Note to self:

The top I'm imagining making uses silk kimono fabric and cotton tape. Most of the seams will have the tape, secured with rectangular X's at each end. Somewhere along the front (either above or below the bustline) will be a series of small knife pleats with a box pleat in the center. A wide bias self-tape with the cotton tape on top will go across the pleats in the middle so they're not blowsy and unflattering. Or maybe experiment with having the pleats on the sides instead, with a fairly tight tape across (connecting with snaps or velcro so you can put it on without other fasteners) in order to show the waistline. This whole look may be impossibly unflattering, but I could also make it as a tunic so it would be more drapey/flowy. Hmm. But try it short first.