Adding button holes and buttons to RTW

I'm not a sewing guru like so many of the regulars in this group are, but I do have a "generous" bust. Once I saw the photo of your interview clothing, I felt compelled to share my opinion with you. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, about your blouse that even hints that more buttons would be advisable. The blouse appears to fit you quite well, and since there is no cleavage showing, I can't imagine why anyone would advise you that the blouse should be buttoned higher. To conceal what, for heavens sake, maybe your throat? Aside from the fact that the blouse fits you nicely, it would be a total waste of effort and expense to attempt to add buttons and buttonholes to the blouse, as to do so would very likely distort the appearance and fit of the blouse to the extent that you would no longer wear it. The old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it", most certainly applies here.

Betty in Georgia

I have to agree with Betty. However, a front on view doesn't reveal 'gaposis' between the buttons - which can happen if there are an inadequate number of buttons or they are wrongly placed, even if the top fits well.

Rather than adding buttons, you might like to consider adding an invisible (as in light weight clear plastic) snap in between any offending buttons to hold the gap closed. Don't try to close up the neck any more: you'll just drag the fabric across your upper chest, distorting the hang of the garment and you'll end up looking like a bag lady!

Just *who* suggested it needed to be higher at the neck? Were they trying to protect you from vampires, or just jealous of your great skin and neat attire?

The picture doesn't show the sorts of things that would inspire me to add more buttons in between, nor does the V neckline look inappropriately low for most jobs -- but in a very conservative community, a higher neckline might "sell" better. But don't attempt to close the neckline on this shirt farther up -- it'll cause all sorts of funniness and the shirt will hang very oddly. (As an aside: about 30% of the women in my little rural community wear modern modifications of 16th century Russian dress... now that's conservative!)

Well, you can certainly try some shoulderpads in the shirt... beware of starting to look like the you're trying out for the football team. A quick way to get a rough idea of how much shoulderpad you can use is to grab some facial tissues that come piled up together... Scotties is one such brand. Fold a stack about 3/8 of the long distance, and stuff the stack into your shirt, folded edge toward the sleeve. What you're looking for is sag lines at the shoulder to disappear. My guess from the photo is that anything much more than about 1/4" -

3/8" is going to be too much. Watch that the neckline doesn't start to lift! Then when you're happy, you can make or buy an appropriate pad and cover it with lining fabric in a color that matches your skin tone. I find it easier to sew the pads into the shirt... just a couple of loose tacking stitches at the shoulder seamline toward your neck, and another couple at the sleeve seamline.

Kay

Tricia,

I agree with Betty and Kate. The blouse looks very nice on you and the neckline isn't at all immodest.

As far as shoulder pads, back in my 9 to 5 days I had a pair purchased in the lingerie department of a nice store...each one had a velcro loop on the underside, which enclosed your bra and slip straps. They stayed in place very well and were convenient for any dress or top that needed shoulder pads but didn't have them attached. Another thing I liked about them, besides the fact they were rather thin, is that the shoulder edge was a little cupped, which gave a rounded, natural contour. I don't know if these are still available, but might be worth looking.

Doreen in Alabama

Sorry ladies, but here comes a rant from a guy.

Who is the boob, no pun intended, that suggested that you button up your blouse further? It is a heck of a lot further up, and no morass of straps showing, than many of my high school students wear, and they get interviews and jobs all the time. Who are they trying to kid, whoever they is(are)? Anyways, your blouse is just fine. No cleavage is showing, it is slightly tailored at the waist, is practical to work in, compliments your slacks, and is not some flashy wild design or color. I would not try to do shoulder pads, in my opinion. They would cause your blouse to slide around over the top of them and trying to attach them to your undergarment straps is inviting a disaster of them coming loose and/or you worrying about them and fidgeting and trying to adjust them. You don't need one more thing to be nervous about in an interview.

So, you are probably wondering where I get these opinions from. Two sources. The first is my mom who is a very accomplished sewer, quilter and home ec teacher by trade. There is not much that we have not talked about, including shoulder pads and the like. Secondly, I'm a business teacher and an advisor in the Career Technical Student Organization known as Business Professionals of America. The other two teachers I work closely with would agree with me. We have often made many a young lady change her blouse before competition from something that was many, many inches lower. We have also seen the hazards of shoulder pads in action as they stand outside their competition room adjusting at the last minute. I have had students dressed as you win their competitions hands down because they know themselves, know they are good, are confident in themselves, walk in with their head held high, and conduct themselves professionally. Isn't that what employers want? At least I hope so and what I teach my students.

What else would I tell my students? Your glasses are stylish but not overbearing. Your foray to Merle Norman was fine. (I mostly visit the quilt site myself). A little bit of color and emphasis but not overdone.

Tricia, look in the mirror and tell yourself, "I'm just fine and I'll get the job that I am supposed to have." I have been where you are, and not been hired for many jobs. My reasons are because I am a "petite" man, not interested in all things "sports" so I have no coaching experience, and have often been told that I am not "manly" enough. I've perseverd, like I know you can, and after many, many interviews, finally landed a job which has been a great fit. You will too.

And to directly address your question, I don't think that the top could have a button added. With the angle of the collar, it would look "fixed". Again, just my opinion. I don't mean to step on any toes or butt in where I shouldn't.

Steve

I usually lurk here and frequent the quilting group but I got a question that fits more into the sewing side of things

I have a top (purchased, ready to wear) that I recently wore to a job interview. I was just barely this side of comfortable with where the buttons began and it has been nicely suggested to me that the top would look more professional and appropriate for work if it buttoned higher. Being "blessed" in that area, I'm not totally surprised at the suggestion. I'm sure you have already heard many times over how finding RTW that fits appropriately for one with my body type is difficult so I won't go into that. I just want to know how to fix it!

A picture of the top (actually the whole interview outfit) can be seen at

Is it difficult to add buttons and such to ready to wear tops like this? What process would you suggest I use to do so (or shouldn't I)?

Oh, and someone else has suggested to me that shoulder pads would help take up slack created by my sloping shoulders -- I haven't a clue how to put them in but wondered if pinning them to my undergarment straps would have the same improvement effect. Any ideas?

TIA, Tricia

I have some, too, and I really like them for certain RTW. I found:

Beverly

Steve, you said it all exactly right! :)

It's good to have our opinions confirmed by someone from the other side of the interview, as it were.

Tricia, Best of Luck in this venture. :)

Thank you one and all! ~

Okay! I will basically leave this particular top alone. The dickie/midi suggestions (and how to directions!!!!) were particularly good as many of my tops tend to suffer from the bending over issue and usually make me so self conscious. I will see if I can find the pads that velco hook to the bra straps -- I cannot see myself sewing pads into all my tops that would need them, esp if I then decide to wear said top under a blazer that already has pads of its own -- then I would really look like I was trying out for the football team.

The person who mentioned the higher button -- it is possible I misunderstood what the friendly poster in the other group was trying to say. After hearing now from all the garment makers (don't wanna say seamstress and offend the guys out there -- Hi Steve, no toes stepped on! I appreciated reading your post.), I have to figure what was being suggested was a *different* top that buttoned higher would have appeared *more* professional than that lovely rose one.

Thank you very much! Tricia

Tricia, Tricia,

The most important thing is your smile. If I asked 600 people how I could improve myself, I am sure I would get lots of answers. (especially if any of them knew me.) :~} When everyone threw in their

2 cents worth it would sound like everyone was picking on me. Your Pink top is nice. I agree no fixing, I don't even think it needs a dickey, but then I have not seen you bend over. Put it on, sit down, lean forward, does it really gape open? It looks to me like it would lay right where it is. What gets you the job is your passion, Smile, Self confidence and Experience. Maybe you didn't get that job, because there is a better one around the corner. One never knows.

Vikki in WA State

The complaint wasn't "immodest" but "less professional". A V neckline is casual, it's youthful, and it may remind one of an open blue collar

-- all these connotations counter-act the "I came here to give orders" statement you want office clothes to make. You don't want your clothes to say "I came here to punch keys and fetch coffee" unless you would be upset at being promoted.

The neatest officewear convention I ever saw was in Sydney. All the office workers wore black. Black is such an obviously-stupid color for the climate that no further statement was needed, and everyone was dressed *comfortably*; the color alone said "I'm on duty, I'm not the janitor, and my office is air-conditioned."

Joy Beeson

Oooh! Have you got patterns, or at least pictures?

Joy Beeson

Scroll down to the bottom of the page for "civilian" clothes.

Beverly

What community is that, and what group of people dress like that?

Melinda, who is fascinated by historic costume and by people who wear anachronistic attire and who dreams sometimes of doing the same herself

A V neckline is also the most flattering choice for many face and body types. In this decision-making process there are many variables, and subjective judgments are especially unpredictable.

Doreen in Alabama

The Russian "Old Believers". There are several communities in OR with fairly substantial populations of them.

Beverly

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I once read a book on getting married within a year. All of this woman's "suggestions" for attire are all meant to get the man to think of the woman as "sexually available". Open fronts, button fronts especially all the way down a skirt or dress were given as "suggesting sexual availability".

Just relating what she said, AK in PA