Fashion

[MacDuFF]

copy from PBs, slightly edited...

A few months ago, DiAnne suggested wearing a denim shirt under some of my cashmere sweaters because I like the look of a collar. Of course, I'd thought of that, too, but didn't have a suitable blouse in my closet (too long, sleeves too short, wrong color, etc.).

DiAnne suggested denim as a neutral that would go with all my sweaters, so I started looking and found a men's denim shirt on the dollar rack at my favorite thrift store.

Naturally, I had picky MacDuff problems with it. It was too bulky, and I couldn't deal with the lumps and bumps caused by buttons and plackets and seams and wrinkles that showed through. The shirt was beefy and stiff and, to use tends2dogs ' word, felt constricting. And, last, but not least, I had to tuck all that bulk into my jeans because it was too long. Do I need extra bulk around my tummy? No! No, I do not!

I finally gave up and put it in the donation bag and resigned myself to wearing a turtleneck underneath my sweaters...nothing wrong with that, but I prefer a collar and a sleeve I can cuff.

The next day, just as I was about to nod off for my daily old geezer (OG) nap, I started thinking that it was too bad some designer couldn't come up with a pullover top that had only a shirt collar and the lower half of sleeves that I could cuff...a smooth top that wouldn't add bulk.

I actually thought of Skinny Tees, which would be perfect...a 3/4 length sleeve Skinny Tee that would fit snug and smooth and be long enough to cover the button and zipper on my jeans (picky, picky). I mean, it's not rocket science.   Hmmmm...

That's when it hit me. It isn't rocket science...even I could do it.

Who could nap with all these creative ideas firing in the brain? I got up, retrieved the denim shirt from the donation bag, grabbed the scissors, and started cutting...



Bye bye to all the bulk, buttons, plackets, and seams.

I had an old crew neck tee from Walmart, so I pinned the collar and sleeves to the tee and made a bunch of adjustments and tweaks...



And, voilà! Exactly what I wanted...well, not exactly. The pieces are sewn in with a basting stitch because I think I'd prefer a lighter wash denim. I know, I know...I'm a PITA!

Introducing the Duffie (hat tip to tends2dogs for coming up with the name)...

The whole project took about an hour, but I missed my OG nap...I can get very cranky when I miss my OG nap hahaha!

So, am I ridiculous or pretty darned clever?

P.S.   Not to belabor the point (opps, too late haha), but if y'all can't see my apple shape in this outfit, you need glasses.

[Kachina624]

@MacDuFF    You obviously weren't around during the Kathleen Kirkwood era.  She made a career of designing shirts to be worn under other shirts and sweaters, without long bulky shirt tails and often without sleeves, but they stayed in place and didn't need to be pinned.  Every time I saw one on sale in my size, I bought it.  I have quite a collection.

[kate2357]

I for one like it a lot and WILL be stealing the idea. I will use white blouses that are now too big for me and I was going to donate.

[Desertdi]

"A" has a number of selections....

[LuvSoCal]

I vote for pretty darn clever.

[MacDuFF]

Hi @Kachina624 ...I vaguely remember KK, but can't remember what she sold.  I tried to bing some pics to no avail.  I also vaguely remember Kathy Najimy, I think, selling something similar, too, but I could be mistaken.

Thanks for posting the A pics @Desertdi ...I definitely wanted sleeves, though, and a smooth torso (no buttons).  Curious, do you know the price of those offhand...couldn't find them in an image search?

@kate2357  The hardest part was setting the collar right...leave some space in the front center so it'll go over your head.  I had to re-pin mine twice 'cuz I couldn't get it over my big head haha.

Thanks @LuvSoCal 

[Kachina624]

Kathleen started with great shoulder pad, then when they went out of style, she transitioned to dickies.  Here are the only two left at QVC, as she passed away this past year.  These aren't great examples of most of what she sold and you can't appreciate the fabric which got thinner in areas where bulk would have not been wanted.

[MacDuFF]

@Kachina624   I just realized that @itsmagic mentioned "Kathleen Kirkwood’s Dictrac-ease" on the PB thread...I wanted sleeves, though, but these are great...

Is this what you have?

[MacDuFF]

Posted at the same time @Kachina624 

[Jk9]

I also have some "half tees"  that Shop HQ has now.  Most of mine are short sleeve but there are long sleeve ones (don't remember seeing cuffs though) too.  I mostly use with too low necklines or to fill in open button up shirts when I don't want a full shirt underneath.   But,  I like your idea @MacDuFF .