Holiday Peplum Refashion

Happy Holidays!  I hope your Thanksgiving was as peaceful and refreshing as mine. I was blessed to be with my son, husband, and some good friends. 

Today I have a Holiday inspired peplum refashion for you, and I need your advice on how to finish it. I was excited when my mom gave me this red jersey polo because I knew right away that it would make a great Holiday top.

Don't you think this outfit would have been perfect for Turkey Day?

I guess I have been on a peplum kick lately, but they've just been working out so well with these types of shirts.

I began by cutting the bottom half of the shirt off and seam ripping the sleeves.

 

After removing the collar, I cut the back of the shirt down the middle. I wanted the back to become the front and the front the back.  How confusing is that!  Eventually, it will make sense.  

I then sewed up the middle again, leaving about three inches open at the top.  This created a v neckline.

Not the greatest photo.

After sewing up the front, I turned the top inside out and put it on my dress form for fitting.  I took in at the shoulders and sides and added darts.

Front

The front buttons are turned around to become the back.

Next, I trimmed the excess fabric off the shoulders to prepare for the sleeves.

Facing left side trimmed.

For the sleeves, I created and attached them the same way as I did the plaid peplum top.  I wanted to give this top a different look, so I made the sleeves quarter length. 

For the peplum, I decided to gather the bottom half instead of pleat it.   To do this, I back stitched only at the beginning and stitched a wide stitch all the way around the edge.  Once the stitch was finished, I pulled the top thread and pushed the gathers around the edges until it was even and fit onto the top section of the shirt.  

I then pinned the gathered bottom to the top part of the shirt, right sides facing, and stitched it around the edges.

Wow! I was really off on my photos this week.  Sorry.  Can you see the pinned edges?

Now, here's where I need your help.  My husband says that the top needs a little extra something, but I can't decide what to do.  Here's what I've come up with so far. 

Option 1: Leave the neckline as is.

Option 2: Trim the neckline in white bias tape.

Option 3: Ruffled neckline.

What do you think?  Do you like any one of these options? Or do you have some ideas of your own?  Please help! : )