Next week I’m celebrating my wedding anniversary, and will be going out for a date with my husband. As usual, the January weather isn’t really great for wearing a dress (gray, dark and rainy, blah!), so I decided to sew a date night top from a springy floral to perk myself up!
For a special night out, I always want to wear something with a bit of drama, so it was the perfect excuse to sew another fun peplum top.
You all know, I’m a big fan of peplums (sewn here, here and here). Every time I think I’m over them, I discover a new version to try. This top is Vogue 9084, a very easy pattern that has some really dramatic peplums, if you’re in the mood! I was attracted to the curved seam where the peplum meets the bodice – I just had to have it!
I love this fabric (fabricdepot.com). It’s embroidered rayon and it hangs like a dream. Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough fabric to do view C with the dramatic high low peplum. Not sure my husband would have loved that look anyway, since he wasn’t a fan of my coat with the interesting hem (here), LOL. Maybe next time. Although this pattern is marked ‘easy’ I did have a few challenges with fit. The neck doesn’t look big, but on me it was huge, even though I cut the smallest size and took a narrow back adjustment. I ended up taking a couple of short darts at the neckline in the back before finishing the neckline with seam binding. This did make it fit much better, but it was frustrating as I had already taken some ease out of the back with my narrow shoulder adjustment.
Unfortunately, my print doesn’t really show the cool curved seam in the front, so next time, I’ll likely make it in a solid fabric. For fun, I modified the sleeves a bit and added a 6 inch wide bell cuff so that it would look more dressy for ‘date-night’. To do this, I cut off 6 inches of the sleeve length. Then, for the bell cuff, I cut a 8 inch wide piece of fabric. The length was 1 and a half times the circumference of the sleeve opening. Once the cuff was gathered, I just inserted it into the sleeve bottom.
At this time of year, going out in the evening means wearing a heavy coat and pants so I’m glad I’ll have this fun top to make me feel dressed up when I reach my destination.
In other news, Elizabeth at Elizabeth Made This is hosting the Day/Night dress Challenge again this year. Last year, I loved participating in the challenge because it inspired me to make two dresses that I wear all the time and I met some really fun bloggers. So I was so pleased when she asked me to participate again this year. 
The theme is coffee and cocktails, a brillant way to capture the essence of the challenge, which is to sew a dress you’d wear if you were meeting a friend for coffee, and another to wear for cocktails! Any one can participate. The details are on Elizabeth’s blog, but it’s really simple. You can tag your entries on Instagram with #dayandnightdresshchallenge and tag Elizabeth at Elizabethmadethis too. There are prizes, heh, heh and great sponsers. I’ve started planning my dresses and can’t wait to see yours!
Happy sewing and thanks for stopping by!
Elle Gee Makes 
That looks a very flattering pattern, and your version is great!
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Thanks! Vogue patterns strikes again!
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You look great in your peplum and happy anniversary! Looking forward to being in the challenge along with you.
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Thanks, Faye! The challenge is going to be fun. I can’t wait to see your dress:)
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Love it! The peplum style is so flattering on you. You’ve mentioned in the past that your waist is a bit bigger than standard measurements. I’m in that same catagory. I’m about 28 in the waist with a 35 1/2 hip. So the effect is pretty straight through the midsection. I’m going to give some of the patterns you’ve used a try. Have you made any jackets with a peplum? Beth of Sunny Gal Sewing has used that Simplicity Threads jacket pattern that has nice side peplums. That’s on my list to!!! Oh well, the RTW fast has 11 and a half months left so I better get busy. As always, your makes are great and really closely mirror my tastes so they are a great inspiration.
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Thanks, marguerite! For me one of the tricks to making a peplum work with my ‘missing’ waist is to make sure it’s positioned accurately for me. I am short waisted so the waist is always too low. I love peplum jackets and will have to try that pattern! I have made a couple of peplum style jackets but am always looking for others. It’s nice to have suggestions. Let me know how yours turns out!
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That is a very nice top for your special night out! Congratulations! I’ll be watching for your day/night dresses – I’ve decided to join in too!
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Thanks! That’s great need that you’re joining the challenge! Can’t wait to see your dresses. I’ve been gathering patterns and ideas…there are so many fun options, it’s hard to choose.
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I have limited myself to my fabric stash this year, so the fabrics have already been decided. Now I have to decide on patterns! Good luck!
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From what I’ve seen, your stash is lovely! I’m sure you’ll find something inspiring there.
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Thanks, fingers crossed! 🤞
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I love your top too – that fabric is beautiful! You’ve said something that just twigged for me – making sure the waist is at the right spot for the peplum! I think that’s what I’ve been doing wrong because I like peplums and they “should” be the right thing for my body shape but every time I’ve made one they just make me look so round where they should be giving me shape 🙂
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It took me a few failed projects to figure out that aspect of the peplum for me. Hope that adjustment will make them work for you as they are so fun to wear!
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Another gorgeous peplum top! I too love the look of the curved seam. It makes for a lovely shape. Your fabric is really lovely too and hits the right note for dressy and date night…which brings me to the point of saying Happy Anniversary!
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Thanks, Diane! The curved seam is a nice detail, next time I’ll make this in solid Fabric so it shows well. I love going out with my husband and a nice top makes it even better!
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