I’m well aware that this is my billionth post about summer fashion, but what can I say? The beauty of nature, the tranquility of chirping cicadas, and the flirtatious attitude of sun-swept afternoons beckons to me. Plus, it’s the only season of the year in which you’re free to wear a mix of autumn and springtime fashion. For this collection, I wanted to imbue that fantasy of summertime romance, something that you’d find in a classic Ghibli movie. 

The three garments featured are 100% handmade. I made these over the cusp of 2 months, with one taking the majority of my time. The two short-sleeved blouses I crafted were relatively easy to create. To be fair, I did have the help of a pre-made pattern I bought on Etsy. Shout out to Anna the Tailor; she did the real grunt work in regards to measurements. 

So, without further ado, here are the three projects I’ve completed so far. 

The China Porcelain Blouse

Using a pattern I bought from Etsy, I created this poetic blouse using chiffon silk. I wanted to imbue that delicate nature of blue-painted porcelain, so I thought to embroider the neck collar and the cuffs manually. I didn’t plan to add the pearl buttons on the sides, but it helped to provide that romantic element to the entire look. The shirring detail helped to give the blouse some shape, especially when paired with the dramatic sleeves. 

What I’m wearing:

• Blouse: handmade 
• Skirt: thrifted 
• Shoes: Vivaia 
• Bag: thrifted 

The Pink Tie-up Top 

A couple of weeks ago, my uncle gifted me this gorgeous pink fabric that was originally used as a tablecloth. Originally, I wanted to make pants, but I dreamt of this cute blouse with tie-up detail. It’s a little hard to see, but there’s a sizeable cut-out on the back to help give the garment more oomph. The fit is perfect, minus a few raw hems here are there. It’s a little bit stiff, but I think it gives the blouse some needed structure. 

What I’m wearing:

• Top: handmade 
• Pants: thrifted 
• Shoes: Converse 
• Bag: gifted 

The Silk Cowl Neck Top 

I bought this luxurious creamy silk eons ago, and I originally made plans to make a bustier out of it. It didn’t turn out how I wanted it to look, so I thought to make use of the remaining fabric into a silk top. Using a pattern bought from Etsy, this cute blouse was relatively easy to construct. I think I used a polyester/silk blend, so it didn’t drape the way that I wanted it to fold. As a temporary fix, I used some double-sided tape to help create that dramatic ‘curtain effect.’

What I’m wearing:

• Top: handmade
• Pants: thrifted 
• Shoes: Vivaia