Possibly My Favorite Skirt Pattern: McCalls 3511, 1973

Thank you all for your comments on my last post, "Jerks and Skirts"! You all are amazing, amazing. I took all of your comments to heart. I've certainly internalized what's been happening around me, and you all were able to give me some important perspective.

So you don't think it's all gloom-and-doom and pants-wearing around these parts, I have been thinking a lot about skirts. I was convinced that my skirt-wearing could finally come front-and-center with the season change. I could layer up with tights and leggings (and feel comfortable on my daily commute, baby steps!) and I got my first pair of riding boots that'll pair beautifully with skirts once the rain begins.

In particular, since examining my wardrobe and considering my body type, I've been thinking about what types of skirts I'd be most likely to wear regularly. I've come to these conclusions:

Fabric/color: With wovens, dark denim is my neutral. Dark gray for more formal situations. With knits, it's black and gray.
Waist: My waist is too dang high for me not to feel overwhelmed in high-waist or natural waist skirts. It's a high-hip skirt for me. This also means I need tops that hit there, untucked.
Length: Mid-knee for formal, just above the knee for day-to-night, 3-4 inches above the knee for casual.
Fit/Silhouette: Fitted through the hip, slight A-line.

Sometimes I think it's good to give ourselves parameters, what to you think? It allows me to focus and increases my chances of success. So one Sunday morning in early November, I was lying in bed, thinking about going to the thrift store to find a denim skirt with the above characteristics, but instead I got up and pulled out this 1973 pattern instead and cut up some leftover denim from my Rooibos. 

Carefree Pattern? You bet it is. Four pattern pieces, a zipper and a piece of ribbon. It whipped up so fast I wore it to lunch that day.

And to work that week.

I originally sewed it as instructed but the high waist was bothering me so I let out the front and back darts and it now falls at high-hip. I wore it to the marina on the weekend.

And again to work yesterday!

And several other times. Seriously, my Sunday Morning Skirt has received more consistent love in the last month than any skirt in the history of my wardrobe. And I think it's because I thought hard about what works for me.

Now that I have a foundation skirt I love, I can expand. As a six-gore skirt, think of the options. I could add patch pockets or pockets a la Rooibos on the front side panels. A waistband or a waistband with pockets a la Clover. I've got an equally stiff red corduroy I'd love to try it with and a drapey black crepe that would totally change the shape. I could add godets! I could make it a mini! Oh, bless you, McCalls 3511.

One lesson I've learned in hindsight is that sewing can be a really frustrating way to discover flattering silhouettes (so says all my unworn FOs). I've seen so many items on others that I just love love but on me just look blah (you make it look so easy, curvy ladies!). I've got a meh skirt in the blog queue to prove it.

I'm beginning to think it's much easier to find a basic silhouette that suits you and build from there, as I did with my favorite jeans and hopefully with my Sunday Morning Skirt.

What do you think? How do you go about finding silhouettes that work for you?