Ta da! Scrumpled leggings! You like? I do!
And I think they fit in very nicely with my current seasonal aim of dressing to suit the natural colours and textures of my environment…
I know this is not a new look. In fact I had a vague sense of deja vu when I first popped on my new scrumpled leggings… and went off to check, sure enough, here are some Comme des Garcons leggings from 2005 that I can remember being quite interested in when I first spied them in a Vogue magazine. Yup six years ago… back then I wasn’t into making my own leggings, thinking they would be way too hard. Little did I realise then how easy leggings are to make! Also this kind of raaather avant garde stuff never ever ever appeared in a store here so I never bought some for myself. Perth is kinda sleepy, you see. Fashion-wise we are slowly waking up, but Harajuku we are not…
Speaking of, when Cassie and I had our fun day out with Yoshimi and Novita in Tokyo, as we parted ways Yoshimi pointed us in the direction of the Mitsukoshi department store, where we had a fabulous eye-opening hour or so oohing and aahing over fashion the likes of which are almost unknown around here. Unknown that is apart from some very expensive European clothing in certain boutiques… Anyhoo Cassie found a pair of scrumpled leggings like these, and we thought they were so fun and different we bought some. You’re wondering why I didn’t buy any for myself? well the leggings situation in Tokyo is the same as the shoes situation, if you are taller than 5’6 or have larger than a size 38 shoe, then forget about it…
But scrumpled leggings had entered my radar once more…
And recently shams posted about a pair of leggings than she described as “pooled” because they ended up so long, and she liked them that way so left them long. I liked them that way too.. and thus fully re-awakened my latent desire for a pair of scrumpled leggings…
Super easy.
I used my own pattern that I drafted to fit me, but cut the legs pieces to have about an extra 20cm length from the ankle down, and in a less tapered shape than I had drafted for a tight legging, probably by about 1-2cm wider at the ankle point. Sorry, inexact measurements I know,the truth is I was kinda winging it…
After sewing up the inner leg seams (simply whizzed on the serger in a matter of seconds!) I cut two roughly 27cm lengths of 6mm elastic. These were zig-zagged to the inside of the inner leg seam from just below my knee level down to 2cm from the bottom. Then I just hemmed the lower edge as normal by folding up the lower leg edge by 1cm twice to sit over the elastic and zig-zagged the hem.
Details:
Leggings; my own design, beige knit stuff, from my own tutorial of making your own custom fit leggings here
Top; Ezibuy
Dress; drafted from “Pattern Magic” by Tomoko Nakamichi, of charcoal wool mix, details here
Shoes; Francesco Morichetti, from Zomp shoes
We call these as Churidhaar here in india and it has been in existence say since independence or pre-independence days!
Earlier they were made in woven fabrics cut on bias, now we get Knit Churidhaars, which once paired with Kurta (tunic) are so chic, modest and yet elegant and are sure head turners!!!
Check the below links to view Churidhaars (bottoms) stitched and / or worn by me
http://www.adithisammasews.com/2011/07/happy-birthday-to-me.html
the below ones were for my sister (she is wearing RTW knit leggings!)
http://www.adithisammasews.com/2011/05/happy-birthday-dear-sister.html
in the below one she is wearing a kameez (top) with Churidhaar (crumpled leggings) made using silk fabric!
http://www.adithisammasews.com/2011/02/designer-chanderi-silk-suit-for-sister.html
These look great on you but I think if I put them on I would look like Nora Batty!!Another stylish outfit and I love the tree bark!
Hello ello friend. I do indeed love these scrumpled leggings! And funny cause you DO match the background of the tree trunks… I've always loved those trees.
Gotta try the leggings tutorial one day.
xo
nice leggings carolyn 🙂
had to laugh at your comment about shopping in japan, i was there with my sister a few years ago, i hover about 5'6 and blended in with crowds wearing tights and socks i had picked up while we were there while my sister towered over everyone, and although she did buy tights she had to give them all to me as they were just too short for her!
Believe or not but I've been thinking about you and that dress all week. I came across a copy of Pattern Magic in the library this week and have been pondering making this dress for next winter. I do really like it, but it does require layering which means I'll have to save it for Winter.
Great idea – kind of foolproof isn't it. You know how much I love that dress on you.
Very nice! I love the way they look with that dress. They echo the gathering at the waist.
I like your scrumpled leggings. I have never seen them before. Its a nice look with your outfit!
They seem like the way the people keep the legs warm in middle age with stripes of wool rolled (???) all around.
Have you seen Pattern Magic Knits? They show you a better way to make scrunched sleeves and leggings. Can you send me your email address?
These look great on you!
I have to say while the leggings look fab on, they do look rather funny on the hanger! I made a tee using this method this winter but ran the elastic up the middle of the sleeve.
I can understand the Japan clothing dilema as I went to Singapore once and struggled to find clothing and shoes in my size and I am considered relatively short.
i've never been so relieved to see a tutorial in my life!!
i need to make a pair of those STAT!!! steph
Oh Carolyn, you always look posh, no matter what you wear! I love the leggings, they would be perfect for the cool fall weather we have coming. Have a great weekend! Anne
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