Long skirts as a necessity

[redshira]

Hello, I'm new here - I've been reading for a few weeks and just joined. I've always loved the style and manners of the WW2 era, but recently it's become something of an obsession for me!
I have a pretty big problem, though: apart from being plus-sized, which makes finding accurate clothing almost impossible anyway (I figured I'd just stick to wearing as much tailored stuff as possible until I learn to make my own clothes properly), I have lipoedema of the legs. This means I absolutely cannot wear any skirts shorter than ankle-length, as my legs are disproportionately large and somewhat misshapen, and also I can't wear dresses, as I am so much bigger on the bottom half. This is completely at odds with the style of the period, so I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to be as accurate as possible while still only being able to wear ankle-length skirts (and flat shoes, and no short sleeves)?

 

[Miss Neecerie]

Hello, I'm new here - I've been reading for a few weeks and just joined. I've always loved the style and manners of the WW2 era, but recently it's become something of an obsession for me!
I have a pretty big problem, though: apart from being plus-sized, which makes finding accurate clothing almost impossible anyway (I figured I'd just stick to wearing as much tailored stuff as possible until I learn to make my own clothes properly), I have lipoedema of the legs. This means I absolutely cannot wear any skirts shorter than ankle-length, as my legs are disproportionately large and somewhat misshapen, and also I can't wear dresses, as I am so much bigger on the bottom half. This is completely at odds with the style of the period, so I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to be as accurate as possible while still only being able to wear ankle-length skirts (and flat shoes, and no short sleeves)?

First of all Welcome!

Secondly, I think we have a freind in common...over in LJ land anyhow...*waves at the freind of Miss Alice aka Interlock"

On the skirt length issue, if you are willing to go a bit more 30's, something like

could be lengthened without it being too far off the original.

or

Just a few ideas, but I am by no means an expert.

 

[redshira]

First of all Welcome!

Secondly, I think we have a freind in common...over in LJ land anyhow...*waves at the freind of Miss Alice aka Interlock"

On the skirt length issue, if you are willing to go a bit more 30's, something like

could be lengthened without it being too far off the original.

or

Just a few ideas, but I am by no means an expert.

Hey! I thought I recognised the name, I just didn't know where I'd seen it before.
Thanks for those, they're great...I'm very fixated on 1939/40-46 specifically (those Aspie obsessions!), but I could always wear that length of skirt and say it's in the spirit of making do with old clothes. If I were a standard size with normal legs, you can bet I'd have been dressing very accurately early-mid Forties for quite some time now.

 

[Paisley]

I think shoulderpads would balance your shoulders with your hips.

Would pants not work for you--even palazzo pants?

 

[redshira]

I think shoulderpads would balance your shoulders with your hips.

Would pants not work for you--even palazzo pants?

Shoulderpads would work, except that my head is pretty small and my body too large for it, really - I have various fun and interesting endocrine disorders which made my body double in size, while my face is pretty much the same as it was before everything went wrong. So I'd not want to do anything to make any part of my body look bigger, if you see what I mean. I can't wear any form of trousers, because my legs are so huge that even if some were to be made that would fit (think 23-inch calves, 34-inch thighs), I wouldn't want to wear them because they'd only show how big my legs are. It's not so much my hips (though they're large too) as the tops of my thighs. I'm sorry to sound so awkward, and thank you for the suggestions.

 

[Lady Day]

Well welcome!

First off there are a number of plus size gals (raises her hand ) on this board, so finding solutions relating to size wont be a big deal at all. The skirt MN put up is super cute! Id also reccomend a staple of waist lenght fitted jackets. They can help preportion the length of the skirt if that is a concern for you.

Modest heels (no more than 2.5") would work wonders for that look as well. Are you set on the WWII Era, or willing to expand? Oh boy! This is gonna be fun!!

Well Ill see you around, and also when you DO get into sewin' poke your nose in the Sewing FAQ thread. Great stuff in there!

LD

 

[redshira]

Well welcome!

First off there are a number of plus size gals (raises her hand ) on this board, so finding solutions relating to size wont be a big deal at all. The skirt MN put up is super cute! Id also reccomend a staple of waist lenght fitted jackets. They can help preportion the length of the skirt if that is a concern for you.

Modest heels (no more than 2.5") would work wonders for that look as well. Are you set on the WWII Era, or willing to expand? Oh boy! This is gonna be fun!!

Well Ill see you around, and also when you DO get into sewin' poke your nose in the Sewing FAQ thread. Great stuff in there!

LD

Thank you! It's lovely that everyone here is so welcoming, and I love the enthusiasm
I'm definitely (unfortunately, in some respects, I suppose) fixated on the WW2 era - can't explain it, but then again I'm just starting out, so there's no knowing what I'll be into after I've been doing this for a while! I can only wear flat shoes anyway, so that's ok.
I'll go and have a look on the Sewing FAQ thread, thanks for that.

 

[Rosie]

Shoulderpads would work, except that my head is pretty small and my body too large for it, really - I have various fun and interesting endocrine disorders which made my body double in size, while my face is pretty much the same as it was before everything went wrong. So I'd not want to do anything to make any part of my body look bigger, if you see what I mean. I can't wear any form of trousers, because my legs are so huge that even if some were to be made that would fit (think 23-inch calves, 34-inch thighs), I wouldn't want to wear them because they'd only show how big my legs are. It's not so much my hips (though they're large too) as the tops of my thighs. I'm sorry to sound so awkward, and thank you for the suggestions.

Hi! Welcome. Okay, I am a big girl. Much bigger than average sized or normal. See the little picture to the left, that's me! (my thyroid went kaput about a year and a half ago). I have 22 inch calves and 30 inch thighs so, you can wear trousers, I do ALL OF THE TIME. You can wear skirts too. My big legs and I go walking out the door many a day in all sort of fashions. I think longer pencil skirts (with a kick pleat in back) will work well for you. Also, a little longer than calf length circle skirts if you like that. When wearing trousers, to make you feel a bit more comfortable, maybe you can wear a pantsliner or long leg brief, this will give you a feeling of solidity and make a great foundation for your garments.

I good trouser to wear are that style made so popular by Ms. Hepburn, long and wide. If the leg is wide from the top of the thigh, this will not bring so much attention to the size of your bottom half. Personally, I like to accentuate that portion of me, but, that's just me.

 

[redshira]

Hi! Welcome. Okay, I am a big girl. Much bigger than average sized or normal. See the little picture to the left, that's me! (my thyroid went kaput about a year and a half ago). I have 22 inch calves and 30 inch thighs so, you can wear trousers, I do ALL OF THE TIME. You can wear skirts too. My big legs and I go walking out the door many a day in all sort of fashions. I think longer pencil skirts (with a kick pleat in back) will work well for you. Also, a little longer than calf length circle skirts if you like that. When wearing trousers, to make you feel a bit more comfortable, maybe you can wear a pantsliner or long leg brief, this will give you a feeling of solidity and make a great foundation for your garments.

I good trouser to wear are that style made so popular by Ms. Hepburn, long and wide. If the leg is wide from the top of the thigh, this will not bring so much attention to the size of your bottom half. Personally, I like to accentuate that portion of me, but, that's just me.

Wow, you have much more confidence than I do. I was getting there, but then I gained 120lbs and that was the end of that. The problem is not just the disproportionate size of my legs, it's the fact that they're misshapen, too - I absolutely would never wear anything that would show them. I'm very uncomfortable wearing anything which highlights my lack of proportion. Maybe I'm too thin-skinned, but going out is never made easier by having idiots shout insults at me. My mum's got the same legs (though a lot shorter, she's 4' 10" and I'm 5'8"), and whenever I'm out with her and she's wearing something that shows her legs, I see the looks she gets and the way people mutter. I couldn't be doing with knowing that people were doing that about me, not while I still have the opportunity to disguise it.
Anyway, I digress. I really like the idea of longer pencil skirts with a kick pleat in the back, and I'd best get on to learning how to make them! Thanks for the suggestions and encouragement - I hope to become more confident.

 

[Elaina]

Welcome!

Yep I'm plus too. I got diagnosed with lymphoma and put on steroids and BAM! Thank you ma'am I'm 75 lbs heavier then I was.

Wide legged trousers are good, as stated. Also try anything with a slimming line down the front (like a dark jacket with light piping, it draws the eyes down wards creating a slimming illusion). Skirts seem like you're going to be stuck somewhere in the 30's, although I've successfully seen (and made/designed) 20's looks for us plus sized gals with pretty good results, and if you want to try looking that far back, the boxiness of the 20's does wonders to hide things you don't like.

I'm making a princess seamed, gathered shoulders and under bust 40's day dress for the DFW thing Sunday. Very flattering, princess seaming always is.

http://www.geocities.com/liaradapixie/dress (Because I'm stupid.) It's so small because I had to use the one and only pic I found for it.

Elaina

 

[Mrs. Foss]

Dress Idea

You could make a dress like this and just make the skirt longer. It's not exactly accurate, but it will have a 40's feel. I imagine that many of us take liberties with period styles while trying to remain true to the looks we love. Also, a good girdle will make all the difference in the world.

Good luck.

http://www.vpll.org/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=25_108_122_123_125&products_id=242

~Mrs. Foss

 

[pjane]

hello to redshira

I found your post here when I was looking for long skirts to deal with my lipedema! fftopic: I have a blog about it at http://biglegwoman.blogspot.com

 

[Tourbillion]

Well there were a few long skirts in the 40's, though I suspect mostly in the States where fabric rationing wasn't so severe. I've seen a lovely chrome yellow 40s floor length skirt on a lady that was stunning. For events after 5 o'clock floor length or ankle length is appropriate, right?

I also saw this pattern:

It might be post-war, but the style is late 40's to early 50's. I guess this is technically a robe, but if you made up something like it in a cotton you could call it a "house dress" and wear it by day. Ankle length suit skirts is really the only thing you would really have to "cheat" on.

Or you could just start to love the longer 20's, 30's or 40's New Look stuff.