front, secured by decorative buttons.
When To Wear
This stylish vest is designed for versatility and can elevate various ensembles, making it an ideal choice for:
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Business Casual: Perfect for a polished office look when paired with tailored trousers or a pencil skirt.
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Smart Casual Gatherings: An elegant standalone piece for lunches, brunches, or semi-formal daytime events.
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Layering Essential: Ideal for adding a refined touch under a blazer or cardigan in cooler weather.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: a fitted, hip-length, sleeveless vest style designed to flatter the figure.
Neckline & Collar: Features a deep V-neckline framed by a classic notched lapel collar, creating a sharp and sophisticated look.
Front Closure & Details: a stylish wrap front with the left panel overlapping the right. The left panel is designed with outer buttons that fasten into loops on the right panel, creating a decorative closure. This also secures the elegant draped pleats visible on the right side. An additional internal button and buttonhole provide a secure fastening for the wrap.
Sleeves: Sleeveless design with clean, neatly finished armholes.
Back: Features a tailored back with a central seam for a refined fit.
Hem: a clean, straight hemline.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Requires proficiency in tailoring techniques including precise collar and lapel assembly, working with lining, creating draped pleats, and button/loop application.
Fabric Recommendations
Choose medium-weight woven fabrics with good drape and sufficient structure suitable for tailoring, such as:
- Crepe
- Gabardine
- Linen blends
- Light suiting fabrics (e.g., wool blends, stable cotton twills)
Additional Supplies
- Lining fabric
- Fusible interfacing
- 4 buttons (3 outer, 1 inner)
- Bias strip (2.5 cm x 15 cm) for button loops
Cutter's Must
- From main fabric:
- Back – 2 pieces
- Right front – 1 piece
- Left front – 1 piece
- Lapel – 4 pieces
- Collar – 2 pieces
- Front facing – 2 pieces
- Back neckline facing – 1 piece
- From lining fabric:
- Back lining – 2 pieces
- Front lining – 2 pieces
- From fusible interfacing:
- Lapel – 2 pieces
- Collar – 1 piece
- Front facing – 2 pieces
- Back neckline facing – 1 piece
Sewing Instructions
- Fuse interfacing to the designated pieces.
- Stitch darts on back pieces, press dart allowances towards the center. Stitch the center back seam, press seam allowances open.
- Fold and secure pleats on the right front pieces (pleat depths directed downwards). Fold and stitch a pleat for 8-10 cm on the left front piece (pleat depth directed downwards).
- Stitch side and shoulder seams, press seam allowances open.
- Place the upper collar on the undercollar, right sides together, and stitch the outer edge and the collar stand notch. Trim seams at corners, turn right side out, shape and press the collar. Place lapels in pairs, right sides together, and stitch the lapel notch and the outer edge of the lapel. At the lapel notch, clip the seam allowance, turn the lapel right side out, shape and press. Stitch the gorge seam: upper collar to upper lapel, undercollar to front facingel. Press seams open. Secure seam allowances together close to the stitching line. Attach the collar with lapel to the neckline.
- Cut a bias strip 2.5 cm wide and 15 cm long for the loop fasteners. Fold the strip lengthwise in half, right sides together, and stitch 0.3 cm from the fold. Trim seam allowances close to the stitching, turn the strip right side out and shape the rouleau. Cut into three parts. Adjust the length of the loops. Stitch the loops onto the right front piece (folds directed away from the edge).
- Stitch and press open the shoulder seams of the back neckline facing and front facings. Stitch darts and seams on lining pieces, leaving an opening for turning in the left side seam. Attach the lining to the inner edges of the front facings and the back neckline facing.
- Place the front facing with the back neckline facing onto the right side of the garment, right side down, pin and stitch the front edge, front neckline, back neckline, and hem. Clip seam allowances at curves, trim at corners. Turn the garment right side out, shape, and press.
- Stitch the armhole in 2 steps through the opening in the side seam: back armhole from shoulder seam to side seam, and front armhole from shoulder seam to side seam. Close the technical opening.
- On the left front piece, make a buttonhole, sew on the inner button. Sew on the outer buttons.
