The Blanc T-Shirt Worn Two Ways

We spend most of the summer away from home. Living out of a suitcase for a few weeks at a time makes the idea of a summer capsule wardrobe very appealing. I followed the Style Bee 10 x 10 summer challenge very closely because I'm always looking ways to pack less, but wear more. At the end of last summer I made this crisp white Blanc T-Shirt from Blank Slate Patterns* for the Melly Sews blog. At the time I thought it was an exercise in white t-shirts (I also have a Jane Tee by Seamwork and a couple of styles of Lark Tee by Grainline Studio in the same white fabric for comparison purposes), but it's turned out to be a lesson in versatility. For the Melly Sews post, I came up with two simple outfits around the Blanc Tee.

The first outfit is the Blanc Tee tucked into brown linen, pull-on, wide-leg pants (my own pattern). Worn with classic black sandals, and a long necklace (that I got for my 18th birthday! #slowfashion :) it's an easy everyday look. 

The fabric for the t-shirt is Telio Organic Cotton Jersey Knit Off White (I would just call it white) from Fabric.com*.  I have at least 3 kinds of white cotton jersey knit in my fabric cabinet, and this is by far my favorite one. It is the perfect (perfect!) weight, drape, stretch, opacity, and resiliency for t-shirts I bought 2 yards. Knit tops tend to fit a little differently depending on the fabric, so I sew up a white muslin in this fabric so I can isolate the fit variables, and make the modifications that work for my body. My "real" version of the Blanc Tee never made the blog (not because I don't wear it, because this white one stole its thunder. You can catch a glimpse of it on Instagram.)

The second look is the same white Blanc Tee tucked into a knee length black rayon gathered skirt (my own pattern). I wear it with a brass and leather statement necklace and some snazzy "snake skin" sandals for slightly more dressed up occasions.  

A white t-shirt goes with everything, and I'm pretty sure you can never have too many. Of all my white t-shirts I wear this one the most. The dolman sleeve is an easy fit, and this knit is the perfect weight for tops. I've been rationing its wear lately because I want to keep it nice. Time to throw caution to the wind, I can always make another!

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Shirt Pattern: Blanc Tee from Blank Slate Patterns*

Shirt Fabric: Telio Organic Cotton Jersey from Fabric.com*

Pants Pattern: Self-Drafted Wide Leg Pants

Pants Fabric: Sew Classic Club Linen in Tobacco Potting from Joann Fabric

Skirt Pattern: Self-Drafted Knee Length Skirt

Skirt Fabric: Telio Viscose Rayon Challis Onyx from Fabric. com* 

*Blank Slate Patterns & Fabric.com links are affiliate links. 

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Plaid Flannel Shoreline Boatneck

A few months ago I started sewing and blogging as a Blank Slate Patterns affiliate. When Melissa asked for volunteers, my hand shot up. Her simple designs have a ton of versatility and if you've been hanging around here for very long, you know that's right up my alley. This Shoreline Boatneck (affiliate links ahead) is my most recent Blank Slate project, and though the decor in these photos is dated, I want to share it here because it's been one of my most worn winter tops.

In our house Christmas is a pretty physical holiday. You've got about 47 family members to greet with hugs, elderly relatives to help out of the car, 22 pound turkeys to heave in and out of the oven, and Santa-crazed, sugared-up kids to pull off of each other. Clearly, this is not an occasion for fussy attire.  With a no holds barred holiday ahead of me, I decided to make a simple top to wear to the family celebrations on Christmas day.

The Shoreline Boatneck is written for woven or knit fabrics, comes with 3 sleeve options, and can be a shirt or a dress (ahem, versatility). Fabric choice was key in making this a post holiday winter favorite. The flannel makes this top warm enough to wear alone, and my first choice on chilly mornings. The neckline is faced with a black and white scrap from another project. My only alteration was to extend the sleeves a skosh so I could make a sleeve hem deep enough to cuff.

For the Holidays I chintzed it up with some bright red beads, and skinny black pants. But it's just as great in February with jeans and a cardigan, as long as I steer clear of wayward christmas trees.

Coincidently Blank Slate Patterns has just updated the Shoreline Boatneck pattern to include more sizes, and a ton of great modifications. I love the button back version!

Project Notes:
Pattern: Shoreline Boatneck by Blank Slate Patterns
Fabric: Plaid Flannel (similar) from Joann Fabrics