Sewing simple clothes that don't look crap-tastic on me is really tricky. I have a lot of Japanese craft/sewing books and even though I've had great luck with a couple of them, I usually use them for inspiration/objects of my longing.
Melissa made this shirt for herself and it ended up being so. cute. While I was skeptical it could work for me, I borrowed the book from Mariko anyway. I made some minor adjustments: I lowered the darts quite a bit as their apexes were at a place where mine are not (or ever have been). I made the seam allowances a bit bigger and lengthened it an extra two inches. The fabric is Moda's Regent Street Lawn (from Bolt) and while not quite as soft as Liberty Tana Lawn, sewed up nearly as well and for much less money.
It sewed up in an hour and a half and it might have taken less time if I hadn't been jabbering my head off. I made a muslin and kept it loose around the hips. I love the sleeves. I still hardily endorse this pattern as my go-to basic, but now I have two. Two are better than one-- unless it is something nasty.
I think it will go nicely with this skirt. I wrote a pretty detailed review of it here (it's living at the store at the moment, if'n you want to inspect it further). Of course, it's still cardigans, wool socks and corduroys around here. At least for the moment.
