Thread: any ideas on lengethening this kind of skirt?

love it too much to let it go but it's an inch or two too short for my taste. any ideas? i was thinking of a small mesh ruffle (if that exists?).



the actual costume is blue with a slight purple tint..bust mostly blue

How is it too short? "It fits right at the hips, but it's not long enough at the bottom" or "I can pull it down enough at the hips to make it the right length, but then it's too low at the top"?

That's a tough one. I think you'll have a difficult time matching the mesh. (You can buy white, but are you comfortable dyeing it?) I'm wondering if it would be easier to match the sequins and add at the top instead? If you can find the right sequins, you could make a new waistband that would pick up the "ribbon" design element from the crisscrosses on the side. The problem with adding a ruffle is that there isn't any ruffling anywhere else and with such a sleek design, and it might look odd. I suppose it depends on how good a fabric match you can make, though.

I think you're instinct is correct about adding a small ruffle to the bottom. However, you might be able to add a ruched waistband to the top too, if you can find a match to the color. Add a few sequins/stones for bling and it would probably look like it belonged.

I vote for a contrasting waistband. Then add a bit of that fabric to the bra and make cuffs.

i wear it the lowest i feel comfortable and it's maybe 1.5" or 2" too short. and not sure a waistband would look good on my body shape :-/

i was thinking of giving it to eshta to lengthen, if anything she might be able to dye the ruffle mesh if i find one in white?

and i thought the ruffling would look odd too on the skirt but the sleeves (not pictured) have a slight ruffling so i figured it wouldn't be so bad?

actually here is the exact costume i have with the sleeves:

For what this is worth: Unless you're SURE you can match correctly (or un-do it if you find you can't); don't match, contrast. This goes for anything from costumes, to jewelry, to painting houses...

i thought of that, zorba, but not sure what color i could contrast that wouldnt make it look obvious that i needed the extra length

ive emailed eshta to see if she could provide some insight. i dont think i have the sewing abilities to do this myself lol

Could you replace the side panel with the same mesh you use for the ruffle? Black, white, and flesh are the easiest mesh colors to find, but I don't know how they would look with the rest of the costume. If Eshta can't help, maybe Janie Midgley might have an idea?

id rather keep the side panel mesh as is cuz i like it. dying the white mesh shouldn't be too hard though..? or maybe when i get home i can try the skirt on again and see how low i can wear it and if there is a possibility of adding to the top..

ok so i tried the skirt on again and its long enough if i wear it really low so there is hope of adding something to the top..but what?

and it has a zipper in the back if that makes any difference..

If at all possible, I'd try to make a waistband that mimicked the criss-cross straps at the hips.

Can you take a close of your costume, in that area?
(It would help with brainstorming)
The zipper shouldn't be a problem.
I'd just sew the 'new' band at the waist, and put a hook in it above the zipper.

This costume is gorgeous!!!!
:-)

Maybe add a bit of ruched fabric along the top of the skirt as an extension. You could make a ruched arm piece, headband or neck-piece to complete the look. If you wanted to have a different look you could continue a bit of ruched fabric as an attachment to a hook on the bra.

Originally Posted by zfejzic

actually here is the exact costume i have with the sleeves:

I just noticed the beading on the ruffles.
How about similar beading looped on the hem of the skirt, and add small paillettes to the loops?

Or, do you think it would take away from the design?

Originally Posted by zfejzic

i thought of that, zorba, but not sure what color i could contrast that wouldnt make it look obvious that i needed the extra length.

I'm no fashion designer, I'd be asking the same questions you are in this case! But do remember that silver and gold are neutral - maybe that'd work (or maybe not?)?