Saturday, August 8, 2009

A Poll: The Wiggle Dress/Overskirt Combo Pattern!

The pattern above is for sale at this shop (in three different sizes!), and it's a style that inspires some ambivalence for me. Specifically, the third view, which is a wiggle dress with a sheer overskirt. At first glance, I adore it. But how do you think it would actually look sewn up? Would it be as fab as in the illustration or would you look like you couldn't decide what style skirt to wear, so you thought you'd wear two at once?

I also adore a poll, and this is a perfect excuse for one. Let's hear your thoughts!


What do you think of the vintage wiggle dress/overskirt combo?(answers)

31 comments:

  1. I like the dress as a pencil skirt sheath w/o the poufy overskirt.

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  2. I think it could possibly turn out amazing......or end up looking like your skirt is too see-through and you can therefore see a petticoat/2nd skirt through it. I would love to actually see it made up though. Maybe if the bottom skirt was a block colour and the sheer, full skirt a see-through floral or polka-dot material of some description? love the blog by the way xxx

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  3. Is the overskirt detachable? If so, then it reminds me of my barbie's outfit with like 8 looks in one! You could wear the wiggle skirt for sedate afterwork cocktails with the office and then whip the overskirt on around yourself as you walk downtown to meet your husband for dinner and dancing. Kind of like superman in reverse.

    Now I want one.

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  4. Could be fabulous, could be weird. I like the detachable overskirt idea! I'd be inclined to try it out and see.

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  5. I think it could be great. Your apprehension about the over skirt reminded me of another look, and kind of goes along with the detachable over skirt idea. In stead of being a complete skirt that goes over the dress it is ope in the front, maybe with a wedge cut out, so you can clearly see the wiggle skirt underneath and it looks like it was done on purpose.

    Maybe that is a bad explanation. i feel like there may be some sort of demonstrative example of what i am thinking of in the fashion show in how to marry a millionaire.

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  6. I know I've seen dresses/skirts like that in old movies where it looked perfectly normal. I think there's a good possibility it would look strange sewn up unless you had a really nice pairing of fabrics. Perhaps as miss english rose said, a sheer full skirt over the underskirt. I bet that would look really nice in a navy with a wide belt.

    P.S. I recently discovered your blog and I'm loving it!

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  7. It's like a half-redingote, it will be fabulous.

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  8. Well, according to the pattern back it is detachable and is supposed to be sheer -- reminds me of a skirt I once had (very open lace over a solid silk). I would definitely do it -- worst case scenario, you make the overskirt over into a lined lace skirt and you get two outfits!

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  9. In response to Amy's comment - my sister's wedding dress was like that. She wore a basic sheath knee length dress with an 'overdress' that covered the bodice and had a floor length skirt that was hooked in front so it looked like a normal dress. But, she could unhook it to reveal the shorter dress underneath. Our bridesmaid's dresses were similar, only our overskirt was only that - a skirt that fastened at the waist with a waistband over the sheath knee length dress. And, ours did not close in front and revealed two separate hemlines - a knee length sheath and a floor length overskirt. In 1995 this was all the rage in Bridal fashion apparently. I think Gertie's dress could work. I've seen similar styles from the late 60s that feature a spaghetti strap bra dress or slip dress with a sheer long sleeve overdress, and I kind of like them.

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  10. I have a pattern like that on my vintage wish list. I would totally wear it, though I would have the opening in the front so that you saw both skirts. I've also been a fan of the 60s hostess outfit of cigarette pants with an open-front overskirt. I WILL make that one though.

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  11. Okay, you all have me convinced! I saw a tulle at B&J with little velvet polka dots on it . . .could be perfect, right?

    miss english rose, you are so right: it's all about the fabric choice!

    And I guess if it didn't work out, at least you'd have a wearable sheath dress!

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  12. I not only lived to see my mom with a dress/combo like this, I also knew her to have another fav of the vintage patterns, which is the playsuit/skirt with buttons down the front combo. My memory was that her mistake was in making the overskirt not 'special' enough, so it really ended up looking like she was wearing her petticoat over the dress - something spangly might have been better.

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  13. Ooh ooh, I think tulle with velvet dots would be great! Is it black or what? Organza with some sort of design would also be lovely.

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  14. I am blinded by the lovely royal blue color,but I do think the overskirt would be great...in a sheer....not to heavy fabric.

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  15. I think that depending on what fabric you made up the dress in, with the sheer overskirt it would probably look like you just had a slip on underneath, which would obviously be appropriate for a sheer skirt anyway. Otherwise you could make an overskirt in a solid fabric and a little longer so you don't see the dress underneath anyway (but I think sheer would be much more fun!) Either way, I would say you could definately pull it off, but it would be a matter of choosing the right fabrics to make it work. Maybe not both the same colour so its not too matchy-matchy? I'm not sure...

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  16. Definitely you should do the overskirt. Often times the difference between sensational and silly is attitude. You strike me as a girl with attitude and I think you can handle the skirt. BTW I have gone back and read all your previous posts on your project and did not realize you had to find the patterns too. That in itself is quite an achievement!

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  17. If the skirt is detachable, it could be the ultimate work to dinner dress. Is there a back vent so that you can actually walk in this dress? Anyway, I vote for making it detachable, in some glitzy evening sheer.

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  18. Oh dear - now I'm going to date myself. I made these things up before and although we would like to think we would look exactly like the picture, the body that is used as a model in those sketches is not realistic. As long as you know that, then you're OK, because there's no one, no way you can look exactly like that picture.

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  19. It is Barbie doll couture. Look at old photos and you don't see people actually wearing this - one or the other I think. Anyway, go with what you think - maybe a "MUSEUM" piece and a real wearable one??

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  20. I have to agree with Claire OKC-- love the pic but would it work for everyone? Definitely not me---but I love the blue and the sheath! You are small so it might look darling made up with a sheer overlay!

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  21. Here's a thought regarding the over-skirt-looking-like-petticoat: Butterick is reproducing a similar pattern (saw it today looking at coat patterns!) and it recommends a band of fabric at the bottom of the overskirt - that might be a really nice finishing touch! (That and the super-fancy tulle!)

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  22. Toby, that is an amazing memory of your mother! I've been doing some research, and I tell ya: in the fifties, they would put an overskirt on anything. Shorts, pants, skirts, dresses, you name it.

    Thank you all for your input! I'm glad I come across as a gal "with attitude." That's such a compliment to me. :)

    I think the only way to settle this debate is for me to make one of these. I'm going to go get some fancy tulle swatches on my lunch break sometime this week. I will keep you all updated! And thanks again for reading and your wonderful comments!

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  23. Gertie, The look is fabulous but I've got to say I'm uncomfortable about the return to 50s fashion. This was a terrible time for women and the wiggle skirt is a symbol of just how unemanicipated women wear. Why do women want to wear a symbol of our oppression. Are you you like my daughter - born in the post feminist era and thinking I should just "get over it!"

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  24. I'm a little late weighing in, but here's my $0.02 for what it's worth. ;)

    I have been drawn to this style for years. But every time I start entertaining ideas of actually making a wiggle skirt/full skirt dress, I start getting a bit nervous about how it'll actually look in real life. Part of me is bothered too that the dress appears to be unable to make up it's mind as to what style it wants to be. Full or fitted? I like my dresses to be one way or the other, which is probably why I haven't made something like this yet. ;)

    On the flipside, it could be an utterly fun cocktail style dress! Which, again, is probably part of the reason I haven't made this style. I always envision it in expensive silks and lace, which I really don't have use for in my life. haha!

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  25. Gail, as a feminist (NOT a post-feminist!) I love your comment. I've been thinking on it, and I'm going to devote a post to the issue. Stay tuned!

    Casey, it sounds like we have a lot of the same issues with this style!

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  26. By the by, why is it called a wiggle skirt?

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  27. Emma, I believe it was called a wiggle skirt because it was tight and you had to "wiggle" into it. I don't really see the difference between that and our modern pencil skirt, though.

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  28. I thought it was a wiggle skirt because you wiggled when you walked in it.

    Anyway, I LOVE this pattern! I would dance all night in it. Another song to jive to? yes please!

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  29. I am really unclear how the overskirt will look. I look forward to seeing it!

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  30. You can kinda see an example of it in this clip of I Love Lucy... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z76QqL_AozI

    It's one of my favourite outfits, but the skirt is longer, and basically has an overlay allover!

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  31. I've always loved this style, but I have a sinking feeling that I'd feel like the Good Witch Glinda wearing it...

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Thanks for your comments; I read each and every one! xo Gertie

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