Remember this skirt??
I made it in 2006 and it has been one of my favorite summer skirts ever since. I made the sweater too so together they make one of my favorite outfits. No comments on sweater fit allowed, this sweater has seen many years of expansion and reduction and it is till in my closet. That is enough.
But it is the skirt I am writing about today.
Since I made that skirt I have lost some weight, mostly through the rib cage and waist with the result that the skirt is currently about 3 1/2 inches too big in the waist and it falls down on my hips.
This means that the length also falls to about mid calf, not the most flattering place. It has been like this for about a month, but lazy me, I figured with heels I could get away with it, and I just didn’t want to be bothered.
But if the skirt falls low on the hip, the sweater shown in this photo becomes too short. As I approach my 50th birthday it seems that having a bit of tummy peeking out between my skirt and my top is not a desirable look.
And the extra length on my legs makes my already short legs look shorter and the long torso look even longer. Not a particularly flattering look. What is the point of being tall if you still look like you have short dumpy legs?
This particular image was brought home to me on Monday, when I decided to wear this skirt with a new pair of shoes I had just picked up on sale for a really, really good price.
I love, love, love these wine patent flats. Yes, I said flats. Loaboutin flats. They look really cute with the above skirt, if I hike the skirt up to just below my bra so that it actually hangs at the right length.
I wore the skirt anyway on Monday, and when I got home, I resolved to fix it. After a skirt that is a flattering length will good look with flats and heels. So I took the waistband off, resolving to alter the skirt. I don’t want to take it in at the side seams because I don’t want to redo the zipper. There are twelve pleats in this skirt so it will be easy just to make each pleat just a tad deeper, thereby shrinking the skirt through the waist and high hip, but maintaining that nice billowy fullness through the body, which looks good still.
It took me over an hour to get the waistband taken apart without ripping the lining though. It has been sitting at my sewing table ever since. Tuesday there was no time. Wednesday I hoped to get to it but I needed to work on something that was easily interrupted and not in my sewing room, so knitting won the project war.
Today, it is not likely. I will be out from around 1PM until after 10, and I am already stealing time from my to-do list to post this.
Perhaps this weekend. Although I also have to take down the current computer and set up a new one, transfer all the data, and convert a few things to run on new programs. It ***should not*** take all that long. But you never know.
And by the way, it strikes me as really, really funny, that right after I write a comment on Gigi’s Blog stating that I don’t like wearing peep-toe shoes because I won’t wear hose with them and I don’t like the feeling of all that leather around my feet without hose (sandals and canvas shoes are no problem), I go out and buy a pair of peep-toe patent leather shoes and wear them all day for a couple of days without hose and love them. I guess even I can be knocked out of my fuddy-duddy ideas.
Go figure. Never say never.
Comments
14 responses to “It was the Shoes”
I adore the shoes. I have to agree… peep toes can be odd shoes. But I can see why these won you over. We have the right to change our minds about such things. You a fuddy-duddy? You’re mad! You are hardly a fuddy-duddy! See you tonight.
I adore the shoes. I have to agree… peep toes can be odd shoes. But I can see why these won you over. We have the right to change our minds about such things. You a fuddy-duddy? You’re mad! You are hardly a fuddy-duddy! See you tonight.
Great shoes!
It seems that you have the same issues with alterations. In theory, great! However the reality tends to be tedious, so I put off. It’s a nice skirt, so I hope you can psych yourself up to fit you now. Would it be worth making another one in the same style, while you’re at it?
Great shoes!
It seems that you have the same issues with alterations. In theory, great! However the reality tends to be tedious, so I put off. It’s a nice skirt, so I hope you can psych yourself up to fit you now. Would it be worth making another one in the same style, while you’re at it?
I love the new shoes! I bet you feel special wearing them. I applaud you for taking the time to alter your beautiful skirt – I am so bad about things like that.
I love the new shoes! I bet you feel special wearing them. I applaud you for taking the time to alter your beautiful skirt – I am so bad about things like that.
Yeah, really great shoes. You look wonderful, BTW. And being wonderful, too for tackling the alternations pile. I walk by mine everyday. If I was smart I’d at least try to hide it.
Yeah, really great shoes. You look wonderful, BTW. And being wonderful, too for tackling the alternations pile. I walk by mine everyday. If I was smart I’d at least try to hide it.
Oh Geesh, I am usually terrible about altering, but I love the skirt, and I am really really running out of things to wear. Yes need to make new things too, and plan to make at least one more skirt like this, but things are bad enough that I had to discard a favorite just because it will take an hour’s work or two. Actually it probably took longer to take apart than it will take to fix it and put it back together.
And I usually intend to make alterations and then let things sit for years and years until I feel so guilty that I just toss them out. Hiding the pile sounds good. Then when I found it again I would either love everything and want to fix it, or say “what was I thinking?” and toss the lot.
Oh Geesh, I am usually terrible about altering, but I love the skirt, and I am really really running out of things to wear. Yes need to make new things too, and plan to make at least one more skirt like this, but things are bad enough that I had to discard a favorite just because it will take an hour’s work or two. Actually it probably took longer to take apart than it will take to fix it and put it back together.
And I usually intend to make alterations and then let things sit for years and years until I feel so guilty that I just toss them out. Hiding the pile sounds good. Then when I found it again I would either love everything and want to fix it, or say “what was I thinking?” and toss the lot.
I’m loving the shoes! And here’s hoping that you will get to finish the skirt!!!
I’m loving the shoes! And here’s hoping that you will get to finish the skirt!!!
Oh, I’m so envious of those shoes — and you even got them on sale, you say? Double envy.
And I’m chuckling a bit at your idea of an “easy” alteration — just taking up a bit more fabric into twelve — count ’em, twelve! — pleats!
Oh, I’m so envious of those shoes — and you even got them on sale, you say? Double envy.
And I’m chuckling a bit at your idea of an “easy” alteration — just taking up a bit more fabric into twelve — count ’em, twelve! — pleats!