Help me find this top
May 9, 2012 11:32 AM   Subscribe

Looking for specific super ruffly top similar to this photo.

I have been looking all over, I Googled, including using Google image search on that photo, a photo for which I have no recollection of how I found it in the first place. I have searched for previous askes on this fine website, looked all over eBay and Etsy, I have looked at Pinterest and various and sundry other sites on the interwebs. All of this has been for naught.

Sure, I have found a lot of ruffle tops. But they all seem to have puny tiny ruffles, with limited ruffle volume and length. I would like to purchase a top with voluminous long ruffles as evidenced in that photo! If one of you happen to know of a place online or in the Austin area that has something like it, please let me know. I would be very appreciative. I would like to keep the price in the reasonable end of the spectrum. Having said that, I am willing to go above $60 if I need to. =]

As a bonus question, what is the term used to describe this sleeve on this dress? The term, attached sleeve does not bring up many results for that type of dress.

Thanks!
posted by v1sual.3rr0r to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (9 answers total)
 
In the second dress, isn't that just a bell sleeve that's longer in the back up next to a tightish skirt? Surely it's not a dress that doesn't let you lift your arms?
posted by artychoke at 11:42 AM on May 9, 2012


Best answer: I had a bit of luck googling the term "Cascade Ruffle", though the very inconsistent results show it is not universally applied. Also try "Jabot Ruffle", though only "Jabot" will blonk you into historical territory.

As for the bonus, and artychoke's comment, yes, I think the sleeve truly is attached, per the first photo, and that is a garment that would not allow you to scratch your head without revealing your underwear, or lack thereof. A less radical approach would be "bell sleeve", as mentioned.
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 11:58 AM on May 9, 2012


Best answer: It looks more like the first picture is a long sleeve knit top with a ruffled jabot, though maybe they're attached and the jabot is knit as well. Costumers make these types of blouses, and you may have luck with Gothic Lolita sites. Searching Kaboodle for "ruffled jabot blouse" brings up things like this.

I don't think there's any sort of term for the second dress, as people generally don't want their sleeves attached to their hem.
posted by oneirodynia at 12:07 PM on May 9, 2012


Found this white button-up from Ralph Lauren - not as voluminous, but white and 3/4 sleeved.

This white top has more ruffles, but looks a little frumpy, although it could just be the model. They're out of stock, but you might be able to find another with the item #.

(The second dress is practically giving me a panic attack! No ideas on style name...)
posted by pecanpies at 12:12 PM on May 9, 2012


Response by poster: Thank all for the answers so far! Yes the sleeves are indeed attached. I know it seems very strange and constricting, but something about that dress fascinates me! (I have a strange aesthetic)

I have done some searching using the term Cascade Ruffle and have had some luck, but as Rube R. Nekker discovered it is very inconsistent. :(

In my previous searches, I have looked at several Lolita sites and have not found anything like the top in the photo. :(

Using the term jabot does seem to be going in the right direction! :)
posted by v1sual.3rr0r at 12:22 PM on May 9, 2012


1. The ruffles are most likely separate from the shirt, which looks like it might even be a form-hugging bodysuit. You can make one yourself by starting with a semi-circle of fabric and folding the straight edge into a sort of staggered accordion and sewing it to a strip that you tie around your neck. The ruffle you linked looks like several such constructions (of varying size) side-by-side.

2. "Stupid." It's a plain old bell sleeve that's sewn to the skirt for some ungodly reason. Hope you like putting your hands on your hips, 'cause that's all you'll be able to do.
posted by Sys Rq at 12:37 PM on May 9, 2012


Here's a top you might like, on Bluefly. Unfortunately, it is 69.99, though there is a similar top with shorter sleeves on the linked page.

Here's one with the ruffled jabot and cap sleeves, $32.

Ruffles, ruffles, ruffles!

I've seen this exquisitely done by Diane von Fursternburg, but it seems you can't buy hers now.

I had some luck searching with "poet blouse, ruffled jabot", if that helps.

***

What they've done with that dress is basically combine the concepts of a dolman sleeve with the shape of a bell sleeve. A dolman sleeve is wider where it reaches the body than a regular sleeve, though usually it is attached at the shoulder. A bell sleeve is just a flowing sleeve, where the flowing effect is due to the sleeve being wider at the wrist than the shoulder.

So they have taken a bell sleeve, wider at the wrist and attached the wider part, dolman style, but at the hip, which is...impractical, to say the least.
posted by misha at 12:54 PM on May 9, 2012


Here's a mini-dress on ebay with an attached sleeve, for clubbing. They are calling it a "batwing" sleeve.
posted by misha at 1:02 PM on May 9, 2012


Look for "poet's blouse".

As well as dolman sleeve + bell sleeve, try also searching on "trumpet sleeve" and "flared sleeve".
posted by tel3path at 3:25 PM on May 9, 2012


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