A woven tunic with matching trousers makes a smart, comfortable party outfit. The tunic is sewn in woven fabric, while the trousers can be made from combed cotton, in a pattern or a plain colour. Here are the details that make this outfit work.

Closing the tunic

Woven fabrics do not stretch, so the tunic needs an opening. Use a hidden zipper at the back, a front placket, or a small keyhole opening with a button loop at the back neck. Sew the seams with fine stitches so the fabric does not fray apart, and use ordinary cotton or polyester thread, not nylon thread.

Choose the fabrics freely

The choice of pattern and colour is entirely up to your taste. You can make the top from woven fabric or from combed cotton. Combed cotton is flexible, so it needs to be worked differently from woven fabric: it can stretch while sewing, so use a lighter hand and a stabilised seam. Every fabric has its own way of working, so always test on a scrap first.

Accessories

You can finish the outfit with a ready-made accessory, such as a brooch or a hair clip, or make one yourself from leftover fabric.