The amount of Christmas "creating" going on around here has been insane lately! I have been sewing like an absolute madwoman... ! but this Little Black Skirt is not a part of that. This is a sorta urgent extra! aiyiyi...
My daughter has completed her undergraduate degree and successfully secured her first "real" job. She will be returning to uni next year to do her Masters, but will probably continue to work concurrently in the firm she has just joined...
So, just prior to her interview we attended to a detail of paramount importance: her wardrobe.
For the past few years she's been a university student, with an appropriately fun and funky colourful casual wardrobe and lots of crazy shoes... hmmm. We assessed everything and came up with one or two smart and stylish little separates that she can wear in the office, but identified a few holes that I will have the pleasure of addressing over the next few weeks... the biggest of which is the ubiquitous LBS.
So I made one for her. It may not look very earth shattering, but I wanted this skirt to be a long-term goodie, a wardrobe builder; a simple, streamlined and smart basic, high quality enough to last for years and years; and also sturdy and practical enough to cope with being tossed in the washing machine.
I used Vogue 8363, and a very nice quality washable wool-mix suiting fabric from Fabulous Fabrics. The skirt is fully lined with black polyacetate lining fabric, also from Fabulous Fabrics, and I juggled the various views of the pattern to give the skirt a one piece darted front, to have those satisfyingly deep, slanted hip pockets, and to have a central back invisible zip opening. I shortened the skirt to hit at a very workable just-above-knee-length. This is both mine and Cassie's favourite skirt length; suitable for both summer and winter wear.
An easier-to-see view of the pockets can be seen on another version of this pattern I made previously; here.
Below; the inside view of the lining, skirt back.
The skirt has one shaping dart at the front, two at the back; all the better for that slight sway back adjustment
I worked a bound buttonhole (seen above) for the single waist button.
She owned literally one pair of suitable shoes for the office, so we also bought a new pair of Misano ballet flats in beige and caramel, with black feature strips. These are exactly the same as my own ballet flats, just in a different colourway. These neutral shades are going to be the backbone of her new working wardrobe. Cassie made her charcoal jersey jacket herself, and blogged about it on her own blog here.
I'm actually rather excited about helping to add to Cassie's working girl apparel! what to make next, what to make next? but any new pieces may have to wait until the seasonal mayhem has subsided..... ;)
Details:
Skirt; Vogue 8363 modified, black wool-mix suiting; my review of this pattern here
Camisole; supre
Jacket; made by Cassie, and blogged here
Shoes; Misano, from Hobbs
