My daughter had an old puff skirt. Three problems: 1, the zip had broken, 2, she now hated it, and 3, most importantly, it was a puff skirt. A puff skirt. The type that if you wore now you would be instantly labelled a hopeless fashion tragic. I found it in the bin, for heavens sake. After only a short rant on the evils of throwing out perfectly good fabric (it was made out of quite nice stiff sturdy charcoal gabardine and had a funky decorative waistband with strips of raw-edged black net caught in) I put it aside for further thought (after a thorough washing, thanks to its short bin occupancy). Now I’ve joined Wardrobe Refashion it was the time to take up the scissors for a bit of surgery…
Below is the before picture (no amount of begging would cajol either my daughter or me to model this thing in its before state)….
I’m actually thrilled with how it turned out. I think that high-waisted bermuda shorts are a very flattering look, sort of retro as well, reminiscent of Katharine Hepburn in that movie where she was a tennis player and pioneered open necked Lacoste sports T-shirts with shorts not unlike my effort here. (It’s entirely possible I have this movie memory completely wrong). I used Burda 7723, and just flared the legs slightly more, made them a bit longer and added some of the decorative waistband as patch pockets on the back, for some interest in this area. Shorts with a plain back can be boring, and a lack of decoration can paradoxically draw attention to an unsightly bum, I think.
Even though the skirt seemed to have plenty of fabric in it I only just got the pattern cut out of it. I used some lighter black fabric I already had for the pocket lining and bought a zip. I had some perfect buttons in my stash already.
Also the puff was originally held up by a black net underskirt; this I saved, slashed latitudinally and rejoined, then added a few randomly spaced knots to produce this rather sweet little scarf. I can feel it becoming a wardrobe staple already…
Details:
Shorts; Burda 7723, modified slightly, refashioned from old skirt
Top; Brown Sugar
Scarf; black net, reashioned from old skirt lining
Shoes; Perrini, had for donkey’s years
High-waist shorts really suits you! I would prefer simple one color back pockets, but still those shorts are great, and I like how 2 button waist and pleats in front looks.
*gasp*! You did NOT make those???!! They're fantastic! And suit you so brilliantly. I've never made shorts or pants. I'm terrified of a fly front. How magnificent!
Fantastic shorts. What a clever idea. Quite a challenge, getting shorts out of a skirt. They certainly suit you and show off legs beautifully.
Those look GREAT! Nice job!
It's wonderful!! It suits you perfectly.
They look great on you.
I went through much of your blog, and I love your sense of style. And I am amazed at your daughter's ball dress. She looked gorgeous.
I am placing your blog on my blog list and signing up as a follower so I can better keep up with your creations.
Hope you'll pay me a visit when you get a chance.
Wow! This so well done. you would never believe thes shorts came out of this puff skirt.
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