dressmaking for the younger crowd

And great for those of us who like to boil our knickers occasionally too! They are the only ones that don't have stupid things like 'Hand was only' on them! Or wash at 30 degrees, Delicate cycle...

Sloggis come in loads of styles, from thongs to leggy ones that come half way down your thighs (don't like them - I wear trousers too often), hold your tummy in, or just cover everything decently! They just don't do lace, which is good. I only own one pair of non-sloggi knickers, and they were bought to go with a particular bra. I just wish Sloggi did bras in a 32F...

Dream on Kate... they only just about do them in a 32D if you get them on special order! :-P

Charlie.

Ok, one hand up for loving the skort! Though, I'd never try to make one. The matching wrap around sounds like my style. With my two little kids, wearing a skirt (unless it is mid-calf or ankle length, which defeats the purpose of being 'cool' in the summer) is just asking for trouble (basically, see the entire previous thread about skirts + bending over/squatting down=OOPS!). And isn't there a different word for the skort that looks like a skirt all the way around, is there? Is it scooter? I like those too. And on my DD who tends not to be very lady-like in a skirt.

-julia

Julia, there was a scooter skirt pattern that I loved back in the 70s (when I still had the legs to get by with it!) It had flaps both front and back, so basically looked like a wrap mini skirt, and was more ladylike than just shorts.

Most people I've seen wearing skorts don't look very attractive in them. Maybe it's the length? because gauchos, which I understand are coming back in style, seemed much more flattering.

Doreen in Alabama

I know... I've whinged at them about it, but they did nothing... :(

Culottes? Looks like a pleated skirt, wears like trousers. Now those I do quite like. I've made heavy ones for winter walking and light cotton ones for summer holidays before now. And you can make them any length from mini to ankle, and they still look good.

I have a skort I really like, I got it in mexico, it's a kinda board short print. They're styled like really short board shorts, like slightly longer hotpants with the skirt and the front and it's seriously nice! The longer ones are awful though, but that's just my opinion!

Charlie.

Thank you Emily, I appreciate your good wishes. Juno

many thanks for the thoughtful reply, sarah. i think the different behavior with the dress i made is what accounted for my boss' reaction. i tried it on again and could see that even raising my arms to get a box of shoes off the rack lifted my dress a good 6 inches or more, which was *well* abouve crotch level. this doesn't happen with any of my skirts, and although it is a bit difficult to get a good rear view of oneself, i usually bend at the knees rather than straight over--especially when sitting to open a box, or picking up shoe boxes from the floor, so the skirts seem to work fine. and as i said before, this is not a guy's shoe store.

nevertheless, i have read your tips/ideas and am intrigued. although my skirts are ok, they're nothing fancy, as i don;t have anywhere near the skills to do this (and on a student budget i want to make sure that whatever i make actually works). i am really interested in how to make dresses that fit my disproportionate body--long and skinny waist, wide hips, and fairly big bust--as well as making pants. i am guessing that the latter is harder than the former, though i don't know why i think this. it is next to impossible to find a decent pair of pants, so i just wears skirts except when i am really lazy; then i wear sweats. it would be wonderful to have a few pairs that fit really nicely. i would like something that hugs my butt and legs, shows off my skinny tummy, but does not cause my butt to pop out every time i sit or squat. (given the butt cleavage i see these days, this seems a lot more indecent than a short skirt!!) i also want something that does not look 'home-made'.

liz, i am not clear on what you are suggesting. is it to wear a dress with a skrt underneath it? that sounds cool if there is not too much clinging and both can hang freely.

thanks everyone for the time; it is very much appreciated. i just wished i had more time to pursue this!

______________________________________ Meet me at Yahoo!

Hi, sorry for not expressing myself clearly. Yes, that's what I meant. The dress could be used as a long top, and could be worn over a matching skirt or a pair of pants (if you can find or make some to fit). Liz

Yes, I've seen some skort disasters (esp the ones that do not have the skirt panel in the back revealing too-tight shorts). Depends on the cut and the fabric too, not just on the person wearing them. Tried on a skort (scooter?) from Lands End that looked really comfy as it was made from a knit fabric and it looked horrible on. Very 'poofy' and it was darn heavy too (defeating the purpose of wearing it during the summer). I stick to lightweight twill and an a-line cut. You're spot on about the gauchos apparently:

My pleasure - it takes time to learn these things, and we've all had some absolute howlers along the way as we've learnt to dressmake properly - well I have at least ;)

Ooops! No wonder you got rather a reaction from the boss! At least you know why now, and have some ideas as to how to correct it on the existing dress or the next dress. As Liz suggests, maybe team this dress up with a skirt to preserve modesty, so the dress serves as a long tunic top. If this makes it a bit tight over the hips, just add slits in the sides.

Oh yes, I know the feeling rather well. Skirt styles that I have found work well straight off the hanger are those fuller styles with a gathered, pleated or elasticated wait - buy to fit your waist and it should fit over your hips. The other good style is a 6 gore skirt flared out at the bottom. As for staight skirts and trousers if you want a pair that fits you have to make them yourself.

It is feasible, given a pattern, to alter it so that when you make the clothes they actually fit YOU - i.e. clothes that allows those of us with hourglass figures to show off our waists and not have wrinkles over the hips and that fit properly over the bust.

It is something those of us on this group can 'talk' you through, but it can get quite complicated in writing - much easier in pictures. I suggest you may want to do some research on how to alter patterns first, and then come back with questions. Happily, the alteration for straight skirts and trousers is the same - so two for the price of one.

That comes with practice and using good techniques - something that took me a while to learn - but this group helped me on my way - I'd have not got to the level I am at without them.

Sarah

An assuredly temporary condition, though. ;)

Doreen in Alabama

P.S. Might as well give up trying to type with my thimble on. I end up correcting almost every word.

thanks sarah, i will take this to heart!! i just got a new pair of boots for free from the store where i work (cathy jean) so i am hoping to make a couple of skirts to go with them. unfortunately, i have several exams coming up in school, so this may have to wait.

thanks for all the help, and i will write more when i have the chance!!

kelly ______________________________________ Meet me at Yahoo!

Are you selling men's shoes? Do you find your customers often need to try many, many different sizes?

Sweetie, take it from the old ladies. You should be getting tips.

Well, if you made you're own slacks you could tailor them so this would't happen. That's one of the beauties of sewing, IMHO.

If you think you look great, then be happy. I used to wear some stuff ....well, never mind. :) Enjoy the life of youth while you're young. I won't begrudge anybody that pleasure. You'll never regret it.

But how do you help people try on shoes with skirts that short? You must be more agile than I ever was.

Angela

Heh. Obviously a youngster. She still hasn't learned that women (especially *potential* customers) are more sensitive to what the sales clerk is wearing than any man would be. There may be customers who look at the shoes in the window and think about going in. Then they see a sales clerk wearing a too-short too-tight skirt and walk right on by. (Especially if she's shopping with a SO)

-- Jenn Ridley : snipped-for-privacy@chartermi.net

the problem i have with skorts is that they ride up in a big way, and the resulting wedgie is really uncomfortable! they do cover the butt, that is true, but only partially, since their wedgie potential limits their coverage. i have several skorts, and all of them ride up a bit. still i guess it is better then a dress that is too short!!

this is a girls shoe store only, so aside from the guys who come in to find a gift for their girlfriends, fitting guys is not a problem. so it does not require too much agility to help girls with their shoes. anyway, dresses or skirts are required ofur those of us who work here, and all the girls who work here wear dresses and none of them seem to have an issue with this. many places require girls to wear a dress or skirt.