Wardrobe Planning with Ann: The Shirred Blouse

Remember shirring? Shirring was very popular in the 70s. I noticed this detail on the fashion radar in spring 2018 as a microtrend. It has made a comeback and is a great fit for Ann’s style!

I saw this white blouse (middle row right) from Ann Taylor on Pinterest and it became the starting inspiration point. The lovely high ruffled neckline is a nod to Ann’s Victorian style aesthetic.

The fabric I selected is Ivory/Teal Green, Coral, Royal Blue Rayon Georgette Print (Sold Out) a soft and drapey crepe. The print is great for work or the weekend and the colors mix well with Ann’s curated closet!

Ann drafted her pattern using a combination of Vogue 8772 and a RTW blouse. The blouse pattern was already altered to fit plus the silhouette is body-skimming so no fitting issues. The armhole is slightly cut in for a more feminine look. (More details on the pattern making process to come on Ann’s YouTube Channel.)

Shirring was a new technique for Ann, so she did her research to get familiar with the process. Due to the pandemic, I could not get the elastic thread and it wasn’t available in other stores. Ann decided to use the longest stitch length on her machine and gather by hand. This was an option because the neckline area didn’t require stretch. Ann did samples until she got the desired look. Next, she calculated how much fabric she would need for shirring by measuring 1″ and then releasing the gathers. 5.5″ of fabric=1″ shirred.

Ann wanted shirring only on the front shoulders instead of across the front so she could get a really tight shirring effect. However, when I looked at the toile, the diagonal shirring made the blouse look unbalanced and Ann agreed.

Ann changed the shirring from diagonal to horizontal and we decided to add the front slit/narrow tie like the peach blouse on the mood board (top row left). I love the result!