more white lace and pretty florals…
The Kentucky Derby is coming up this Saturday, and although I\’ve never attended, I have been to some of the local races in Virginia and North Carolina. In college, all the sororities would rent buses and drive the hour to Charlottesville to attend Foxfields, and it was always great time–we would don our brightest Lilly Pulitzer dresses, our biggest hats, and drink mint juleps in the sunshine, completely oblivious to the actual horse racing. Alex insists I call this experience by it\’s proper name: Preppy Coachella.
This is a skirt I made last year from some leftover materials and a simple little pattern, Simplicity 1370. I want to do a little bit of tweaking to the fit–it\’s good but I would really love to have a holy grail mini skirt and this isn\’t it quite yet. I feel like fitted skirts aren\’t flattering on me, and never fit right due to a combination of swayback, possibly a full butt adjustment, maybe something else? I don\’t know. I have the Colette Selene which seems like it would be easy to modify with all those seams, but maybe I should just suck it up and sign up for Brooks Ann Camper\’s Skirt Skills class. I know it would be worth it but it\’s expensive!
My top is from Mint Julep (c/o) and I love the lace detail–it\’s a nice variation on all the shoulder details we\’ve seen recently. I love an OTS dress or blouse but it\’s nice to be able to wear a bra with straps sometimes… it\’s a bit sheer so I\’ve layered it over a nude ogden cami, my favorite pattern ever. (ps if you sign up for Mint Julep emails you can get 10% off your first order! check out their new arrivals here.)
And in my cup? A delicious mint julep-inspired mocktail of my own invention: just crushed ice, muddled mint, and lemon la croix! Perfect and refreshing, especially as temperatures here in NC continue to climb!
What do you suggest in the way of alterations when my fitted skirts always seem to numch up and the back and hug under my abdomen in an unflattering way? Am I just in the wrong size, or do I need more pattern adjustments? Or have you taken Brooks Ann\’s skirt skills class? I want to hear about your skirts!
xoxo,
Allie I think you're right that to get just the right fit you would be better served to make a block of your own – Craftsy also has a class with Suzy Furer on making your own skirt sloper which maybe less expensive – they often have sales going too. I've taken many Craftsy classes and have ALWAYS been happy I did. I think this just might be the best course of action for you. Once you have your skirt sloper you can make any skirt you like 🙂
I had forgotten about Suzy's skirt class! I actually own her bodice sloper class (some day I'll have time to actually take it!) so I suppose I should add the skirt class to my shopping bag, too. Thank you so much for the reminder!
I actually purchased Brooks Ann's class and Suzy's class and worked through both to make my skirt sloper, though I did rely more heavily on Suzy's for the sloper itself. I came out with a great sloper and it fits better than any skirt I have ever purchased or made up with a commercial pattern. For the price (especially with a coupon), I recommend Suzy's. That said, I don't regret purchasing Brooks Ann's class as I learned a lot from her! I also think that she priced it appropriately, considering that she built the class herself and didn't have the Craftsy platform. Her sloper method is different from Suzy's in a number of key ways and I found it to be more time consuming, but she produces an equally professional skirt. AND, most importantly, she makes herself readily available to students for private Skype sessions/private FB group, etc. Good luck!
I've been thinking about taking a sewing skirt sloper class. I just feel like skirts are harder to fit than dresses! Your skirt is cute on you and from the photos I can't tell that it doesn't fit so if it is comfortable you should wear it. That top is brilliant with the covered shoulder peasant top vibe.
Love your entire outfit!
I struggle with fitted skirts too. My problem is that they're mostly drafted for people with smaller hips and thighs than I have. I want the skirt to be fitted but not so much so that my thighs are stuck together all day and I can't walk normal! This skirt looks like it fits you nicely in these pictures, and I really like the print!
First I love your skirt! Just putting in a word for the Selene. I've just made my second one (it's on my blog this week) and I find the fit very flattering especially on the tummy (though I'm slim I have a round tummy).
Very cute outfit! I love the print of the skirt. I use the Palmer-Pletsch book Fit for real people, can't recommend it enough. I also struggle with fitted skirts, combination of curvy hips and small waist, and have made several adjustments guided by this book. It's hard to tell from your photos as you don't have one from the back, but a full-seat adjustment might be just what you need. I have also tried this one:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeEf818TQjYWhile I don't quite agree with their order – I blend between sizes from waist to hip before doing this FSA to add extra length, as they imply it adds extra width, which it doesn't, just the extra 'roundness' – it does work and makes things sit more comfortably.Sorry, adding in an extra comment: if you don't have the book it's only about $13 on amazon, and worth an investment! Cheaper than a class and lots of info, photos etc.
Did you make any alterations when you make the Selene, or make it as is? I have the same thing, I'm slim, but I do have a round tummy and the way slim skirts fit highlights that!
Same here–my hips are about 11\” larger than my waist so it makes fitting tricky… I haven't done much by way of bottom-half fitting adjustments so this is new to me! I also just passed on a copy of FfRP at my local sewing store just last week and I'm kicking myself, I should have picked it up when I was there!
Thank you! It's secretly tugged down to make it fit better but left to it's own devices it rides up over my butt! haha
Thank you, Margo!! xo
Thank you! I thought it was a cute variation of the shoulder details I've been seeing all over the place, but with covered shoulders!
I think I need to pick up Suzy's class next time crafsty classes are on sale for $20! Brooks Ann helped me fit my wedding dress and she's located right around the corner from me–she's amazingly nice and so good at what she does!
How about drafting a skirt block from your measurements? There are some free tutorials online, and Craftsy has some great drafting classes with Suzy Furrer. It's really pretty easy, and I love using my block. Oh! I see someone else recommended Suzy! Yes, I second that recommendation. The skirt pattern only takes an hour to make from your measurements, and it took me two hours to do my bodice block. It's more fun to do with a sewing buddy.
And your outfit is adorable. The top is super cute! I'd love to see more style posts. You have great style!