Which side is the front?

[Jim]

I bought this skirt at a thrift store recently (https://www.skirtcafe.org/forums/viewto ... 71#p209471 ).

At first, I thought I knew which was the front. Now I'm not sure. It has two patch pockets on one possible front, and a zipper in the middle of the other possible front. The label is next to the zipper, which suggests to me that that's the back, but I'm used to zippers being in the front. The pockets are more usable if they are in front.

Here's the pockets in front:


Here's the label by the zipper:

DSCF4306cs.jpg

Here is wearing it with the zipper in front:

DSCF4305cs.jpg

Or is either way just fine?

[beachlion]

There is a little trick to see what is front and what is back. Most, not all, skirts have different lengths from the waist to the hem at the front and back. Because the fabric in the back has to round the behind of the wearer, it is slightly longer than the front. The difference could be around an inch.

If you close the skirt and put it flat on a table, you should be able to see a difference in length. When you "roll" the waist sideways, you can find the shortest distance between waist and hem and that is front center.

Male behinds are in general less pronounced than the female versions and mine even less so I make my hems level.

[mishawakaskirt]

If there are darts that would be another indicator of possibly being the back side.

Blind zipper?? Would suggest to the rear?

Ultimately wear it any direction that makes the most sense to you.

I bought a skirt several years ago that was confusing like that. Finally it think I had it figured out, the zip belonged on the left hip.

I out grew it so I donated it to the good will store.

The beauty of skirts you can Sort of wear it in any direction.

My Twitter name 2wayskirt originated from this concept. Sort of a duel meaning.

Some skirts could be worn forwards or backwards, or really have no front or back. = two way skirt
Women wear pants , men should be able to wear skirts. It should be a two way street,. No a two way skirt. And now you know.

[r.m.anderson]

You have discounted that the zipper closing could be on the left hip ?
4 belt loops around the waist ?
pocket locations ?
2 pockets on back - none on front - side zip
2 pockets on front - none on back - side zip
zipper between pockets - front ? - back ?

Are the pockets functional at all

Also the zipper placket appears to be a left-hand side hidden closing under a right flap.

[denimini]

That is a rear zipper.

[oldsalt1]

Pockets could be the answer

Put skirt on put hands in pockets reverse skirt again put hands in pockets which feels better

zipper looks a little long for front but most rear zippers don't have extra piece of material.

[Jim]

Pockets could be the answer

Put skirt on put hands in pockets reverse skirt again put hands in pockets which feels better

zipper looks a little long for front but most rear zippers don't have extra piece of material.

Hands in the pockets feel better with them in front.

You have discounted that the zipper closing could be on the left hip ?
4 belt loops around the waist ?
pocket locations ?
2 pockets on back - none on front - side zip
2 pockets on front - none on back - side zip
zipper between pockets - front ? - back ?

Are the pockets functional at all

Also the zipper placket appears to be a left-hand side hidden closing under a right flap.

Yes, 4 belt loops. I'm trying to decide if the two functional pockets are front or back. It would not be symmetrical in many ways if it was a side zip. Have you seen front and back pockets only on the right side?

There is a little trick to see what is front and what is back. Most, not all, skirts have different lengths from the waist to the hem at the front and back. Because the fabric in the back has to round the behind of the wearer, it is slightly longer than the front. The difference could be around an inch.

Good clue! The side with the zipper is about 3 cm longer. I think all the evidence is lining up with

That is a rear zipper.

Thanks, everybody, for helping me solve this mystery.

[Uncle Al]

The zipper on this skirt, goes in the front. Side and rear zippers do not have
the fabric covering them. They are "hidden" zippers. This skirt has "the fly"
type of zipper, which goes in the front. I have several like this and the pockets,
in this case, go in the rear.

Just my $.02 wroth

Uncle Al

[crfriend]

The zipper on this skirt, goes in the front.

I beg to differ. There are several clues here, some of which have required the use of measuring tools.

Here are my observations from looking at the imagery of the skirt in question.

• There's a tag, and tags, conventionally, on female-marketed garments are at the back. (Not to be confused with the laundering instruction tags which are customarily on the left.)
• The view of the skirt worn with the zip at the front does not resemble a "jeans-style" closure but rather a semi-hidden zip.

The "killing-clue" was the discovery that the side of the skirt with the zip was a couple of centimetres longer than the diametrically-opposed one. That's the treatment that a lot of skirts get because the gals at least heathy ones) have more of a derrière (to use the polite word) than guys do.

So, tag at the back, an added button closure (infinitely more secure than a popper) instead of a hook-and-eye, with entirely decorative (read, "non-functional") pockets is what we're dealing with here.

[Jim]

So, tag at the back, an added button closure (infinitely more secure than a popper) instead of a hook-and-eye, with entirely decorative (read, "non-functional") pockets is what we're dealing with here.

The pockets are functional. I think the rest of the evidence is still conclusive to me.

[pelmut]

...Side and rear zippers do not have
the fabric covering them.

Unless I have misunderstood what you mean, I don't agree with that statement.  I have several skirts wirh fabric-covered side and rear zippers.

[r.m.anderson]

What UA posted is a general comment and true but not in all cases.

Reviewing the garment I note the button closing at the waist band.
Something about zippers is that if they do not have the locking tab
in the zipper - the zipper tends to do like water seek its own level
which is undoing itself. That locking tab prevents the zipper from
doing this. When the zipper is at the top of it travel the tab is
folded down on the zipper track and engages a small braking like
mechanism.

So what has to do with the button closing at the waist - well
simply it is a method to relieve the non-locking zipper of holding
things in place after closing.

Another method used is the hook & eye barely visible and a
great deal more secure.

In other words we have ways to keep you zipped up !

On another note - noted previously if the hem of the skirt or dress
is longer on one end the longer end is the rear of the garment
and the shorter the front UNLESS of an asymmetrical*** design.

*** Look that one up in your Funk & Wagnalls ! LOL !

[Coder]

Not to change topics but - what’s up with skirts that have snap buttons in the front all the way, but no locking tab at the top? Seems like one would be inviting disaster?

[beachlion]

Not to change topics but - what’s up with skirts that have snap buttons in the front all the way, but no locking tab at the top? Seems like one would be inviting disaster?

If you are afraid of that disaster, add some secure closing yourself. Otherwise enjoy the fast removal of that skirt if you are in a hurry.

[Coder]

Not to change topics but - what’s up with skirts that have snap buttons in the front all the way, but no locking tab at the top? Seems like one would be inviting disaster?

If you are afraid of that disaster, add some secure closing yourself. Otherwise enjoy the fast removal of that skirt if you are in a hurry.

I have two like this, it’s on my list for sure before I actually use them... but what are manufacturers thinking????