and I ran

I’ve been sewing a lot of lycra garments lately, and that got me thinking. Some of us really have no business parading around in lycra, and if you’re like me, you’re always searching for tops that are just the right length for covering the trouble spots and preventing you from looking too obscene yet not so long that you look like a throwback from a 1980s-era Jazzercise class. I suppose I could avoid lycra completely, but there are advantages to lycra–it keeps the muscles warm, and it keeps stuff from, you know, swinging all over the place.
SO, here’s what I came up with!
run skirt front.JPG run skirt legs.JPG run skirt back.JPG
It’s a running skort thing! The skirt part is made out of ripstop nylon, and there are lycra shorts underneath. I ran in it this morning, and it was very comfy. I still need to tweak the design quite a bit, since it doesn’t hang quite right, and the shape of the skirt is a bit off, but I think this is the start of a new exercise revolution–running skort things for everyone!

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24 Responses to and I ran

  1. Silvia says:

    I see London
    I see France
    I see Mariko’s PINK underpants…
    Interesting concept, kind of tennis-y. Maybe Serena and Venus will be interested. I think you have the perfect figure for lycra running shorts, but your skirt is tres cute.

  2. Mary says:

    cool idea. Did you see the skort that they have in the Title Nine catalog. It doesn’t have the cool lycra shorts inside, but I think it is a “faux wrap” which is pretty cute and would allow freedom of movement.
    It reminds me of grade school when I would ~always~ wear shorts under skirts. ~no~ peeking allowed!!

  3. Katherine says:

    Whoa that’s a genius idea!!

  4. Sharlene says:

    It sounds comfy. I remember seeing a skirt thing with biking shorts under it for biking in the Title 9 catalog a while back. Yours reminds me of that.

  5. megan says:

    You should start on your muumuus now, it’s only a matter of time until you will need to run in one of those!!

  6. Jessica says:

    You need to patent this immediately. You are a genius.

  7. Annerism says:

    Awesome idea! I have something like that for biking, which is a real dignity saver. It never would have occured to me to do it for running. Very nice! Though, seriously, you don’t need it.

  8. Jenny says:

    Oh my goodness, Mariko! What do you think you need to hide!?? Look at those buff calves….!!! You remind me of an aunt of mine….she had quite the slim figure, but felt the need to dress like a football player………

  9. Laural says:

    That skort looks great. And I am just jealous that you can run at all, let alone in shorts! Its -21 C (-6 F) here and I haven’t been able to run outside in a month. Lucky you. But I’ll keep the idea in mind for the spring.

  10. Oh, the skort is SO MUCH MORE ATTRACTIVE than those itsy bitsy running shorts (I mean, even hot women (and men) look bad in those!) Cool!

  11. marielle says:

    Mariko, those are brilliant! You should market that. I’d buy one in every color!

  12. Meredith says:

    Sheer genius! This is so cute and the perfect solution. And man, girl, you’ve got some buff calves! Rock on! 🙂

  13. Chris says:

    Terry makes a sport skort, with attached cycling or running shorts and skirt, and I love mine.
    http://www.terrybicycles.com/product.html?c=Apparel&sc=Skorts
    But your idea is more versatile and definitely less expensive! You’re a true innovator!

  14. claudia says:

    Cute. Exactly what are you trying to hide?

  15. Gina says:

    Hi Mariko,
    I LOVE the skort idea… I just had a couple of questions… If you didn’t have a serger (as I don’t), do you have any tips at sewing Lycra? What sort of a stitch would you use? Would you stretch the material as you sewed?
    I’d appreciate any help! I’m new to sewing stretchy material… Love your blog!
    Gina

  16. chelee says:

    Brilliant!! Where do we sign up for the pattern. (Hee hee)

  17. Lori says:

    you probably already know about these but in case you haven’t seen them lately:
    http://www.sewdorky.com/menu.htm

  18. shokufeh says:

    Cool! So it doesn’t constrict your stride?

  19. Stephanie says:

    cool-o Mariko! Nike has skirts like this for tennis 🙂 And I’ve actually taken to hiking in skirts… And the lycra helps with the uh…rubbing of the thighs for those of us with less than perfect legs. Unfortunately, Lycra can be quite warm in the summer….

  20. gaile says:

    Great idea Mariko!! I see a million bucks in your future, or at least a little spending cash if you decide to sell these 🙂

  21. Insane Brother says:

    You big dork. You don’t have things to swing all over the place, and if Peter starts wearing a skirt I’m going to point and laugh.

  22. Kay says:

    I love the image of running in a foxy skirt. Go Mariko! Get Athleta and Title 9 to make ’em up by the thousands and send you big fat checks! xoxo Kay

  23. brit says:

    I am continually amazed by people who can sew clothes, that fit them. And you are sewing running clothes, much more stylized on top of that. Amazing. I’m super jealous. Did you say you got that material in Portland? where (the lycra I mean)

  24. Gina says:

    i cannot even comment on the running skort…i’m dumbfound! speechless, even…
    green grass? bare legs?
    (i MUST move west)

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