One of my immediate wardrobe needs is two skirts: one black, one gray. I have already picked out the fabrics and made a mock-up in muslin. Now it's decision time: which length is better? The longer length looks more grown-up, the shorter looks more like me. (And what does that say about me?)
Front view:
Side view:
Back view:
For this pattern, I used the bottom part of BWOF 06/99 #125, which is originally a dress pattern. I'd made a muslin mock-up of it for the red and aubergine dresses. For the skirt, I just ripped out the empire seam. I left the zipper long because I didn't want to waste it. I put elastic around my waist and pinned the skirt to it. Because as a dress it had a lot more ease in the waist than a skirt would, I had some extra fabric to contend with.
I could take some of the ease out at the side seams or I could put elastic in the waistband. There really wasn't a good place for front darts because they would be pointing to nothing. It took me a couple of nights to come up with a solution.
You see, I have this dream about wearing skirts that have a regular straight-cut waistband, with a belt. Unfortunately, with my curvy body, it is nigh impossible to make a skirt like that. I finally came to terms with this fact a few days ago after putting on a 1 1/4" elastic and measuring the top and bottom edges separately. There was a 2" difference!!! There's no way a straight-cut waistband is ever going to look decent on me.
Soooo.... the solution is a contoured waistband or yoke. I used the yoke from BWOF 05/07 #112, cut it out in muslin, sewed up the seams, and pulled it on over the skirt. First I adjusted the yoke for proper fit, then pinned the bottom of it to the skirt. When I took it off, I traced the yoke's bottom seam line onto the skirt, took the muslin pieces apart, and made a new paper pattern, adding 2" in length to test it out. The mock-up skirt above was cut from the new pattern.
Please help me make a decision about the length by leaving a comment.
24 comments:
I vote for knee length. I think it looks much more balanced.
VTMartha
I feel your pain on the straight waist band... not happening for me and my curves either!
I like the shorter look on you for the skirt lenth.. it is more 'youthful' looking.. but thats not a bad thing!! esp. since you are young... and cute!
Enjoy it while you can right!!
I like the slightly longer length. It makes your great legs look even better!
I think the shorter length is more flattering, but it wouldn't hurt to make a few skirts in the longer length for those occasions where you especially need to look more "grown up".
Both skirt lengths look good on you, but I vote for the shorter length.
I am no help here...both look good on you...however, can I say that it depends on where you want to wear the skirt to...more professional the longer length...more casual the knee-length version...yeah I know, no help at all! *LOL*
I like the longer length. The proportion looks better than the shorter, which seems to be about 50/50.
I like the shorter length. It's younger and more contemporary.
Charity
I think it's going to depend on how you're going to wear it. Is it a work dress? Then IMO, go with the longer length. A fun, weekend or evening dress? Then go shorter. You can carry off either length well, so based upon your destination when wearing this dress is how I'd decide.
Gee, I guess that wasn't much help, huh?
Hi Alex: I am going to be contrary. I don't like either length. I'd like the longer one to be about .75" longer and hit right at the thinnest part of your leg at the bottom of the knee. That's for a more "serious" look and as Martha said, balances. For a shorter skirt I'd like to see the hemline raised a smidgen: you have cute knees. I'd like to see the hemline, again, hit where the thigh starts to narrow. This is the "fun" skirt, right? Hey, make it really Fun! Whaddaya think?
I am wrestling with the exact same issue on a black skirt I just made. Both lengths look good on you; you're gonna just have to go with the version you know you'll ultimately wear more often.
Well, my first impression was "meh" for both skirts. They are too similar in length and neither one hits you right at the best spot. They are kind of wishy-washy lengths.
I agree with Mary Beth. The longer skirt should be just a tad longer to hit at the narrowest part just below the kneecap for a serious and elegant look. The shorter look is a little too conservative to be really cute and you have nice legs. Make it a tad shorter, as Mary Beth describes, where the thigh starts to narrow above the knee. That would be a great fun skirt.
Another vote for what Mary Beth suggested.
I too, think the longer skirt would look even better just a smidgeon longer. It would make a great work skirt. The short skirt looks really good to me at the exact length it already is. Hey you are making 2 aren't you, how about one at each length? One for serious and one for going out.
My personal preference would be for the longer length, for exactly the same reasons as other people have suggested (hits at a smaller part of the leg)
However my vote is for the shorter length, as it still looks fabulous, and you say it feels more like "you" and that seems more important to me.
Alexandra .- I vote for the longest skirt certainly is more proportionate silhouette. It is also a personal taste, to me, for example, I like very short skirts very short (for another style of dress). I do not know if I could help ...... greetings, Paco
I think it's all about proportion.
If you're planning on wearing the skirt with a top as long as the shirt you have on, the longer skirt def looks better. And I agree with MB and those who've come after, a bit more length would be good.
But if you're wearing it with a top that is tucked in, or a top that is much longer, I think you can go short and have it look good.
But right now, your top and bottom are about even on the length scale, and that is just not a pleasing look.
"More grown-up" / "more like me" sounds exactly like the difference between my old and my new haircut...
I'd vote for one of each: one for feeling grown-up, one (or two...) for feeling like yourself. Especially because changing between the two is so much easier than changing between haircuts - that it is possible should be enough as a reason, shouldn't it ;-) ?
I think both of them look good on you, although the longer could be (half?) an inch longer and the short one slightly shorter - but then, I don't know the first thing about short skirts anyway... [babbling off]
Eva
Well, you definitely have the figure and legs for either length, so if you're thinking professional, I'd go with the longer version. If it's for evening or play, go for the short.
I prefer the longer length, especially on a black skirt! It will make you look slimmer!
Hey Sweetie! Boy do I have a lot of reading to do to get caought up with all you have been up! I love the longer look on you hon. But the shorter does look nice also :-)Ok, will I promise to get around to an email before long, but for now got to get back to my search on alterations, been years since I did any so need to check out a few do's and don'ts, lol, take care...My vote is for the longer look :-)
I like both but would tend to lean towards the longer on proportions. If you're making two skirts, I'd vote for one of each.
I like the shorter length.
hello
I think you look more elegant with the longer length :)
CLAUDIA
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