My Version of the Talbot's Skirts

My new work environment is more business casual than "professional."  So along with donating most of my too big professional skirts, I'm sewing more fun, colorful and print palooza skirts. My fabric choices were definitely influenced by this recent Talbots catalog's wares.

So here are the skirts in order of construction:

Paisley Print Palooza Skirt~
I bought this fabric from Fabric Mart earlier this year. It's a mid-weight cotton pique with a touch of lycra. Perfect for a straight skirt. A few details about this skirt:

• It has a kickpleat vent in the back seam
• I used the slimmer 3/4" waistband that I like.
• The lycra in the fabric gives it a cross grain stretch that goes around my body, where I need it most.
• The waistband was cut vertically so that there's no stretch in it.
• No interfacing was added to the waistband to keep it from being too stiff.
• Finally there is a button/buttonhole closure on the waistband.
• The hem is machine stitched.

This skirt works with both the navy blue jacket from "The Interview Blues" outfit and a couple of cardigans in my collection. It's a great business casual outfit.

The skirt is worn with a RTW tank and short sleeve sweater

Fruit Salad Linen Skirt~

The fabric for this skirt was purchased during my Expo trip earlier this year. I bought enough to make a skirt. I'm only including one pic of this skirt because I made a top to go with the skirt. The top will be discussed in a future post.

• When I went to lay the fabric out, I realized that I didn't like the horizontal bands the pattern created. 
• So I cut the skirt out on the crosswise grain. 
• The waistband was also cut out on the crossgrain so the two pieces wouldn't fight against each other and Dritz waistband interfacing was added to stabilize it.
• The fabric is lightweight and slightly sheer so I underlined it with a cotton batiste.
• The fabric handled differently than the paisley print so I used slightly smaller side seams. 
• I added rayon seam binding to the hem and hand stitched it.
• A button/buttonhole closure was added to the waistband.

This skirt is business casual and that's great. It's a wonderful new addition to my wardrobe.

Blue Skies Blazing Skirt~
I found this piece buried in the blues/green section of the collection. I gasped when I pulled it out because it was just enough for a skirt. This one is a mid-weight cotton sateen so I left it unlined. I love the print on this fabric and how summery it looks.

All of the construction techniques mentioned in the first two skirts, apply to this one too. There is nothing new to add, so a few pretty pictures.

Conclusion~
While this was quick and easy sewing for me, I'm thrilled to add these new skirts to my wardrobe. I do have to admit it's going to take a minute for me to get used to wearing a closer fit...and these all have a closer fit. These skirts are the building blocks to a new work/play wardrobe.

...as always more later!