A Navy Skirt with a Train for Day

Burda Style 9/2014 #105

I fell in love with this outfit because it's a novel interpretation of day wear.  A blouse, sweater, skirt, and athletic shoes.  The outfit is clearly casual yet the skirt has a train!  This is my definition of play clothes.  I had navy cotton/spandex heavyweight jersey in my stash (purchased from Mood Fabrics NYC last year).  The fabric is similar to a sweatshirt.  Here is my reinterpretation of the Burda ensemble:

Burda 105 9/2014 with purchased polo top

I think I achieved a casual vibe and the skirt is a good weight for winter.  It can be uncomfortable to wear a knee-length skirt during winter, but floor length is similar to wearing trousers.

From the front, the train is not visible

The front hem is a couple inches off the ground, and I plan to wear "nice athletic soled" shoes with the outfit.  I don't want to sweep the floors and streets with the train so I added a button and loop bustle which I have never seen on a day wear garment.  I can bustle the skirt to keep it clean.

Front view with skirt back bustled

Back view bustled

A 1/8" wide black elastic cord was inserted in the center back seam.

The elastic loop is placed a few inches below the bottom of the center back zipper.

Elastic loop

The skirt is made from a heavyweight knit.  Therefore the bustled fabric pulls down or drags the back waistband down a bit.  The skirt feels great on, and wearing a belt should keep the waistband in place.

I added the boucle jacket, unfastened, from the 1/19/15 post; it looks good.  This outfit can be dressed up easily (no kidding, it has a train!)

The pattern contains two pieces plus waistband.  There is a seam at center front, no side seams, side back seams, and a center back seam.  Below left is the front panel.  Below right is the center back panel.  I cut two of each.

All the large pattern lines sell skirt with train patterns, so you do not need the pattern I used.  This should be fun to wear, and of course, comfortable.