DIY Sheer Button Down Shirt

July 07, 2012

DIY Sheer Button Down Shirt

I've been seeing sheer button down shirts cropping up everywhere from the runways to American Apparel. But, as a teen of limited means and a sewing machine, I knew what I had to do.

Make one of my own!

I dug out my pile of this synthetic pale pink crepe stuff, which I bought 10 yards of for $6 (unheard of, right? $1 a yard, plus 40% off!). I've been trying to use up this temperamental sheer fabric, and I felt this project would use up a good amount of it. I used a vintage McCall's from the '80's, so the pattern, although for a size extra small, was terrifyingly large once I cut it out. I took out 3 inches from each side seam and 2 inches from each sleeve, and the shirt still retains some bagginess to it. The buttons were a perfect match, 25 cents at Wal-Mart, but not enough to sew beneath the collar and on the cuffs. Oh well, they'll restock eventually, right?


Totally 80's...look at those perms!

Shirt in 3 lengths...I made it in the smallest length.

I liked the pleated shoulder detail of the shirt very much, as well as the little pleats of the sleeve into the cuff.

Of course it only made sense to wear a shiny sheer pink button up shirt with raspberry red corduroys and a studded belt...

See the little shoulder pleats? Aren't they darling? And I must say my collar is very crisp...

Blech that sheen just kills me...but the shirt is very versatile, neutral while a pop of color, formal while casual, and would be fun to layer under sweaters!

What's also very interesting about this strange synthetic fabric, besides that it frays beyond recognition, is that even after I washed the shirt, it held its pleats--and wrinkles--like it was its job! Seriously, how does that happen? The pleats were as crisp out of the wash as if they had just come from underneath my iron! Weird...

The purse is a vintage clutch of my Grandmother's, who "saved it for special occasions". Uhm, no. This purse is just too much my style to pack away at the bottom of my closet! It's one of those metal-link-thingy purses, and the gold and white detail on the flap is an elegant contrast.