Vogue 8924 (1985): Crop-Top with Puffy Sleeves and Matching Puffy Pants

In case you hadn’t heard, Puffy Sleeves Aren't Going Anywhere.

But even if they were going somewhere, I'd be all over this adorable two piece outfit:

When I think about puffy sleeves and the 80s, certain iconic images come to mind.  

Who could ever forget the epic wedding gown Lady Diana wore when she married Prince Charles on July 29, 1981?

Alexis Carrington had some absolutely gorgeous puff sleeves

Off the Shoulder Puffy Sleeve

Gorgeous sleeves.  The buttons!

I hunted around the internet for puffy sleeves and it’s true: this look is sold in stores and has been on trend since last year.

Red Valentino top available at farfetch.com.
 I might have to copy this.

Harmonia Puffed Sleeve top, available at farmrio.com
The pleat is a nice detail

Yes, the 80s really are trending as evidenced in this Harper's Bazaar article. I was touched by this young writer’s once dismissive attitude toward the 1980s until she realized that actually, fashion today is “stagnant and boring.” She wore an over the top 80s inspired gown food-shopping in order to feel alive again.  Also, this young woman was rocking some incredible shoes with her dress, sold at farfetch.com:

This shoe is BITCHIN

On a different occasion, she tones her look way down but still honors the 80s by wearing a blouse with “moderately puffed sleeves and shoulder pads” atop a pair of jeans.  Like the woman in this article, I also want to revisit some 80s looks without having people mistake me for a time-traveler.

I made Vogue 8924 in a blue and white striped seersucker.  Cotton seersucker is easy to work with, and I had no fitting issues with this pattern.  Size 12 fit just fine. I lengthened the pants by one inch which is a typical adjustment for me.

This puffy outfit comes to you straight from 1985 and needs no excuses or modifications.  It is 2019-ready!

Why, hello

I'm trying to copy the pose on the pattern

Love the texture of seersucker fabric

Here is the inside, or "wrong side" of the sleeve.  The sleeve-cap is gathered, creating a ruffle. It is then sewn into the armhole.  The pattern instructions say to iron the ruffle toward the sleeve, which helps the puffs to stand up and out better (especially in a crisp fabric like seersucker):

The pattern describes the top and pants as follows:   “loose-fitting, pullover, below waist top has back neck slit with button and loop, slightly cut-away armholes, shaped hemline, side zipper and short sleeves.  Slightly flared skirt, below mid-knee or tapered pants, above ankle, have waistband, back zipper and side pockets.”

It’s interesting to me that there is no mention of the gathered sleeve caps or that the pants are gathered at the waistband.  These are such defining elements and this outfit would look completely different without them.

The neck of the top is big enough that I can just slip over my head.  So the button and thread loop is essentially decorative and adds nice detail.  

It gave me the opportunity to practice making a thread loop, which isn’t hard, but there is a knack to it.  There are many short video tutorials online. This one was especially clear and helpful.

This outfit is comfortable and just a bit different. I'm really glad I made it. It's just right for early summer, which is right around the corner!