written by Jessie Huen
When I first came across the boat neck ANEGADA pattern, I immediately fell in love with the crossover shoulder detail and the drape of the cowl neckline. What casual, effortless elegance! Such cozy fall fashion! A quick glance through instagram showed me that the boat neck ANEGADA is a popular make for transitional seasons where it’s too chilly to go sleeveless, but too warm to bundle up. “Alas,” I thought, “I’ll never be able to endure the sweltering Singapore heat in that.”
The next thing I knew, I was signing up to tackle the challenge of styling the boat neck ANEGADA in as many ways as possible. Well, tackle it I have!
To adapt the pattern to the eternal summer here in Singapore (it almost never falls below 27 degrees celsius, even at night), I opted to use a lightweight jersey and to omit the sleeves and cuffs from view A (cowl neck version). The result is a breathable, easy-to-wear top that is the perfect length to be matched with a variety of bottoms.
The alterations I made are:
- Cut the bodice hem at the shorter length but omit the waistband cuff. I left it unhemmed since jersey doesn’t fray.
- Omit the sleeves. Use a serger to serge around the armsyce 1.5cm from the edge (where the seamline would have been). Press under. Hem all the way round.
Look 1: Paired with jeans
Pairing with jeans or shorts is a favourite option for boat neck ANEGADA lovers, and for good reason! This is a great pairing choice for days when you want to look a little more put together but still want the comfort of a t-shirt.
Look 2: Tucked in with dress / work pants
The beauty of the cowl neck in the boat neck ANEGADA pattern is that it lends a certain formality to the look, while still providing all the comfort of casual wear. Paired with tailored pants, I’d say this look is definitely work-appropriate for most offices!
And just for laughs, here’s a visual illustration of “SECRET ANEGADA PYJAMAS AT WORK”. Look at those professional vibes! I’d hire someone in a boat neck ANEGADA any day.
For an even more polished look, try the cowl neck version of the boat neck ANEGADA in a solid coloured knit with drape, such as a rayon or bamboo jersey. Who says patterns designed for casual wear can’t be made formal?
Look 3: Tucked into a swishy flared skirt
I LOVE flared skirts! The midi variety (like this Hollyburn skirt) are especially good for pear-shaped ladies like me, who may want the breeziness of shorts without having to bare their legs.
Flared skirts are also a great option for times when you want to look a little more put together, but don’t want to lose the comfort of a t-shirt and jeans. I especially enjoy pairing this outfit with nude coloured flats or white sneakers for a fun and youthful look.
Another option is to make a cropped version of the boat neck ANEGADA to be paired with flared midi skirts, jeans or shorts - super cute and very on trend!
Look 4: Tucked into a straight / pencil skirt
This is an option I didn’t expect to like, but which I’ve been going back to again and again. It’s a silhouette that will work on both weekdays and weekends, depending on whether you pair it with a fitted pencil skirt made from suiting or a casual denim / linen skirt. Simple, yet classy!
Bonus Look: An ANEGADA tent dress hack!
I’ve never before sewed french terry, but I saw so many gorgeous ANEGADAs using it that I thought I’d give it a go.
To make it more wearable for the weather and my lifestyle (ain’t nobody going to wear a french terry sweater on the equator), and after a fair bit of googling “french terry dresses”, I decided on a short sleeved, tent dress version of view A.
The result is this surprisingly breezy dress that is great for weekends and travels (it doesn’t crease!). On hindsight, I may let the hem down a little, but otherwise I really like it.
How I did it:
- Shortened the sleeve pattern piece by 10cm from the sleeve hem.
- Trace the boat neck ANEGADA front and back bodice pieces onto a clean sheet of paper, indicating where the waistline lays on you. Lay a tried and tested tent dress pattern over your traced pattern, and trace from the waistline down to the hem, blending the pattern at the side seams.
So there you have it! My tips for styling the boat neck ANEGADA for summer and an easy little hack. All in all, this pattern is really versatile and lends itself it all sorts of styles depending on colours / prints and type of knit you use.
I hope you guys have fun trying to pair your ANEGADAs in different ways and I’d love to see what creative styles you come up with!
 |
Jessie lives on the sunny island of Singapore where she spends her days in an office and her nights sewing up a storm. She loves a well-fitted and carefully made garment and has learned the hard way that cutting corners doesn’t pay! A regular pattern-hacker and avid instagram scroller, she dreams of someday curating a wardrobe of completely handmade clothing. @jessiehuenmade on Instagram |