TUTORIAL on altering clericals + Boho Chic Deacon

Friends and Followers,

Right now I'm toying with some ideas for new clerical fun.  I've tailored a few shirts myself (I know, right?!  Hand sewn, even!) and now that I've got that down, I'm ready to tailor some funkier black shirts and see what happens.  Before I continue, the steps for tailoring your own clerical...

Step 1: Find a shirt that buttons all the way to the top.  A friend of mine and I (shopping for potential future clericals of course) had a very hard time finding any that would button to the top!  It was shocking how many department stores do not carry them.  Apparently the new fashion is to make them to where they are basically business shirts with a v-neck, which means they won't work.  Because of this new fashion trend, I recommend looking at a thrift store or a TJ Maxx/Marshall's of sorts, because they'll most likely have the kind of shirts you need.

Step 2: Remove the very top button of the shirt.  It can be discarded.

Step 3: Where the button used to be, cut a slit in the fabric the size of a button hole.

Step 4: Reinforce the hole.  It can easily be done through hand stitching.

Step 5: Find the exact center of the back collar of the shirt.  This can be done by folding the shirt on it's side, to where it will show you what the center back is.

Step 6: At the exact center of the back of the collar, cut a slit for a button hole.  Reinforce said button hole.

Voila!  Your own hand tailored clerical.  You'll lock the front of the collar into the original button hole and the button hole you created.  You'll lock the back of the collar into the button hole you created.

Note: depending on your neck size, this may or may not work.  When you shop for the shirt, take your clerical collar so that you can place it around the neck of the shirt and make sure the neck of the shirt isn't too big for your collar.  If it is too big, you'll have to do some advanced sewing for your clericals, which I don't know how to do.  Then it would be time to call in a tailor!  :)

OK, with that tutorial done, I want to share some ideas I'm having...  Lately, I'm really trying to claim my boho chic fashion sense, and I don't see why that can't transfer into my clericals!

I love the idea of trying to find a blousy, button up tank, and making it a clerical... Then, of course, pairing it with a maxi.  Instead of having so much jewelry on the neck, I'd stick with my pectoral cross, but consider bangles on the arms.  While I know this is pretty casual, it seems perfect for an office day at a church in Texas!

Thoughts?

Another image I'm inspired by..

It's a very similar look, but I love the addition of the belt and brown sandal.  I also like the longer necklace, and I wonder if I could wear my collection of three crosses on a longer chain instead of my normal pectoral cross.  I think it would fit the boho look, and still be fitting.

Share your thoughts!  Also: I recognize that this isn't everyone's style, but what I'm trying to do is explore how a person can take a non-cerical style (like boho-chic) and translate it into this work... So let's try to share our thoughts with that in mind!