Blooming Skirts!

Flowers inspire me and are the subject of much of my creative work but when it comes to clothing my choice is usually a solid color and most often black, cream, tan, or navy. However, in the past few years designers have been using floral fabric in ways that could tempt even a a stark minimalist.

Erdem Moralioglu founded a label named Erdem shortly after graduating with a master’s degree from the Royal College of Arts in London. He has received honors from the British Fashion Council and an award for service to the fashion industry. It was his Spring/Summer 2024 line that caught my attention.

This voluminous floor length skirt is made of several lengths of floral fabric gleaned from a collection of interior fabrics belonging to the late Duchess of Devonshire, Deborah Cavendish.

This Erdem gardening coat created in a collaboration with Barbour is made of some of the actual fabric from her collection. It is said she had old drapery fabric made into pillows and never wanted to waste good fabric. As such she would be ecstatic about the practices of using cut-offs and leftovers, and repurposing vintage fabrics we see today. 

This Erdem skirt of citron satin and floral chintz is anchored at the waist with what looks like a rhinestone pin.

(tagwalk.com)

These skirts from Antonio Marras’ Resort 2026 collection are of varying lengths of pastel floral fabric. You can imagine them flowing in the breeze! The peplum at the waist of the middle skirt reminds me of the stays and bustles worn hundreds of years ago. Placing it outside the skirt is unique and thought provoking.

(tagwalk.com)

Carolina Herrera Spring/Summer 2023 featured a mix of floral patterns on skirt and top. This is a flattering length and could, if you prefer, be worn with a solid cardigan or crew neck sweater.

(tagwalk.com)

Kim Shui designed a matching set of pencil skirt and bandeau top made of floral printed satin.

Several other designers have done something similar.

(tagwalk.com)

This skirt and bandeau from Dior Spring/Summer 2023 both feature the floral fabric and a matching fabric tie. The skirt has the tie inserted in a casing to gather at the waist.

(tagwalk.com)

This design from Elie Saab’s Spring/Summer 2023 collection is similar. The waistband and the band at the bottom of the bra top work with the lilac flower fabric to coordinate the look.

(tagwalk.com)

In the same year and season designer Giambattista Valli created this look. The top and skirt may be connected. We might wear the skirt alone with a solid top for a different look. The fabric looks to be a large format floral design on silk organza or another lightweight fabric – almost like a ballet skirt of tulle.

(tagwalk.com)

Look at the way designer Christian Siriano took some of the flowers on this fabric and had them spill off the hemline!

This skirt and jacket with raw edges by Erdem thrills me! Would it be possible to sew pieces of lace onto a skirt and jacket?

This is a challenge yet to be taken up. For now, let’s look at a skirt made with repurposed drapery sheers and lace trim!

This is a piece of lace from my collection of interesting bits of trim. There wasn’t enough of it to make a top or put at the bottom of a skirt.

A tiny pair of embroidery scissors was helpful to me in cutting away large flowers from the piece of lace.

My original intent was to sew the flowers onto the sheer drapery fabric. Then, there was a concern that the black thread would be visible through the semi sheer fabric, so I tried fabric glue for the first time.

The process is fairly simple. The glue smells strongly so you will want to ventilate the room. These were attached while the fabric was spread on a glass top table so the glue would not adhere to the surface.

My first attempt was a floor length skirt with a sheer slip of the same fabric worn underneath.  Something about it didn’t appeal to me so I put it away until I had another idea.

Insert photo of you in the closet wearing the skirt and a close up of the skirt (Photos 18 and 19)

Here, the skirt is knee length and there is an underskirt made of drapery lining beneath it. I wore it to the local plant nursery one afternoon and then on to the grocery store. The shorter length makes the floral lace skirt more wearable.

The reactions to the skirt from my fellow gardeners and culinary friends was truly gratifying.

When people are kind enough to stop me and tell me how much they like something I am wearing I like to talk a bit about how it was made, hoping to give others the courage to give it a try!

Next up may be a raw edged longer skirt with an applique!