Thursday, June 2, 2011

The Daily Dress: Emma Pillsbury in Kate Spade

I'm afraid I may have given the impression this morning that I'm anti-jabot, or even anti-ruffle. Goodness no! It's more that I'm tired of seeing the same cheaply made knit top everywhere. Jabots can be beautiful and classy, as demonstrated here by Emma Pillsbury of Glee, wearing the Kate SPade "Cloey" dress.

I love the bright colors and faux-one-piece look of this dress.

Kate Spade made it in approximately a bajillion colors and fabrics. Here's another one I love, showing how stripes can be used effectively on circular ruffles.


A great pattern to use as a starting point for this style would be Simplicity 2724:

Would you wear this style?

29 comments:

  1. Jabots can be very elegant and classy when done well -- however, they don't work on those of us who are generously endowed in the bust region! The last thing we need is more in that area. They're really great for the smaller-busted, though, and are effective at helping to balance out a pear-shaped body, too.

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  2. I'd definitely wear that style! I do love a ruffle!

    You've also reminded with this post that I actually already own S2724!

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  3. As Bess said, jabots are not kind to the busty, and as one firmly entrenched in that camp, I have say, no, I wouldn't wear one. I do like them, though, and am quite intrigued by the circular ruffle in the stripe. Maybe down the side of a skirt?

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  4. I so wish I could wear that style, but my chest is so big that it would look weird on me. Perhaps with a smaller, tailored ruffle I could pull it off, but I love the design!

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  5. I love the pungent purple color of that dress! Gah! I am actually a HUGE fan of ruffles and was going to say something this morning about a well done jabot. Especially when you have a less than small rack (no disrespect because I fall into this camp) they can make a fun statement and sort of oomph up that area a bit. It's especially a good look with someone whose got football player shoulders and a small bust because you have something sort of camouflaging both areas at once. It's something I do a lot with scarves because it takes away from these areas for me. xoxo, Sunni

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  6. I love it and would wear it but I would look ridiculous. I am very buxom and ruffles like that on my bust would make me look ridiculous. I would encourage others to wear it. I think it is wonderful.

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  7. Put me in the "loves ruffles but can't wear them because of boobs" camp, too. I love the purple top on that dress, but I'm 90% sure it would be a disaster on me what with the high neckline and busyness over the bust.

    The only ruffle type shirt that I have that works well for me is a RTW top with a scoop neck and a relatively flat ruffle (it's more pleated than ruffled, I would say). If anyone has some ideas for how to make awesome jabot action work on the full busted, I am so all ears!

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  8. I'd wear the Spade dress, even though I'm not usually the ruffle type. I especially like the striped version.

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  9. Oh my goodness, I love ruffles! I have two yards of navy and white striped fabric in my stash, perhaps I'll make a ruffle shirt with it a la Kate Spade. :]

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  10. I have that pattern in my stash but I bought it specifically to make one of the versions without ruffles! Hee hee. Maybe I'm just not a ruffle person. Not that I judge other people for wearing them (Emma looks fantastic, for instance), but I guess they're just not for me.

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  11. Makes me think of the Coffee Date Dress by The Selfish Seamstress which is free from Burdastyle. It's an A-line dress with a ruffle that you could definitely play with.

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  12. Ha, I'm reading my blogposts backwards today and just read Emilie's post re. the coffee date dress I'll get back to my morning coffee and wake up a bit. ;)

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  13. I love the look but have never tried it. I have the patterns but never got to them. I am a very busty woman, so the other commenters have me thinking it might not be the best idea. I may have to try it out to test the theory though. I love the look of Kate Spade's use of jabots.

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  14. Yo know, I love LOVE this look on other people, but being a lady with an ample bust, they Jabot look makes me feel like a pigeon.

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  15. I'd wear it! I'm into the dresses that look like a shirt tucked into a skirt.

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  16. I actually think that sometimes ruffles can cleverly disguise a large bust. I really do love that the Kate Spade dress's ruffles go all the way to the waist. I would try to rock that look for sure..

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  17. I'm carrying weight atm & the by-product is boobs; so currently i wouldn't wear ruffles. However sans weight i'm not overly endowed & would absolutely wear ruffles!!

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  18. Love love love! I'd absolutely adore wearing the secretary/librarian/teacher look. It's one of my favorites.

    How would you go about making more dramatic ones like in the first Kate Spade dress? I remember in one of your daily dress posts you went into some sort of circular cutting or something (forgive my ignorance). Would it be similar to that?

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  19. First off, LOVE ruffles. Anywhere. There is just something that makes me feel so very girly when I wear them.

    Second, I wanted to take a second to say, I stumbled across your blog a few months ago and a.d.o.r.e. it. You make me want to be a seamstress and I find myself fascinated with every post!

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  20. I can't wear jabots because they emphasize the bust and I'm already well-endowed in that respect (38C). But they're cute on the right figure!

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  21. sure would. Not a big fan of the ruffle but you have just inspired me to add a ruffle to my to do list. Love your blog by the way, its my favourite!!

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  22. Needless to say this is a classy ruffle as opposed to the jersey zigzag one. You got me curious about how it would look on me (being quite small busted and pear shaped). It would either be ultra cool and fun or I'd feel silly and self conscious.

    This style brought up in my mind two styles I've never tried (as I'm not that fashionable :-|):

    1. Blouses with ties at the neck, such as this one
    2. Blouses with sort of a puff where the sleeve connects to the bodice, such as the sleeves here

    What do you think of those?
    Wouldn't they work well as tuck-in shirts into high-waisted skirts?

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  23. I think it's sort of sad that women who love ruffles feel they 'can't wear them' because they have a big bust. Does everything have to be about making ourselves look more like some arbitrary model of socially acceptable shape? Bah, I say! That said, even within the supposed 'flattering/unflattering' thing, I've found certain types of ruffles look really good on me (short, short-waisted, big boobs, not thin) - generally ruffles that go the full length of the blouse/bodice (eg right down either side of the button placket) or small ruffles framing a bib insert in a higher-necked top than might usually be 'flattering'.

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  24. I was just considering making this pattern about five minutes ago!

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  25. Edith Head was very clear on the idea that small-busted women should wear ruffles or gentle gathers on their blouses. I keep her guidance in mind, but still, I sometimes find ruffles kind of fussy and confused/incongruous--especially on casual knit t-shirts! I like the Kate Spade example, so I'll continue to reflect and to seek my own best ruffle.

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  26. I'm not what you'd call frilly person, and these days I'm busty, but show me a chiffon jabbot, and I'll be there. I've never been able to wear ruffles even when I was young and skinny. Floaty, bias cut flounces, yes; bouncy ruffles, no.

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  27. I'm small busted and I like a scarf bow or Jabot on a blouse. I'm not frilly so I avoid outright ruffles.

    Some of us can use the volume in that area!

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Thanks for your comments; I read each and every one! xo Gertie

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