Zip up blouse

 

Visible metal zippers are still a hot trend, and I see them everywhere in the high street stores like H&M and such. I really like the trend, but my taste always run towards a more polished, finished look. So I don’t feel like attaching a zipper on top of a garment, I guess I am old fashioned that way, even though it can certainly look cool. I first had this idea of having a zipper the whole way down in the back, but my first attempt didn’t work at all. Zippers have a tendency to stretch and curl, and it didn’t lie flat in the back. I am also prone to a little sway back which didn’t help the matter.

Working with soft jersey, woven silk and zippers in the same garment is a challenge and I am so thankful for the invention of fusible interfacing. After a few trial and horros I came up with this design, which I really like. It looks quite simple in the front, but the back detail makes the blouse feel a bit special. Kathleen Fasanella has written about coffin clothes and while I have been slow to adapt, from now on I will try to keep the back of the garment more in mind when I make stuff.