skirtcafe.org

For the first time in a good log while I (with some "encouragement" from Sapphire) decided that it was time to indulge myself and spend a little bit of my hard-earned cash on something other than my passion for elder computers and other such necessities. So, needless to say -- and this is an absolute first, I went for clothing.

One of the things that I've discovered since taking up skirts is that I actually now care how I look, and already having a sense of an aesthetic that I'm happy with, decided to go for waistcoats and skirts. The package arrived from California this afternoon, and once other priorities were dispatched, I tried everything on.

waistcoat 1
waistcoat 2
skirt 1
skirt 2

It turns out that the waistcoat colours weren't available in my original choice so I merely switched them. I'm happy with the results and those will start to gain immediate mileage both at work and off the clock.

The skirts are amazing -- these are functional pieces of clothing, not just costume bits. The cotton walking skirt alone weighs about 2 pounds, is slightly longer than ankle length, has a positively massive hem-sweep, and much to my surprise is not going to take a lot of getting used to. The taffeta one, too, is a functional bit, and once adjusted is amazingly easy to navigate in -- including stairs and in the very constricted confines of our humble residence.

I am very pleased. The purple walking skirt is a bit on the large size, but the velvet belt I purchased (to go with the taffeta skirt) solves some of that problem and some innocuous alterations will completely solve it. Unfortunately, we are experiencing some really rotten weather at the moment, and I don't want to get the hems wet or dirty, so it'll be back to a shorter skirt for dinner tonight.

Great choices Great Colors

Looking forward to see the completed outfits

Uncle Al

Nice stuff, Carl!
I see they also have a Steampunk section. Is that what lead you to that site?

Kris

I do like what I saw and, I am anxious to see you in the completed outfit. I was drawn to the Old West section and that shows I never grew out of playing Cowboys and Indians. I'd be in CASS or SASS if I lived in U.S.A.

Kris -- No, it wasn't the "steampunk" section that drew my attention, but rather the manufacturer of some of the waistcoats I already have which are long-wearing and of good quality (I've had a couple of them for over 10 years). I don't mind paying a bit extra if I believe that I'll get good wear out of it.

Sarongman -- It'll be a little while before I can get decent photos of the completed rigs as there's not enough room in my house to get a full-length shot and I'll not be wearing the very long skirts out of doors until the ground is reasonably clean of slush, snow, and grime.

In the indoor light last night (compact flouescent, mainly) the colour combinations look pretty good. Both waistcoats can be used with both skirts, but I want to get a good look in real light of how they actually work. It may be time to buy another white shirt (or two) as white goes with everything. An interesting aspect of the taffeta skirt is that looking down at it it looks like a very dark green (almost a black) but from straight on it's the vibrant blue; I, myself, will have no idea what it looks like on until I can get photographs.

crfriend wrote:An interesting aspect of the taffeta skirt is that looking down at it it looks like a very dark green (almost a black) but from straight on it's the vibrant blue; I, myself, will have no idea what it looks like on until I can get photographs.

You could save up for a full length mirror...

Have fun,


Ian.

Carl,
You certainly practice what you preach! Very bold, nice choices!

This delightfully versatile full length taffeta skirt can be worn in a myriad of ways: with or without a hoop, with fabric gathered to the back as a bustle

Do they come with an added hoop or bustle?

In the movie "Tombstone"'s beginning, when "Doc" Holliday robbed a casino and "Big Nose" Kate (his life partner) helped him and leaped into the saddle split leggedly, Doc said: "Now I know why you're not wearing a bustle".. She was wearing a skirt very similar to the Taffeta skirt you've purchased. Both look very comfortable and rich. The combo of the Vest, belt and skirt is going to look very sophisticated. Right on!

Since1982 wrote:Do they come with an added hoop or bustle?

No, they arrived as simple skirts with no embellishments. That said, the place does apparently stock an underskirt with a removeable hoop.

Hoops and bustles can be very attractive, but don't particularly fall into the aesthetic that I want to achieve. I suspect the two new skirts I have could benefit from petticoats, however, as the overall line would be rather less dramatic than an all-up hoop but still provide a nice flair as the skirt descends downward.

Both look very comfortable and rich. The combo of the Vest, belt and skirt is going to look very sophisticated. Right on!

Sapphire's initial response to seeing the two waistcoats was simply, "Wow!" Both are very striking; once she calmed down a bit her next comment was, "riverboat gambler." The look achieved with the red waistcoat, velvet belt (about 2" wide and buttons in the back, although I suppose I could put the buttons in front if I so desired), and skirts make for a stunning look; the belt sticks out just a bit from the red waistcoat and provides a bit of a border.

I'm wearing the red waistcoat, white dress shirt, black tiered skirt (short enough so I don't drag the hem in the slush and grime outdoors), ivory opaque legwear, and black dress shoes at work as I type this.

John -- You're very right that these are decidedly bold outfits. It's a bit of a push from the rather drab colours I've been primarily wearing, and is going to take some getting used to. These will get me noticed in a crowd, so will likely be reserved for days that I'm feeling very confident.

Carl,
Cudos for leading the way!

I enjoy vests too, and like your choices. You might consider picking up a western style tie to go with the riverboat gambler look.

Can't wait for pictures of this rig -- it will be good! You can be our poster child!

The wife is into Steampunk, so not surprisingly I have come across this website before. Just like you, since I have started wearing skirts, I am more interested in how I look. So far I have focused on just the skirts, but now I need to find shoes and clothes that look good with the skirts.