Box Pleats, Buttons, and Belts, Oh My!

I decided I wanted two identical box-pleat pockets on the front of my shirt, something a little different (for me).

I wanted the pleat to be 1" wide, so I added 2" to the width of the pocket when I cut my fabric.



Softly folding my pocket pieces so as not to make a sharp crease, I stitched a straight line at 1".





I then opened each pleat and pressed it flat.





Then I pressed the edges of my pocket under as I would normally.  I serged the turned-under top edge so I wouldn't have to stitch horizontally along the top.



Next, I stitched the pockets onto the shirt.





Finishing up, I chose small tortoise shell plastic shirt buttons I had in my stash.  They're really only visible on the cuffs.








Still haven't decided about those two back fish-eye darts.  They're certainly not necessary.



This afternoon, I found a vintage Seventies (based on the width) silk tie at the Salvation Army.  Pussy willows and pussy cats.  I thought I would use it to make a belt that would coordinate nicely with the shirt.





I already have these two metal loops from an old belt I disassembled.



I took apart the tie.  I'll keep all the bias canvas interfacing to use in suit collars.





There is a ton of silk in this tie; I was surprised how much.



I'm thinking I'll sew one very long 1 1/2" wide tube and turn it.  What should I interface the tie with though?  I have rolls of multicolored grosgrain ribbon, I could use that.  Or adapt the original canvas tie interfacing somehow.



If anybody has done this before, please let me know.

I've covered box pleats, buttons, and belts.  What else?

Band collars!

Here's mine, modeled by Michael.





I think my work is done.

Have a great day, everybody!