Thread: Really Silly Question-What's the diff betw. MERMAID & TRUMPET Skirt?

OK, This has been bugging me for a while... but was too embarrassed to ask: What's the difference between a MERMAID skirt and a TRUMPET skirt???

My guess is a trumpet skirt has six to eight equally width panels with gores between each panel. The bottom of the skirt is symmetrical like a trumpet flower.

A mermaid skirt has three panels, the gores are part of original cut (three rectangules without the seam between the panel and gore) and then there is a very large gore centered in the back to make the mermaid part.

Just guessing...

Aaah... I see. Thanks! See, I thought they were one and the same: Gonna post a couple of costumes for sale on the swap meet shortly and wasn't sure which type of skirt to list as (for one:))

You're welcome. Happy posting.

I believe the terms are used interchangeably. either is a skirt that fits sleek through the hips and flares out at the bottom.

I typically think of a mermaid as more form fitting throughout the hips and flaring out about mid thigh-calf. A trumpet typically flares up higher up on the leg somewhere below the knee.

Whatever the technical differences (if any) may be, they seem to be used interchangeably in costuming. Use whichever strikes your fancy and I'm sure you'll be understood!

Sparkly pink dress is in the mail. ..g.:

IMO the essential distinguishing feature of a mermaid skirt is that it has a fishtail hem--the back gore is longer and trails on the floor. Although I think in swapmeet parlance, the terms are used interchangeably.
In this Artemis pattern picture the "A" version has gores of equal length. In "B" you can see its a bit longer and sweeps the floor.

Mermaid skirts can also be a skirt which is fitted to the knees and then has fullness below. This fullness can be via gores or a circle attached at the bottom of the fitted part.

Technically both Christina and Daguee skirts by Pharonix are Mermaid skirts.

{{{HUGS}}}

Originally Posted by tahiradancer

Mermaid skirts can also be a skirt which is fitted to the knees and then has fullness below. This fullness can be via gores or a circle attached at the bottom of the fitted part.

Technically both Christina and Daguee skirts by Pharonix are Mermaid skirts.

{{{HUGS}}}

here's an example of this kind of mermaid skirt