A problem blouse turns dreamy with the Cheryl Tucker tip

 

Do you have blouses that just don’t behave well? I do. Well, actually, I knew I bought into some trouble when I bought this black and white blouse but I was desperate to try something new. Fanciful sleeves were rockin’ the fashion world and I was feeling way unhip when I didn’t jump in. My Instagram friends were doing it and they looked GREAT.

I remember the day I took a walk over to the wild side of Nordstrom, the side that had the ruffled, interesting-sleeved tops.

The black and white gingham check had me hook, line, and sinker. How I morphed into a gingham check girl with having had a long history of solid-colored, silk blouses is a mystery to me. But it’s been like falling for the bad boy in high school, the attraction is real, my friends. Real real!

 

 

The top came with problems

The top was all cotton. Not horrible but it meant no stretch. The sleeves had very manageable rows of deep ruffles. That was fine; they weren’t too long. The fact there was no stretch in the fabric wasn’t restricting my movement. But I really wasn’t sure how it was supposed to be styled (like who would wear this best?) because the shape is just a box. You know, tree trunk like.

Now I’m mostly square in the torso area. There aren’t a lot of curves in my trunk. Do I want to bring attention to my thickness? Not so much!

I was able to create some waist interest the first time I wore this purchase.

 

 

I pulled some of the volume of the top in when I used my dad’s necktie as my belt.  That outfit also included a cropped satin jacket, which added dimension and made it look less boxy. Here’s the full anatomy of that outfit.

This time I was in a hurry getting dressed and didn’t want to spend time on the tie belt and the jacket. And I wanted to dress it down, wear sneakers. What to do? What to do?

 

I spy with my little eye another possible option

Let’s to back a couple of weeks. I was cruising Instagram one day when I saw a post by my Instagram pal, Cheryl Tucker @northwesternmountainliving. Her website goes by the same name.

 

 

Her great white top and the asymmetrical shape of it caught my eye. I left a comment.

 

 

Whoa! I couldn’t wait to try the Cheryl Tucker Tip.

Thankfully it came to mind when I put on my beloved gingham check top today. Could I use Cheryl’s trick and make it look less boxy by pulling the hem through my belt loop?

I gave it a whirl.

 

Demonstrating Cheryl Tucker’s shirt styling tip

I slipped into my pants and gingham top. I added my accessories. I pulled one side of my top.

 

 

I got the shape I wanted and then created a tail.

 

 

Next I looked for my belt loop.

 

 

Then I started pulling the tail through the loop.

 

 

I got some draping in the top which I L-O-V-E! It gives my trunk some definition. And I love the asymmetry of it. It makes me feel more girlie this way.

 

 

Cheryl’s top was much longer than mine. She had more fabric to work with than I did. Even so, I’d say this was successful!

 

 

Because it was in the 70’s outside, I wore the shirt without my dot jacket for most of the day while working with our client. But then it got chilly and I put my polka dot jacket on. I like the fact that beneath the straight lines of the jacket is the asymmetry of the top.

I can’t wait to try this Cheryl Tucker Tip on all my tops and blouses. I’m so excited to be sharing it with you! Cheryl wears jeans a lot so you might team your new creation with jeans and check yourself out in the mirror! Do you have something in your closet that’s begging to be pulled through your belt loops? Do you think this would work for you? Let’s talk styling tips!

XO

 

 

Outfit Details

1. Black pant by White House Black Market (available here)
2. Polka dot jacket by Chico’s (past year)
3. Gingham shirt by Halogen, Nordstrom (past year)
4. Tennis shoes by AGL (past years)
5. Mickey Mouse watch/pearl necklace bought at Petaluma Antique Faire
6. Gold ring by Victor Sanz (one of a kind)