It’s official. Hollyburn is my new favorite skirt pattern. Also, that post title makes this skirt sound like it can stand up on it’s own. Well, it practically can, I guess.
After knocking out a drapey rayon version, I was ready to try this pattern in a fabric with a little more body, like you see on the Sewaholic site. I’m a flared skirt girl at heart, but I’m kind of over circle skirts for the time being (I don’t know what happened, but I suddenly feel like I’m in costume every time I try to wear one!), so this marriage of flared-but-not-circle skirt combined with a fabric that has some structure was pretty perfect.
I used this navy solid organic cotton twill from Mood Fabrics that I bought while I was in NY (but, thankfully, you can also buy it on the website. Which is good, because I’m definitely gonna need to buy more asap!). This stuff is AWESOME. It’s a great, bottom-weight cotton twill with no stretch, and very saturated color. I’ve used this fabric to also make my tie-less Miette and my Red skinny Thurlow pants (albeit in different colors, obviously) and it’s just a joy to both sew and wear. Seriously, those red Thurlows get the HELL worn out of them and the fabric still looks totally pristine. I love them!
There is not much more to say about this pattern, apart from what I wrote in my previous post. I almost didn’t want to post this skirt because I feel like it’s a little redundant… like, cool, Lauren, you made another flared skirt. YAWN. However, I felt it was important to at least show what a major role fabric choice plays in when it comes to putting together a garment. This skirt is obviously much more structured than my previous Hollyburn – it practically stands out on it’s own. That’s just the fabric, by the way – I didn’t add anything to the hem, nor am I wearing anything under it. I like it though!
The only change I made from the first skirt (and the pattern itself) was to put in a lapped zipper. I don’t think invisible zippers are strong enough for this sort of fabric, so I like to go lapped in that case. The zipper goes all the way to the top of the skirt, and then the waistband is finished at the top with a hook and eye closure. I should have taken a picture, but, I didn’t (I actually did try, but it was already late and every photo ended up super dark and grainy). You’ll just have to trust me on this one 🙂
Although I didn’t take these photos on the same day I wore this outfit, I decided to repeat the overall look because I think it works really well – and why mess with a good thing, you know? Seriously, I think this combination of Nettie+Hollyburn is probably going to end up being a sort of summer uniform for me. It’s just sooo good and EXACTLY what I like to wear.
Speaking of Nettie, I did want to show y’all one downside to the scooped back version – it ain’t bra friendly, at least not on me! Of course, my particular top has a few things going against it that probably keep the scoop back from providing full coverage behind the shoulders. For one, I cut this a size smaller than I should have (this was during testing; the sizing issue has since been fixed). I also used a thick pontie-ish knit that doesn’t have a lot of stretch, which means it doesn’t stretch at key points – such as to cover a bra strap. A prior Nettie in a lighter/stretchier knit (which I’m sure will turn up at some point on this blog, ha) doesn’t have quite as much bra-showing. So, something to keep in mind, again, with fabric playing a huge role in how a finished garment looks!
I also realized after making this that I don’t really like the way the scoop back looks on my body. I’ll continue to wear this Nettie because, dammit, I love this fabric!, but future makes will probably stick with being high back.
Also, in case you were wondering, those shoes are Fergalicious brand. Yes, I know. lol forever. They’re really cute, though – and surprisingly comfortable (says the girl who hates wearing heels. Flats 4life).
Landon took these photos, by the way! He’s such a good sport – and I’m 99% sure he offered to do these because I told him we would go for a run after, and my solo ~photoshoots~ (if you can even call them that; I mean, let’s be real – no one comes to this blog to look at pretty photos or whatever) take about 3x as long haha.
Also: outtakes!
Ok, so these aren’t that great… but I’ve been saving some of my better outtakes from MMM (as Landon has been taking most of my pictures for that, too, bless him), which I am going to subject all of you to at the end of the month. Well, there’s two of them, and they both involve Amelia being pissed, ha!
I guess that’s it! What are your thoughts on Hollyburn now? Are you camp swingy or camp structured?
LLADYBIRD 