…………………There are many new trends on the horizon for Fall of 2017, and beyond into 2018. Some trends will continue like asymmetric hems, but the “classic” refined sophisticated, and feminine clothes that were once the “it” looks are slowing making a return. You will start to see a more “cleaned up” editorial look to fashion pages. Let’s face it….how many pages of mixed prints and miss matched clothes, and stranger than strange combinations can we absorb before it all starts to look the same and leaves us numb. I was never a fan, and I’m so glad the pendulum is swinging back to truly chic clothes. Will the clothes be the same as the past…..of course not, but a classic is a classic even with the subtle new changes of proportion and fabric………….The “Antoinette Blouse” is the epitome of the return to feminine STATEMENT BLOUSES….The style # is A294604……….Why Antoinette?……………because these kinds of blouses and sleeves was the “fashion” of her time. Marie Antoinette often wore dresses with flounce sleeves at a 3/4 length. You can’t help when wearing a blouse like this, or more to the point a sleeve like this, to create beautiful arm movements, and gestures…………….The color is……………..PERFECTLY PINK……………..The blouse has a CURVED seam that dips in the back to create a slight HIGH LOW HEM. For me, this creates a beautiful movement and a graceful flow when moving. It is a modified Empire seam. I say modified because a true Empire seam starts just under the bust, and this seam is just above the waist. and dips a little below the waist……Of course that all depends where your waist is. No matter where the blouse seam hits you it should work, because it is a body SKIMMING blouse not a fitted one. Even the seam of the sleeve flounce slants down to the back creating a slight high low sleeve hem……..The sleeve and the bottom of the blouse have modified “flounces” which are created by cutting circles in the fabric. If you use a full circle you will have a lot of ruffle….The less circle you use, say 3/4 or 1/2 of the circle, the less of a ripple effect you will have. I didn’t want the flounces to be full so I used less of the circle. This gives the flounces a gentle flare without looking too extreme, which is the effect I wanted for this Antoinette blouse…….It’s all about BALANCE and PROPORTION………..The fabric is my “Faux De Chine”, so the weight is perfect for this type of garment. Also, it is heavy enough to avoid any see through. I would still recommend nude undergarments when wearing pale colors….If you own anything in this fabric, you will know it has stretch!…….The neckline is an OPEN JEWEL. There are no superfluous openings in the blouse…..you just slip it on over the head…….Wearing a blouse like this immediately gives you a definite feminine feeling. You will find you carry yourself differently and move in a more graceful manor…..I don’t think you will be able to help yourself….There are many ways to wear a blouse like this…..The younger minded will put it on with a pair of skinny jeans and sexy heels…….A great pair of dress pants , or a skirt…….long or short…will all be perfect for dressier occasions……..I have accessorized the blouse with my new “SPIRIT PENDANT” in Perfectly Pink, and it will be on my August 25th, 6pm jewelry show……..The blouse is already posted on my Linea site without pictures, so before you prejudge what the blouse is I thought you should see it……I know there are many of you who look at a blouse like this and automatically say….”pass”. Maybe it’s time to try something new…..to feel something different……to have people look at you in a different way………you may surprise yourself………………….enjoy……………..much Love……………… Louis
So pretty! How would you describe the sleeve length?
OHOH…..leave it up to you to ask that! What length does it look like to you!!? LOL Since the seam is slanted…..it’s not one sleeve length, but one thing I can say is this……it is not a long sleeve.
I’m nothing if not consistent. I’m going with “bracelet length” as that’s most open to interpretation! I love this blouse. So going to buy in the winter white and black!
I can’t miss-lead you Kate….it’s shorter then bracelet
In a sweater, the arm length matters to me, but here? Not so much. Just too pretty to pass up over something that trivial.
Amen
I certainly do not NEED another perfectly pink top BUT…this feminine style (something different from the big tunics that I love) is too pretty and lovely to pass up. And, I have the triple strand pink beads that will be a gorgeous duo. Thanks for the fabric with stretch.
Dear Louis,
I too am so frustrated! This is showing as sold out and cannot be ordered. Louis, when is this blouse supposed to air? A294604
I see that you just put up this post today, so hoping that you can shed some light on this. For my modest dressing needs for work, this looks like it would be a workhorse with pencil skirts.
many thanks in advance for your reply,
Debra
Dear Debra….it’s too beautiful a day to be frustrated over a blouse! Take a deep breath, let you shoulder slump, and repeat after me…..it’s only a blouse….it’s only a blouse….LOL. I actually do not know when this is going to be aired. Nothing is as it used to be. I used to know exactly what would be on what show, but today everything changes. I know what’s scheduled for August, but exactly when is up in the air until I get a script of each show. My guess would be on the August 3rd, 1:00pm show, but as I said until I get my script, which is late coming to me, I won’t know…..One thing I can say for sure is…..it’s coming!
Haha!!!! Love your sense of humor!
Beautiful lines to this blouse!
Thank you Barbara, I usually don’t get involved with multiple fittings unless I see from the first fitting that it is very off, and I need to be there to get the right proportions etc. This was one of those blouses that needed to be treated carefully. I didn’t want the flounces to be too full or too skimpy, and the placement of the curved seam was critical to the proportions and line of the blouse. The bottom flounce hangs from that seam so it had to be just right to get the drape I wanted……Also the sleeve was very tricky.
We all know that you are the Master of the Cut, Louis! This blouse is perfection! Your discerning eye is quite evident.
This blouse is lovely, Louis. It is far from being the overpowering garment some wondered about. In fact, it is scaled perfectly and, if I interpret its look correctly, it softens the woman wearing it.
On the younger ones, this can be a sweetly flirtatious look that men often find irresistible. On us older ladies, this blouse works the miracle of making us look softly feminine and pretty.
FYI, Louis, when I enter the item no. A294604, it comes up on QVC as “Sold Out.” At this moment, I am unable to order it. (No rush, though, as my CC has to relax a bit.)
Goldie76 – this Item was posted at midnight July 27th – but then the Q pulled it for some reason!
Thanks, Seka. This blouse is so feminine, isn’t it?
Yes! Love the sleeves! Am interested in the Black and the Winter White. I should have ordered it when it was posted – but there were no photos and this Sneak Peek was not yet posted!
another QVC mystery…..I don’t have a clue why they post things and then take them down…..maybe it’s going to be a buy more save more????? LOL
Once again Goldie….you nailed it….I find there are very few “feminine” garments out there that aren’t overdone with frou, that either make you look like a juvenile or a flamenco dancer [sometimes a flamenco dancer can be fun in the right setting!].
Thank you, Louis. You mentioned to Barbara about controlling the sleeve, and your work is pure genius. I believe many of us were worried that the sleeve would be over-powering. It isn’t. It is the perfect expression of this sort of sleeve. Love the length and circumference and the way it “flowers.”
I loving the pink one!
Beautiful blouse! Do you have an item #? (Forgive me if I didn’t notice one)
Yes Sallie….it’s A294604
Beautiful!
Dear Louis, These blouses are exquisite!