Thread: Need Skirt Inspiration: Coin-ey Am Cab Style

Hey Everybody:

I've been re-inspired to continue a coin-type AmCab costume project that had been shelved for awhile, and it's nearer completion than I thought. I'm really "on the fence" about what skirt (or skirt combo) to put with it.

If anyone would like to share their photos (or opinions), I'd be most grateful!

Thanks!

I don't have photos but I really like the persian lace or other patterned skirt/matching veil look that seemed to be popular at the time. If you want to do the skirt as a straight edged dirndl style with a separate front panel, bordered sari fabric is lovely.

What I especially like about the matching skirt/veil combo is that when you have the veil draped and tucked around you, it sort of looks like a voluminous yet alluring dress.

gold lurex striped chiffon supper full skirt... I'm on the hunt for one to go with my coin set too!

Classic old school Am-Cab style is split circle skirts.

Most skirts were 2 panels, 1 full circle in back, 1/2 circle in front. Splits were usually worn more forward than today, often on the center front of the thigh, and sometimes were as wide as 6" ! Skirts were usually layered 2 or 3, with the underskirt pulled through the slits and tucked in the hip band. Sometimes super-sheer "naked" harem pants were worn underneath. Chiffon over lame was really popular, and for a few years, so was a thick 4 " - 6" ruffle at the bottom of the skirt.

Some people wore straight skirts, with lots of small pleats at the waist tapering out at the hip, but this style is a lot harder to make than a circle, and doesn't flare as pretty in a spin.

Here I'm wearing a vintage coin belt, a light teal vintage split circle silkessence skirt, and a blue silk skirt pulled up through the slits, with a silk veil by the fountain - tribe.net

I love circle skirts with am cab

Hey, thanks everyone! That is sort of the track I've been on, but wasn't sure if what I was envisioning was "traditional and cool" or "sigh ... same-ol-same-ol."

Now, as I have silver over a darker silver/gunmetal base, I am toying with the concept of color. Add color? Or stick with the glitzy metallic shtick? I want to make sure to keep things slightly in a more classic AmCab/Cabaret vein, NOT tribal or fusion.

I vote color... a primary one.

I vote for colors, whatever you like. And you can layer the circle skirts and get cool effects by tucking to reveal the underskirt in a contrasting color.

It'd also be neat to do a fabric with a really funky, crazy pattern!

I'd go with a silver underskirt, and a vivid color chiffon over skirt, silk veil and brightly colored accessories, like beaded anklets and hair scarf, and silver coin jewelry.

I'd avoid Kuchi jewelry and hair feathers or elaborate headbands.

I agree with the circle skirt ideas. I usually wear my vintage coin costume with a circle skirt:



Or you can use alternating panel skirt like this one (stole the idea from Ansuya). It's a combination of maroon chiffon with iridescent lace panels, one in front and one in back, creates a really vintage feel:



I've also made a straight, slight skirt from faux sari fabric I picked up for cheap at Joanne's. The nice thing is you don't have to hem it, it has a finished decorated edge.

Those are great ideas .... Thank you!

I just played around with mine in The Kasbah (my dressup room). My silver set looks pretty good with a pair of those endless wave pants with various veils tucked here and there.