Photo Credit: Carissa Cady Photography
Shirt: Old Navy
Skirt: My own design
Bow heels: Betsey Johnson
Bracelet: J.Crew (borrowed)
The Original Handmade Tulle Skirt
Many years ago…well actually, it was only a year and a half…but it’s seems like forever ago, I took these pictures with my good friend Carissa whose work you will also see here and here. Beautiful work, yes? Her photos have such a beautiful dream-like fairytale quality to them that I love so much.
So this is the very first time my handmade tulle skirt made an appearance. Before this day, I didn’t ever think that I would be able to pull off tulle or a midi length. I always pinned photos of beautiful girls walking around in the midi skirts, but alas, I am too short. Or at least that’s what I thought. Then the tulle…wouldn’t that cause more volume around my already wide hips? Oh, the struggle! I shopped around for months and months trying on every tulle skirt imaginable….and any midi length I could find. All I found were a bunch of garments that were way too long or way too wide. I looked frumpy and even shorter that I already was. So I took matters into my own hands.
I got a sewing machine from my grandmother for my first college graduation…about 7 years ago. Then she lost it and found it again 2 years ago. I’m not sure how you lose something of that size, but who am I to ask such a question. Anyway, it’s a pretty fancy one..all electronic and what not. Totally different than anything I’ve ever used. She had also lost the instructions so I finally gave up. I decided that I was still making it, sewing machine or not. I went to JoAnn’s without a pattern or specific fabric in mind. I picked out a nice thick cotton material that flowed pretty nicely, a zipper, some thread, beading and a gazillion yards of tulle. I didn’t know how much I needed so I just winged it. When I got home, I scrounged around for some old newspaper to make a pattern….and I did it!! (without any previous knowledge, mind you.) Once, my fabric was cut out, I made a beaded waist band to attach. I put in the zipper and TA DA…I had my perfect skirt. It took the entire day to make, but it was so worth it. I have never found a more beautiful skirt in store and it makes me happy knowing that I am the only one that has this gorgeous garment. I forsee many more handmade tulle skirts in the future. 🙂
