Thread: skirt length issue.

Hello!

Tell me dancers and costume makers - Do you stand on your straight style skirts when you dance even when its the right length?

I have a customer who moans that she's standing on her skirt when she dances even though its the right length and she's happy with it when she collects.
Now she says that they are too short months after getting her costumes.
They could be creeping up because she insists they be lined - the skirt is made from Stretch velvet and the lining is made from body stocking fabric.

Any advice on how to stop the creep?

A weight gain can make stretchy skirts shorter. I can't think of any other reason why the skirts would "get shorter" over time.

I like my skirts to be long and I do step on the back from time to time. Skirt length is a personal preference.

She sounds like a pain to work with.

Hmm...it doesn't make sense that the skirts could be simultaneously too long and too short, so perhaps the problems should be addressed independently.

Originally Posted by alibelly

I have a customer who moans that she's standing on her skirt when she dances even though its the right length and she's happy with it when she collects.

If you stand tall when you measure for the skirt and then dance with a substantial bend in your knees, this could account for the extra length. That presents a problem, though--you either have to learn to dance with a skirt that looks good standing still but hangs a bit too long when you dance, or you have to learn to love a skirt that looks a little floody when you aren't dancing. If it's just a shallow bend in the knees, you could fudge the difference by wearing the skirt a little higher when you dance and a little lower when you pose for photos. In general, I think expectations have changed. People are wearing their clothes longer than they used to, and skirts and trousers that used to be considered a proper length are viewed as too short now. The old standard recommended a break at the top of the shoe--now, it's touching the ground.

Now she says that they are too short months after getting her costumes.
They could be creeping up because she insists they be lined - the skirt is made from Stretch velvet and the lining is made from body stocking fabric.

Has she gained weight? This would also account for a shortening effect. Normally you wouldn't expect synthetics to shrink substantially if they were washed, and most folks wouldn't dream of putting a costume in a hot clothes dryer.

Any advice on how to stop the creep?

Hem weights?

If at all possible, I'd ask her to come in and show you what the problem is, especially since she accepted the skirt when she paid for it. Then troubleshoot, including, as others have said, checking her current hip measurements against her original ones.

If you gave her cleaning instructions, find out how she has cleaned the skirt since then.

Originally Posted by SandraDances

A weight gain can make stretchy skirts shorter. I can't think of any other reason why the skirts would "get shorter" over time.

I like my skirts to be long and I do step on the back from time to time. Skirt length is a personal preference.

She sounds like a pain to work with.

I aint sayin' a thing!

Yup all those who guessed weight gain where right - +6kg's has the skirt at dork length. I am adding a second ruffle under the first to make them Ok again.