Saturday 19 February 2011

Vogue 1203 - Tracy Reese skirt!

It seems that everything I sew at the moment is turning into a near disaster! However, I am really glad that I persevered with this Tracy Reese skirt – I absolutely love the finished product.

This is the pattern I used, Vogue 1203.


Before I show you the really nice thing about this skirt, let me mention my difficulties. This skirt has a raised waist so the waistband is shaped to conform to the body. It is cut so that the seam between the waistband and the skirt sits right on the waist and the waistband then becomes wider as it goes upwards towards the bust. Now, I have no doubt that the problem lies with my particular shape rather than the pattern, but once I had attached the waistband to the skirt and tried it on for fit, to my dismay, it was quite obvious that it just wasn’t going to work. Instead of following my shape, the waistband flared outwards like a kind of frill, there was no way that it was going to sit close to my body.

So, I ripped it off and threw it away. Instead I cut a new waistband but this time I made it a straight waistband, cut quite tightly to my waist measurement, which fits me much better but still keeps the raised waist style.

Anyway, the really nice design element of this pattern -



It has an exposed zipper at the back. This was my first time attaching an exposed zipper so I followed the pattern instructions exactly and, whilst I won’t try and tell you that I did it perfectly, it hasn’t turned out too badly.

I don’t know what to tell you about the fabric because I am not quite certain what it is. It is definitely wool of some kind but it has a strange shiny backing which makes it a bit tricky to iron but does give the fabric body and stops it from getting too creased. The print is rather crazy bold and being short I shouldn’t really wear such large prints but I don’t care because I like it. I used a bemberg rayon for the lining.

I think that Tracy Reese is a brilliant designer, I love her RTW collections, and although this skirt is a relatively simple style it is very well cut – the princess seams curve around the hips nicely and then flare out just the right amount. For me, wearing a high waisted skirt does take a bit of getting used to, I usually wear my skirts cut below the waist and then they can be a bit more forgiving ease-wise. With this style you need to wear it so that it is a little snug. So, deep breath, stomach in ….

I won’t be eating too many donuts while wearing this skirt. Probably not a bad thing!

Have a great weekend everyone.

50 comments:

  1. It looks good on you and I love the print on your fabric! I like your version better than Vogue's. I just skipped by it when I had a look at their new patterns, but your version definitely catches my eye. Your zipper insertion looks nice and neat, and your tummy looks flat. Perfect!

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  2. Cute! It looks really great on you and I love the exposed zipper!

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  3. Oh, this is lovely! The fabric is beautiful, and the style really suits you. High waistbands can be a bit tricky for fit. Glad that you managed to make it work for you. Zipper looks great, too.

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  4. You really made the skirt show up in that print. The skirt on the pattern is not so impressive, but in your print it is quite striking.

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  5. That is gorgeous - so flattering, and I absolutely love the print! I agree with Karin - it looks so much better than the pattern illustration!

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  6. I really like your fabric choice. The skirt looks very nice on you, and from afar (via the internet, anyways!) the fabric gives additional visual interest with the illusion of pleats... it's also entirely possible that i'm the only one who sees this. ;)

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  7. The skirt looks fabulous and you look fabulous in it! Love the fabric! I first had the impression the skirt is pleated, but since it's not I find it even more interesting. You might inspire me to purchase this pattern, because I first thought it's just a plain skirt, but if it's so well drafted, as you say (and as it looks on you), it could be really worth buying.
    Great job!

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  8. The skirt looks terrific!Great fabric choice!

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  9. Fabulous skirt, great fabric, too.

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  10. It's very pretty and flattering. I love the fabric.

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  11. Outstanding. Worth sticking with. Love the exposed zipper and the print. A winner!

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  12. I love that skirt on you...great fabric choice too - very striking!!

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  13. Beautiful! I totally missed this design - the top is such a stand out on the envelope. It's lovely and that print is perfect.

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  14. Wow, gorgeous! Your pattern and fabric choices are always spot on. I wish I could find fabric that lovely.
    Very inspirational!

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  15. This skirt is brilliant - I love the pattern and I do think it is very slimming on you! The exposed zipper is so hip - you are so inspirational!

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  16. That is a beautiful skirt and I love the fabric. You zipper looks fantastic!!

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  17. I absolutely love that fabric. I'm normally not a huge fan of exposed zippers, but yours looks perfect. It fits with the style of the skirt and the print. Very nice!

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  18. Wow! This looks fabulous on you! Who says you can't wear bold prints?! I adore your fabric choice and that exposed zipper. I have this pattern in my "must make" pile for spring, just hope I can find the perfect zipper to match my fabric pick. You are always so inspiring!

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  19. You've lined up the fabric perfectly and I love the zipper. I'm making a skirt for my sister right now and you've cinched it for me. I'm going to use a metal zip ratter than the boring invisible one.

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  20. That skirt looks amazing on you. Love that fabric!

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  21. The skirt is fantastically flattering! I love the vertical lines and the floral pattern.

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  22. Fabulous skirt. You look fantastic in it. The black tights are the perfect legwear for this design.

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  23. Wow! This is a gorgeous skirt. You can totally wear this. It looks great on you. I haven't done an exposed zipper yet. I think this is the nicest one I've seen with regards to the style matching the print. And to me your technique looks very good too. Bravo!

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  24. I love that skirt! You chose a great fabric that you are rocking. I too passed that pattern on by at the store, now I'm putting it on the list. Nice work.

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  25. Looks great on you. Love the fabric. For me, I probably would not have done the exposed zipper (just personal preference and old fashioned I guess)

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  26. Fabulous skirt! I love that fabric, and think the print looks great on you - not too large at all, and your print placement looks perfect.

    I made a princess seam high waisted skirt from Burda and it needed taking in above the waist so it was basically straight, and I cut an unshaped waistband for my recent red skirt - so you're not alone!

    And I totally relate to the 'deep breath, stomach in' remark! With a 'real' waistband I am much more aware of my waist - I had kind of forgotten I had one after all those years of low waists!

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  27. I am lovin' it! And really, what stomach??? I'm glad this wasn't a wadder.

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  28. Beautiful fabric and make. Do you know where you bought the fabric? Gorgeous!

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  29. Really gorgeous. Love the print.

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  30. This is a very flattering shirt. Great save on the waistband. I like this "big print". Though the flowers are big, the black stripes that go through the design really draw my eye and make me think "vertical". The exposed zipper echos those strips and adds another vertical line in the back.

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  31. I love the print that you used for the skirt! It really makes the pattern sing. Great job on the zipper!

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  32. Very flattering! I love the sides of the skirt that makes illusion of folds, or perhaps bias cut ... I do not know, but it is beautiful!

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  33. Your skirt looks great on you! I think you are wearing the bold print very well. Love this fabric! Your zipper turned out great and works well with the fabric.

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  34. Wow. I hadn't even taken note of this pattern. It's great, but your lovely fabric makes the skirt. The exposed zipper is a fun touch.

    I've been looking for a new skirt pattern... I may have to pick this one up.

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  35. Lovely skirt. I really like your fabric choice and styling. Your garments and the way you style them always look so stylish.

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  36. You did a good job, re-cutting/fitting the waistband. Sometimes, those contour waistbands, once fitting to your figure, can benefit with some boning.

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  37. Love the fabric and the skirt looks very good on you.

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  38. This skirt looks fabulous on you. I think you've pulled off the whole ensemble with gusto!

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  39. The best proportion, silhouette, and perhaps photograph of any project of yours I have seen. It has somehow made you look younger and taller... Just very well done.

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  40. Cute skirt! I love the fabric that you used and great job on the exposed zipper! I'm glad you were able to make it work for you.. it looks superb on you!

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  41. That is a very eye-catching skirt! I think the high waisted style suits you nicely.

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  42. Gorgeous! The exposed zip looks so professional and I am very partial to the print. Who says petites can't wear big prints???

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  43. I'm just going to agree with everyone else! It looks great on you, I love the print, the zip and the style. Plus, you have an amazing figure so I can't imagine you have to hold in your stomach for long!!!!

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  44. Wow! Pretty amazing. Good save. Love the print and the exposed zipper.

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  45. I really, really like this skirt Eugenia! The fabric is perfect and your work too! I've not done an "exposed" zipper yet either and have to ask, did you think this one was easy enough for your first time?? Would you do it again?

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  46. Thanks so much to everyone for your nice comments, I really do appreciate them.

    To answer a couple of questions -
    didyoumakethat - I bought the fabric a while ago at Mood during a trip to New York. Sorry I forgot to mention that in my post.

    Myra - I can't say that I thought the exposed zipper was easy but by taking it slowly and with a bit of care it wasn't too difficult. I would definitely do it again if the right style for it came along.

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  47. The skirt looks great on you! I love your fabric choice.I have this pattern in my to make stash after seeing how wonderful yours turned out I need to get on it.

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  48. Fabulous, I absolutely love the fabric, not too large a print at all, you look great in it.

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  49. I think the invisible zipper looks particularly great with the fabric choice. Another great skirt!

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