Tops, blouses and shirts

Queen Mathilde

Still working through my blogging backlog so today’s post shows me with shorter hair! I can’t believe how much it’s grown so maybe I should get it recut!

This is a Tilly and The Buttons Mathilde with 3/4 sleeves similar to my ikat version. I used a crown and queen print polyester from Abakhan in Manchester and floral white buttons from my stash.

It’s very thin and can really hold a crease – so it’s nice to wear in this sticky weather and the pleats sewed up easily.

I’m not really a royalist. I don’t have strong opinions either way about the monarchy and royal family. Part of me worries about how much support we extend to a very large family to provide a better quality of life than most people could even dream of. The other part of me feels that they’re a vital part of my country’s success and intrinsically tied to my perception of British culture.

I know there are people I am close to who fall on different sides of the argument and I don’t think me wearing a queen print top should rattle anyone, but it did make me pause for a second before buying the fabric; “does this say something about me politically?”

I guess the same way I wonder if buying polyester says something about me.

Deep thoughts for a simple top I suppose.

(29) Comments

  1. Swirlyicing says:

    Loving the colour. Very Royal blue! From afar the Queen’s head looks like little fishes! You know how us Thomas’ like fish. Well done!

    1. almondrock says:

      Haha thanks mum. Can’t escape the fishes

  2. To be honest I wouldn’t have even know there were queens heads on the fabric if I didn’t look closely – swirlyicing is right, they look like fishes! I love the royal family, they’re an integral part of our country and it wouldn’t be the same without them so I love this top!

    1. almondrock says:

      So funny how everyone has said it’s fish!! Heehee

  3. Another one here who thought they were fish. And your pattern matching on the back is wonderful.

    1. almondrock says:

      Thank you! I was secretly ecstatic about the pattern matching

  4. It’s fish for me too!! I love having the royal family with all that history although my husband moans at me for it! A great Mathilde in fantastic fun fabric x

    1. almondrock says:

      Thank you! Maybe I’ll pretend they’re fish from now on hehehe

  5. kaitlynssimplyvintage says:

    Love the blouse, great colours. I’m on side with the royals as well. It makes sense to me to have a head of state that holds hardly any power, a sort of checks and balances system I guess

    1. almondrock says:

      Thank you! It’s interesting hearing everyone’s thoughts on the royals

  6. What an interesting train of thought! Here (USA) we don’t have kings and queens and never have — so I thought you had little fish on your shirt. I personally don’t get it, but the tabloids here are obsessed with William (?)(the blonde one) and his growing family, and many people watched their wedding (online?). So perhaps having an inherited leader is something that resounds with people of all national identities and walks of life.

    1. almondrock says:

      The William and Kate mania is pretty entertaining. I know many Australians and Americans who go crazy for news about them. I’m enjoying hearing everyone’s thoughts about royalty

  7. I’m looking at your lovely top and the references to the monarchy, and I’m like wha? They look like little fishes to me! Until I zoomed in to see it was actually a crown and a bust! haha! I wouldn’t worry too much about it 😉 Lovely Mathilde though!

    1. Linda says:

      Me too!!!

    2. almondrock says:

      Haha thanks! I’m going to pretend they’re fishes going forward I think.

  8. Lovely top. I too thought the print was of little fishes. You might not need to worry people may think you’re a raving royalist!

    1. almondrock says:

      Heehee you never know what people might say behind my back. I’m going to pretend they’re fishes now I think

    2. almondrock says:

      I’ve tricked everyone! Hehe thank you

  9. Claire Ross says:

    I too thought it was a lovely fishy blouse!

    1. almondrock says:

      I’ve tricked everyone! Hehe thank you

  10. Love your monarchy monologue. I thought it was a beautiful fishy top too

    1. almondrock says:

      Hehe thank you! Interesting how everyone saw fish!

  11. My mathilde doesn’t sit well in my wardrobe but with the 3/4 length sleeves I think I could make it work.Thanks Jo xxx

    1. almondrock says:

      I definitely recommend it as a change. Looks much better under cardigans.

  12. Katie says:

    A+ Abakhan find! Definitely too subtle to be mistaken for a raging royalist 😉

    1. almondrock says:

      Thank you! Gotta love the Abakhan surprises hehe.

  13. Lovely! That fabric is an amazing trick of the eye…I definitely saw schools of fish!

    1. almondrock says:

      Aha! It’s amazing how many people have said that!

  14. Lovely! Big fan of royal blue (I’m probably similarly torn on the royal family). I do like button-down backs, despite a disappointing experience with Colette’s Sencha Blouse (my fault, not the pattern!).

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