Sewing Vloggers

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Need Your Opinion, Got Mine!

OK, some disclaimers here: the skirt has the back zipper open and is hiked up with a piece of elastic around my waist. This explains the awful fall of the fabric. You will see this gets worse as we go along. Next, this is the first pair of nylons I have put on in a year and they are some disgusting color I found in the bottom of the drawer. In real life I will wear my favorite Donna Karan nude stockings, highly recommend. I probably will wear these peep toes. Also, the lining really shines thru the chiffon with the flash of the camera. IRL, it doesn't do that at all and looks totally matte.

Now that the preliminaries are done, I need your help. I have three pictures here. This skirt will be worn to an evening wedding, formal, and I need an opinion of the proper length. I will have a blouse with a portrait neckline to wear with it and the peplum of the blouse is maybe 3-4 inches below the waistband. I am five feet tall and proportion is everything on me.
These long skirts look generally look good on me but that opinion is a holdover from my "crunchy" days, as they say in NH. But, long is more formal.
The medium skirt looks much better in my opinion and may be my choice. My legs can take a shorter skirt but my bod gets divided in half under those conditions and that's not what a five foot tall person wants to happen.






Here is the short version. Of course it would look better with the correct hose or better yet none at all. So waddya think? Long, medium, or short? I am leaning toward the medium. I really appreciate your comments so be honest. I can take it and TIA.....
____________________________________________________________________
I hemmed 4 pairs of pants for DSIL this week, one with cuffs. I don't do these chores lightly but he is a wonderful dad and treats our daughter like the princess she is. When doing the final pressing I noticed this neat little treatment on the Perry Ellis Portfolio pants. The welt pocket has a dense narrow zigzag the full length of each opening on each side. I thought this was a really neat treatment for an area that will get a wallet stuffed into itself often. I am definitely going to use this one.

____________________________________________________________________

Here is the original insert that inspired my current project for Sophie. I did this appx 3 years ago. I decided to stitch it up into a little wristlet for her which I know she will love. The smocking is far from great but she will beat the heck out of this thing so I am OK using up the insert this way. For those not familiar with smocking, the bag will open right up as the smocking is elastic. It will match my current dress project wonderfully. The smocking on the dress is coming along and I now have enough free time to get this finished. This past week, life has edged it's way into my sewing time. But I feel like I am getting back on track now.

So please let me know which skirt you like. I don't want to look like a frump, particularly an aging frump. Thanks so much.




_________________________________________________________________
So on this boring note, the note that shows off my hemming skills, I leave you.................Bunny

23 comments:

  1. Oh, how I hate hemming pants! My husband has proportionately short legs for his height (and weight), so I have to hem everything that's new. My DGS is the same. Jeans are especially dreaded. You did a really nice job on all the pants.

    I vote for the medium length skirt on you. I think it is more formal than the shorter one and truly (my opinion only), I don't like to see shorter women in long dresses. They tend to either look frumpy or like they're wearing their grandmother's borrowed clothing. I don't know why....it's just me. I think the medium looks classy and elegant on your legs. (Can't see your whole frame here, so can't really judge proportion.)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Definitly the medium length, I am also vertically challanged 5'2" and agree with White Feather that the long hemlines make us look like we are playing dress-up in grandmas' clothes.
    Ellena

    ReplyDelete
  3. LOL. I know what you mean by "crunchy"!

    I would wear the medium length. I am a little taller than you at barely 5'2", but I totally understand the need to pay attention to proportion as a petite. I see far too many petites wearing clothing too big or too long or with details too large and it makes them look like they're playing dress-up. The long skirt looks too long, the short one, while cute, is probably not appropriate for the time of day and event. Better to be a little longer than too short and considered tacky.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Medium for sure! I think the long will make you look even shorter. The short isn't as formal

    ReplyDelete
  5. I think the long looks most elegant on you, but that may be because I can't see the proportions with the top. The medium would be okay too.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Medium--that looks very elegant. What a great MIL you are. So nice that you think well of your SIL.

    ReplyDelete
  7. For a formal event, you can't go wrong with full length, but from what I can see, I like the medium length look on you.

    ReplyDelete
  8. OK - this is a subject near and dear to my heart. Technically, 6 pm is the dividing time between formal and semi-formal...before is semi-formal and after is formal. Guests for formal should wear floor or tea-length dresses, for semi-formal matinee (aka intermission length [mid-calf]) or street length.

    But as I tell my clients, that's the protocol, as as long as you know what's appropriate it's OK to break the rules. I have clients whose calves are huge, and have no business wearing that mid calf length.

    Bunny, your legs are beautiful on the other hand, and you could look gorgeous in this mid-calf length.

    As far as your height, you just have less lee-way than a lanky 6' model who has a lot longer area for her "mid-calf" length...but we short gals have to be very careful that we don't get that length too short or too long and our room for error is very small or short.

    That said, if you feel more comfy in that shorter length - I say go for it. I think the longer length would look smashing if the skirt were a little less full, but that's just my 2 cents.

    If you were my client, I would probably be swayed by your preference for the shorter length and try and show you how you could look in the mid-calf, but end up doing the street or knee-length skirt.

    Gee, I don't think I could have said that in more words if I tried!!! ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I like the middle length. Makes your legs look much younger! But I would go with a skinnier heel. Looks fabulous. Can't wait to see the entire ensemble.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Yep Bunny, another vote for the medium here. You have the cutest legs and it would not hurt to show them just a bit. The longer length is probably more formal but I still like the medium length. I can't wait to see the finished outfit!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Another vote for medium here. Show off a little leg, but not too much.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hands down I like the medium length. Short looks good to. Not so much the longer length. You are very nice to hem your SIL pants. I'm not that nice. The little purse turned out cute. I'm sure she'll love it.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Just to echo what has already been said- the medium length looks so elegant and it really does show off your very pretty legs. The shortest one also looks great on you, but I'd save that length for another time of day.

    Watching you do all this smocking makes me want to learn! Your projects are so neat!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I think the medium length looks best.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I like long the best, because I always wear long. I am 5'5ish. I thought it looked very good on you. But the medium was fine also. Not the short. I just prefer the long for the formal look, and I think anyone can carry the long off, especially with the shoes, hat, etc. I read your blog every time it is updated or not. I absolutely love it. You are a very good teacher.

    hugs

    ReplyDelete
  16. I am just a bit taller than you and can relate to the length question, too. I vote for the medium because it will add to the look while not detracting your height. And, showing some ankle is a beautiful thing!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I like the medium length also.

    I don't understand the "crunchy" remark.

    ReplyDelete
  18. "Crunchy" is a term often heard in NH referring to what some might call "Hippie" style. It came from the relationship of crunchy granola to hippie types. I was often told my shoes were "crunchy" because they had big round toes and sort of a Doc Marten aesthetic. This is turning into true confessions. I actually was a authentic "crunchy" for quite some time, the years before I returned to work. Then I went for the beautiful suit look, but often with crunchy shoes. Hey, I was on my feet all day, LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  19. The mid length for sure. It looks fashion forward and the longer one is too "old" let alone "too long". The medium looks good on your legs and I too am 5' 2" and even short versions can look goofy! Great fabric!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I vote for the medium because it looks very elegant and is appropriate for the occasion and time of day. The long is nice too, but may shorten you, and the short isn't formal enough. I'm 5'1", so I know exactly what you're talking about height wise.
    BeccaA

    ReplyDelete
  21. I vote for the medium length. It will give you enough legs, which us short people need.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love the medium length. You have great legs and I think with the fullness of the skirt it looks better at that length. I can't wait to see it finished!

    ReplyDelete

Engaging commentary:

Had to Refurbish This One!

    About  6 or 7 years ago , during the dawn of the Zipper Trend,  I bought one of my rare retail items. It was a blush pink and black bord...