Story

O wanderer from a Grecian shore,
Still, after many years, in distant lands,
Still nourishing in thy bewilder'd brain
That wild, unquench'd, deep-sunken, old-world pain—

Say, will it never heal?
And can this fragrant lawn
With its cool trees, and night,
And the sweet, tranquil Thames,
And moonshine, and the dew,
To thy rack'd heart and brain
Afford no balm?

– Matthew Arnold, 'Philomela'

A symbol of eternal passion and pain, Philomela found solace only when she transformed into a nightingale. Thus the Philomela Top acts as the sister of our Nightingale Dress, a classic button-front blouse with an elegant necktie and long button-cinched sleeves. When Philomela turned into a nightingale, she found her voice and formed wings, but in her sorrowful, silenced, and wingless form, she is no less beautiful.

Design Details

• 100% silk printed in Canada
• Designed, cut, and sewn in Arkansas, USA
• Semi-fitted blouse with neck tie
• Full button-front closure
• Long sleeves with button-cinched cuffs
• This top is sheer, so you may want to wear something underneath it
• Measures 23" long from shoulder
• Hand wash cold, line dry, warm iron as needed (learn more about garment care here)

Materials

This top is made of silk Georgette, custom-printed just for us in Canada. Lightweight, sheer, and with a characteristic dry hand and subtle crinkle, this fabric has an extraordinarily elegant drape. I had Mary Cassatt's floral motifs (on dresses, wallpapers, upholstery, and the like in her works) in mind when digitally designing this abstract floral print, referencing several vintage fabric patterns in the process. The fabric is digitally printed using reactive dyes in a process that conserves ink and reduces fabric waste.

In addition to the fabric, this top uses organic cotton thread, five vintage mother of pearl buttons, organic cotton interfacing, and cotton garment labels.

Fit

Take a look at our Size Guide to find your size.

The Philomela is fitted in the bust and the waist and free in the hips, so use both your bust and waist measurements when determining your size. If you fall in between sizes, particularly in the bust, I recommend sizing up to avoid any potential button gapping.

Sarah is wearing a size 4 and is 5'9" with a 33" bust, 24" waist, and 35" hip.