I dragged this dusty, cobwebby ol’ 70’s skirt from outta some trunk in the attic… hehe, just kidding.
It’s new 🙂
A chocolate pleather, A-line, midi skirt was high on my mental list of things to make for myself this winter and I’d bought all the fabric etc… then I somehow got chooffing along happily, oh yeah went away a coupla times too, then got bogged down in several other, quite involved, longer term projects, and just suddenly realised we are halfway through winter and I still hadn’t made it, ha! So yesterday I got cracking and whipped it up quick sticks. Done!
Technically speaking; this is the second thing to go towards fulfilling my vintage pattern pledge to sew up five of my vintage patterns this year. The pattern is Simplicity 7308, hailing from 1976. I say “technically”, because this is like the very plainest of plain, classical of classic patterns you could possibly imagine; so… Am I cheating on my vintage pattern pledge by using this? I feel like maybe the purpose of the pledge is to get you acknowledging some the more obvious and recognisably vintage styles, in which case this one is a cop-out! eeeep sorry! I promise that some of my other vintage pattern plans are definitely of the more dated variety! Maybe I’ll make up an extra vintage pattern, to make up for it 🙂
Back in its day, this could likely have been made up in beige, or tan suede, maybe pale blue denim or possibly a large scale plaid on the bias. In my memories my Mum had a blue denim skirt just like those… Can you just imagine? Instead I’ve used a very NOW fabric; a deep chocolate fake leather. At the first stirrings of winter this year, the fashion column in our local paper advised all who cared that leather and leather details were the absolute dernier cri for Perth fashionistas. My brain seems to have latched on the idea, since several of my newer wardrobe additions have gone this route; my moto jacket, my cow skirt, and another skirt I’ve ig’ed but is still in the works.
Clearly I’m a lemming.
Nuts and Bolts: a plain A-line, midi-length skirt, side seams and a CB zip, pretty timeless and possibly very boring. I eliminated the CF seam since I have an irrational grudge against them in a skirt, placing the CF on a fold. The width of my fabric also allowed me to widen the flare by just a touch, both front and back.
Fake leather is from Spotlight, all other materials from Fabulous Fabrics. Lined with chocolate polyacetate lining fabric and with a waistband of black silk dupion leftover from my cow skirt.
Details:
Skirt; Simplicity 7308 from 1976, chocolate pleather
Bodysuit; the Nettie by Closet Case patterns, black stretch, details here
Tights (not seen); own pattern, orange stretch, details here
Scarf; own pattern ivory wool, details here
Boots; Sempre di, from Zomp shoes
It's very elegant – looks great with the black Nettie bodysuit. I like the way you used the black silk dupion for the waistband too. 🙂 x
I have some navy pleather I'm planning to sew into a circle skirt – yours makes me want to sew it now! Did you hem your skirt, or leave it raw?
Rachel; I left it raw. 🙂
Thanks Carolyn!
Not at all boring! Chic!
Vintage is vintage, and that outfit looks very elegant.
So elegant, Carolyn! I don't think it is a cheat. it may be a classic pattern, but I remember skirts like this in the seventies, too. The colour reminds me of a panelled suede leather mini skirt with poppers in the front I had. So long ago!
Lovely. For some reason I keep thinking of Mary Poppins. Is it the vintageness, the boots, or the perfectly perfect straight hemline?
So elegant! I like that length on you, tres chic!
It's an elegant skirt in a rather cool choice of fabric. And as far as the vintage pattern pledge goes, how can it be cheating if you use a vintage pattern to make a garment which you will wear a lot?
Thank you Lauriana, and yes you're right, "cheating" is not the right word… I think it would have been more accurate for me to say that while Yes, it is indeed a vintage pattern; such a perpetual and classic style was not technically a "vintage style". Therefore using it was sidestepping around the "vintage-ness" of the challenge, which is the difficulty factor and therefore the point of a challenge to yourself. But I didn't explain myself very well 🙂
That length/amount of leather like ?fabric? is lush and chocolate is also a great lush colour! Some vintage is costume-y and some is classic. I like both but you've chosen the latter and I probably would too, for something very wearable – and what is the point of using time and resource to make something not very wearable? Good choice.
Great skirt! It falls beautifully so clearly has the perfect amount of fullness.
Tres chic. And look at that dead straight hem. Perfect.
I love it. That is my favorite length in a skirt.
I really love that you used such a modern looking fabric for a vintage pattern. It looks like it'll fit right in with your current wardrobe.
The skirt drapes beautifully! LOL, I just came back from a visit with my mom. She used to sew, and I returned with a stack of patterns from the 70's to look through. Everything comes around!
Lovely outfit! Doesn't look at all 70ish on you.
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Very chic and classy, and I love how you paired it with those boots!
It does look very vintage to me that skirt! 🙂 What a great idea to use fake leather, I wouldn't have thought that that looks so great! So thank you for the inspiration again and have a great winter in your beautiful new skirt! 🙂
This is wonderful! I've been periodically dreaming of a skirt like this for the past year – although it's too stinking hot to dream much right now. Such a stylish winter ensemble. Love it with the black boots too.
That is a pretty slinky number. I hate centre front seams too! Jo x
Fabulous!
What a classy and elegeant skirt! Your outfit is gorgeous with the black body suit and white scarf. I love your choice of location, too. Also a bit 70es with the big sharp angles and wall/ window installation.
Bringing back memories that pattern shape. Nice skirt the leather definitely gives it a fresh modern look.
Bringing back memories that pattern shape. Nice skirt the leather definitely gives it a fresh modern look.
Beautiful skirt – chic and elegant!
Ohh, this is so sassy in the pleather- totally makes this fresh and modern! Also, how great is the word pleather to say aloud? Pleather. Pleather. Pleather.
Pleather. Plllllleather.
This is so funny. I just today pulled this same pattern out of my stash. I had never thought of making it in pleather, but you always give me great inspiration. I am finding we have very similar tastes in patterns.
Wow, that is an amazing coincidence!!
Oh, this is lovely. The perfect pleather skirt.
It's really not cheating if you use a vintage pattern and lay a modern edge to it.
That's called longevity…or is that classic? Or maybe even timeless.
And I'm really going to have to crack on with some Netties. All these ones that turn up in your feeds make me long for the ability to be covered without tucking/untucking all the time.
PS: This is no doubt old news, but you turned up on a Burdastyle list of best sewing blogs! There's no date on it, but I'm routinely some time behind the rest of the crowd. It's a delightful resource for feeding my loiterous sewing-blog-reading habit.
http://www.burdastyle.com/pdf/BurdaTopBloggerPDF_v3.pdf
Thank you so much Liz!
It might be a 70's pattern but it looks very modern and incredibly stylish. I bought a couple of faux leather fabrics from Tessuti and now I'm trying to pluck up the courage to sew them. I'm worried it'll feel like I'm wearing a laminated table cloth!
Love the modern edge you have given to this vintage pattern, simply through your choice of fabric. Beautiful skirt!
Love it.
Wow! This is fabulous! You have such a talent for breathing new life into a vintage pattern and giving them a current look.
stunning – fabulous job. the skirt flare is perfect. its great when a vintage pattern is a timeless one!
Great skirt! I'm sure it will be worn & enjoyed a ton!
In my humble opinion…. 70's, vintage or whatever you want to call it…. your skirts looks fantastic for 2015! Perfect midi length for wearing with your boots. Love the way you styled it here…. and it looks oh-so-fun to wear. 🙂
Fantastic skirt – the length is very elegant on you. I'm sure I have this, or a very similar pattern from the same era in my stash.
Simple yet gorgeous !! And so elegant… well done ! I totally love what you're able to create with a vintage pattern.
Hi, O this is a real nice skirt. I have one to that looks alike. It is at least 6 years "old", and every time I think: time to get rid of it? And know it survives again. I wear it from fall to spring.
By the way, I found your blog and like it to!!
Wilma
This is so lovely! I can not wait to buy these sewing patterns! so well done!
Simply beautiful!