Edelweiss Patterns Circle skirts are such a timeless classic, and when crafted from denim, they offer a unique blend of casual charm and vintage elegance. I adore wearing my 1950s denim circle skirt around town, or during busy days at home. It makes me feel so much prettier than wearing the same pair of jeans every day. And if I happen to be wearing this while watering my English roses or our vegetable garden, I feel as if I just stepped out of some vintage prairie period drama. 😉 This skirt is made from our Lucy’s Circle Skirt pattern, View A. It’s beautiful enough for dressy occasions, and comfortable enough for a late summer evening outdoors.
How to Style A 1950s Denim Circle Skirt
Casual Chic: Pair your denim circle skirt with a Breton stripe top, and add some ballet flats or comfy sandals.
Business Casual: Dress up your denim skirt with high heels and a cap-sleeved button down blouse. Statement jewelry can complete the look.
Vintage Flair: Embrace retro style by pairing your skirt with a fitted knit top or cropped sweater, tucked in at the waist. Accessorize with pearls, a scarf, and some kitten heels or ballet flats. A red lip adds the perfect finishing touch.
For this look, I sewed a lavender peasant blouse from a rayon Dotted Swiss floral fabric. It’s called “Eliza Swiss Dot Rayon”, which I picked up at Surge Fabric Shop. (They should give you a 10% off coupon if you use this link.) The material is super dreamy to wear on hot summer days. I chose this Butterick blouse pattern for this top, with an added ruffle at the sleeves.
(This skirt is hemmed a bit shorter than the Lucy skirt pattern recommends, so just know that if you whip up a similar skirt, you’ll have the option to leave the hemline a couple inches longer. It’s all a matter of personal preference, your height, and which season you’re sewing for.)
How to Avoid Your Skirt Flying Up:
As a long-time circle skirt wearer, I’ve had my share of windy days where I found myself trying to hold my skirt down! Because of the flared shape of circular skirt pieces, a gusty breeze will send your fabric flying more than it would with a gathered or pleated skirt. Since I began wearing circle skirts something like 14 years ago, I’ve come up with 3 solid options for eliminating any sticky situations:
1. My best recommendation is to wear a petticoat underneath so your legs remain covered if the wind comes along. While a vintage style petticoat also has a voluminous amount of fabric, this one has a straight slip attached underneath which will stay put and keep your legs covered.
2. If your skirt is made from a sturdy material, you have the option to sew a couple weights into the hem of the skirt. I’d avoid using the adhesive option, and instead sew tiny “pockets” over the skirt side seams on the inside, close to the hem. This way, you can insert the weights before wear, and remove them before laundering or hanging back up in the closet. However, this extra weight could cause the hem to become uneven over time if your fabric is thinner or not tightly woven.
3. If you don’t want the fullness of a petticoat, you can wear an above the knee half-slip, such as this one.
(In these photos, I opted for the petticoat. It gives the right amount of body and “swish” without being too obvious that you have something on underneath.)
The beauty of a denim circle skirt is its versatility. Denim fabric is particularly durable and easy to care for, which makes it ideal for everyday wear. When I need to launder it, I use a delicate cycle on my washing machine, and hang it up to dry. I find that it lasts for numerous wearings between washes, since I wear a slip or petticoat underneath – (hence preventing it from coming in contact with my skin).
If you’re needing a summer sewing project that isn’t too challenging, pick out some denim (or chambray) and give it a go! You’ll probably end up planning a picnic just for the chance to take pictures.
Happy Sewing!
Katrina Holte
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