I am in dire need of formal clothing to wear in hot weather. To get some inspiration for a new skirt I looked around the Portmans online store and spotted this skirt:
Not too bad at all. I haven't quite got the model's figure (if only I had legs like that), but I could make it work. The design is relatively simple, at this length I wouldn't have to sew a kick pleat (which is a little daunting for me!), it could potentially be flattering.
My objections to buying this item, an action that would save much time and cursing, are as follows.
1. $79.95 AUD for a polyester (?!?!?!?) skirt. A natural fibre would feel infinitely better on the skin and look heaps more expensive but paradoxically could cost me less if I made my own.
2. The problem I have with Portmans pencil skirts is that when they fit at the waist they are really snug around the derriere I do not enjoy this so much. Not really my style.
3. Its black! Black is a colour that unfortunately doesn't suit me at all. Having said that black is a very versatile colour. One could pair a black skirt with many a wardrobe item.
So here is the master plan I formulated to solve all my dilemmas:
Make my own skirt from a natural fibre fabric and do it on the cheap. The result should be infinitely more satisfying.
Here are my sketches of the front and back of the skirt. I've added the oblique fabric crease at the side back as well as I think this would be flattering and i've made the lower edge of the skirt less tapered. If i'm not going to have a kick pleat I don't want the bottom of the skirt to be too narrow. Otherwise, its more or less a clone.
These are the pieces i'll have to cut out.
So far I have bought this beauuutiful fabric. It's a DKNY cotton/elastane blend with a nice amount of stretch for comfort and it feels gorgeous. You might not be able to see in the photo but it's a navy blue/black colour. At $18/m, 1.5m cost me $27. That is all I have spent on this skirt thus far. I already have the interfacing for the waist band. All i'll need is ~5m bias tape to finish the hem and seams and an invisible zipper.
Next task: drafting the pattern. I'm going to base it on the Sidonie pattern from Burdastyle which I have made before.
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