While watching "What Not to Wear", the stylists suggested in the summer to wear a cotton skirt as opposed to capri pants. The experts feel capri pants "chop" your legs. I thought I'd go with that thought and went to Kohl's department store to try on skirts. Kohl's had a clearance rack and cotton skirts were $5. Great deal! I tried on A-line skirts and I looked like a triangle! The skirts stuck out on the sides. I can understand a heavy twill sticking out, but the same effect happened with lighter weight cottons. I looked on the major pattern company web sites and I'm thinking a bias cut skirt might have a nicer appearance. What is the opinion of you expert sewers? What fabric would you suggest? I'm a substitute teacher in an elementary school that is not air conditioned. If history repeats itself, our Pennsylvania weather will turn hot and humid before the end of the school year.ThanksSuzanne

Well, in reference to the skirt shape, an A line is supposed to havethat shape, just not stiffly. to make it not take that shape you canmake a gored skirt. Or you could run a seam down the center front andback as well as the side seams and make the straight grain go down themiddle of that, so that the front and back as well as the side seamsare bias and therefore softer, not as stiff.Where in PA are you? I'm in Somerset. Kitty in SW PA

which skirt type

Karen Maslowski 20 years ago

You can do a lot of visual slenderizing, simply by following the lines of the body, and allowing the fabric to skim over them. I see a lot of people wearing clothing that is simply too tight, or that is so blocky that it is unflattering. I know I look best in clothing with darts and shaping that shows my figure to best advantage.

The reason that tapering a skirt works is because the eye tends to go to that narrowest spot, in this case the hem of the skirt. Which causes the eye to sort of skip over the other, er, wider parts. Whatever works!

Karen Maslowski > Karen Maslowski wrote:

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Melinda Meahan - take out TRAS 20 years ago

What tends to look best on me is a very slightly gored skirt or else a straight skirt that is slightly pegged at the bottom.

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gjones2938 20 years ago

Dear Juno,

I tried to write instructions for the sarong skirt, but it didn't go through. I will be happy to e-mail the instructions with sketches if you'll e-mail me. And anyone else, if you're interested.

Teri

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Juno 20 years ago

Teri, I've emailed you to the yahoo address you show on your postings. Juno

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seeker 20 years ago

If you do this, be sure there's a vent or kick pleat. Otherwise you'll have no walking ease. Sharon

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seeker 20 years ago

Karen, I've just bought a vintage pattern with this mock sarong feature and some fabric to stitch it up. Can you describe what this stay is all about, please? The pattern doesn't include a stay. Sharon

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Karen Maslowski 20 years ago

Sure. Instead of the overlap simply going straight up to the waist, it has a curve, beginning at about the same level as the bottom of the darts, and curving up to about 3" below the waistline, but into the side seam. So instead of being a true wrap, the top of the overlap is connected into the side seam.

Is that clear? I can't really give you a visual on this newsgroup, sorry!

Karen Maslowski > >

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Melinda Meahan - take out TRAS 20 years ago

If you are heavy enough, there is plenty of walking ease.

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Suzanne McHenry 20 years ago

Thanks for all the adivce! I lkie the sarong idea and in my stash, found a pattern! I need to get the funky jewelry. It will be a great look. I'm also going to try the gore skirt. I think the structure will be good for my shape.

Thanks aga> >

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