Uh-oh - another idea!

Been mulling over that Renee Fleming idea and I'm thinking this is going to be my best idea.  I would like to have a fitted bodice, but with a shawl type collar and have parts of the top of the collar beaded.  This solves both my desires of having something formal to wear to the wedding and yet keeping the base of my outfit something I can wear again and again (with a jacket that is more tailored rather than frou-frou) not that I can't wear the top again, but the beading does make it more on the formal side.  So what I think I'm going to do is take a "shoulderless" pattern and attach a shawl for the top- double it over (on the straight of the fabric) so that the lines in the shawl are horizontal-ish rather than vertical-ish.  Then make the fitted part - all unlined to go over a very simple sleeveless bodice and simple skirt - yeah right - famous last words..... s-i-m-p-l-e!  More messes and trouble come from simple.....

(to be continued)