You know how sometimes you see something, and you kind of want it, but you decide you don’t *need* it, and then you start thinking about it more and more and kicking yourself for not getting it? Well, thank goodness for online shopping! Kinokuniya saved me from this torture and delivered this sassy little skirt book to my doorstep:
It’s called Skirt a la Carte and complements my Pretty Skirt book (the one Alison sent me last year) very nicely. Here are a couple more skirts from the book:
Now I need some advice. I think I’m going to make a skirt with the spirograph fabric I got the other day. I might make the skirt on the cover of Skirt a la Carte, but I am also attracted to this style from the Pretty Skirt book:
The skirts have a yoke and then some gathering or soft pleating. The thing is, I am short, and my legs are shorter. Is this style going to accentuate that fact and make me look like a big box? Sigh, I want to make one of every design!
Oh, and in case you’re curious, the ISBN for Skirt a la Carte is 4-579-11000-5 and for Pretty Skirt it’s 4-579-10949-X.
i vote for the one on the cover.
I love the outlined pocket on the skirt on the cover – you’d look cute in that!!
I saw that book too. But I’m a little rounder than the pattern so I just try not to think about it. (Thanks a lot (: ) Can’t wait to see what you make.
Lovely patterns. Tthe trick to look taller would be in the length of the skirt? Love to see ur finished project.
i adore the skirt on the cover, so i say go with that. can you give us a sneak peak at the fabric?
Both are cute as long as you wear the green shoes. I love the one on the cover more, for some reason, but nothing to do with your so-called short legs. xoxo Kay
First of all, I love your site!
And I’d love to make one of my own.
(Skirt and site!)
The trick of a good proportion is indeed the length. For you I would advise an “italian” skirt length, which is just above/on the knee.
PS: For a “rounder” figure the skirt must be exactly cut on waist, so it accentuates teh female forms of a woman.
There is nothing like a wrong garnment, there is only the pattern to be changed!!!
And the adequate fabric:
*a playful pattern with big dots makes you playful (and maybe small), an filigran flower print like the black/white outfit is matching the italian length
*vertical stripes (my favorit) are the best optical trick for la femme plus
PPS: Can you help me with the making of a diary pagina.Here (in the Netherlands) I never heard about a “blog” before.
As one short legged asian to another, a la carte. I think it flatters the knees and calves more.
one on the cover is better, and I LOVE those patterns. Damn shame I haev no inclination to sew…
Well, the nice thing about sewing your own is that you can play with the proportions (Ha! says the short-legged, long-waisted Caucasian chick). I need to get started on making some skirts myself. Have fabric… will sew.
According to Trinny and Susannah (BBC “What Not to Wear”), yes, the yoke on the skirt will make you (and your legs especially) look even shorter. And the gathering may make you look a little … poochy.
I am also a little Asian girl; I wear my skirts to the floor to hide where my butt ends and where my stubby little legs begin.
You’re slender, though – I’d think that making the length a little longer (like mid-to lower calf) and it would be fine. The skirt doesn’t look as though it’s so gathered that it’ll pouf all over, either. What pretty skirts!
I love those skirts with the yoke and the gathers–I think I first saw one years ago in Hawaii, on some hula dancers. It’s an incredibly feminine, graceful style. I’m tempted to buy one before they go out of style, big gut and big butt (and short legs, sigh) be damned.
just make the darn skirt and wear it already. your legs are probably the fittest i’ve ever seen. show them off!
do try to coordinate with the shoes though. hahahahahahaha
hahahahahaha
I hear you. I’m having tons of shopping remorse over things I didn’t buy on my trip. Sigh.
Anyway, those skirts are all really cute. I wish I knew how to sew!
I too am partial to the skirt on the cover. I think it would be more flattering. If you are still thinking of the others, you could go to the store and try on a similar style to see what you think. I just don’t think that yoke with gathers looks is very flattering on anyone.
I love the skirts!! Imagine the wardrobe possibilities……. I am not familar with the book though. Are the sewing instructions in Japanese only? I would love to give those skirts a try.
I don’t think you should make the skirt with the yoke and gathering. I think it will make a lot of people look bigger than they are. Unless you are a beanpole – I don’t think it’s an attractive skirt.
Ilse
i’m drooling over all those skirts! i vote for the one on the cover–i really like the large pockets.
i say go longer and then hem shorter if needed–that doesn’t help much does it?
personally i prefer skirts ending right below the knee (even though i’m short all over), i think i might be a prudy mcpruderson though.
wow! What a great book! I’ve just learned to make clothing. Well I wouldn’t say i “really” know how to make clothing, but i’ve made a couple of tanks in the last few days and I’m thinking about attempting a skirt next!!! i’ll have to check this book out!
I know what you mean about picking out the “right” skirt. I’m very picky as well. I always think I look short and stumpy in skirts, but i love them anyway!!! ^_^
The choice of skirts is based more on your hip/waist situation then your height.
If you are straight all the way down, eg very little hip-age, then the drop waist would give the illusion of hips. The gathers would prevent you from looking boxy. However, if you are superslim and have some hips, then you could wear the yoked skirt. But then, you could also wear anything at all, really. 😉
If you have large hips, then the a-line is for you all the way.
If your calves are heavy, then end the skirt just above or below the knee. A skirt should never end at the widest part of your leg, regardless of length.
hmmm, i want this book too…but how do you order it if you cant read the website?
^@^ hello~ａｇａｉｎ！
^@^,very nice short,and the skirt it’s very nice too(but where Iｃａｎ ｆｉｎｄ ｉｔ ｔｏ ｍａｋｅ ｓｏｍｅｔｈｉｎｇ ｌｉｋｅ ｔｈａｔ ．．．
that book looks awesome (the skirt a la carte). i was wondering if that book was in english? i kind of assume so from the title, but the stickers on there are throwing me off. thanks for posting the isbn!
Hi – First, I want to say thanks for a great blog! I love reading it and have gained so many new ideas! I too love to make skirts and seeing the picture on the front of your Pretty Skirt book gave me an idea for a skirt using some vintage fabric I’ve had for a while. I’ve even been inspired to create my own blog! Still learning how to use it at the moment!
those skirts look amazing. I am enjoying reading the translated version of the Japanese Amazon.com site, too.