10.7.08

Cute As A Button-Down

Over the course of the decade since I hit puberty, I've always been a girl who favoured skirts over trousers. There's hardly a skirt form on earth I haven't worn or won't wear, with the exception of crinkled gypsy skirts*, but it wasn't until a recent wardrobe cleanout that I was reminded of one rather peculiar kind (I say peculiar only because I literally never saw anyone else wearing it) that I'd loved like no one's business at age fourteen- the zip-up/button-down skirt. It wasn't a love that stopped at that age, either- a pale, pink-and-green- flowered denim button-down went to uni with me and got more than a few wears- at least till the year before last, when I accidentally cut it a couple of inches too short for dress-code regulations. It's still around somewhere...and one of my lost cupboard loves was a pale blue Benetton button-down with a wide waistband and shiny silver buttons- I went into a two-hour fit of the sulks when I realised, five years ago, that it was nowhere to be found (kind of an occupational hazard of moving house thrice in a year).
In any case, I've had button-fronted/zip-fronted skirts on the brain for a while now, and no way of getting my fix other than wearing an oversized man's shirt as a skirt- I rather enjoy the puffy-hip effect, and the way the 'hemline' gets slightly uneven...and I can always get my vicarious fix of VFA aka Visible Fastener Action via my favourite source- fashion bloggers! Susie, Dreamecho and The Clothes Horse wear their skirts with the buttons and zips (and what a zip it is, on Dreamecho's awesome Michele Lau number) in very different, though equally stylish, ways. It almost makes me want to get out the scissors and thread for a DIY on one of my existing skirts- I want some buttons to fiddle with- until I remember that my last attempt at sewing has resulted in a pile of stiff pinky-purple brocade completely failing to take the shape of a skirt. Still, I'm happy looking at these girls and the Ellegirl Korea online shop...(for some reason, it has button-down skirts. In a fair few shapes. Just when I want them- only it's a pity I don't understand anything on the page)
*
heaven knows why they seem to be a staple of so many college-girl wardrobes in India. They're bloody unflattering, and sloppy to boot- not even in a good sense. Also, it's no fun to wear a straight-line skirt that drags in the dust...
photographs from (L-R) Style Bubble, Dreamecho and The Clothes Horse.

16 comments:

Perakath said...

You don't really wear shirts as skirts, do you??

Blue Floppy Hat said...

Perakath: Yeah, I do.

Anonymous said...

Whats wrong with wearing shirts as skirts??? Anyhow, I'm after a SERIOUSLY zipped up skirt....

Rebecca, A Clothes Horse said...

I love this detail on skirts. I seriously covet Dreamecho's silver and yellow zip skirt--it is stunning!

woenvu said...

i must admit, i was wondering for a minute about having a collar around your knee and sleeves flapping around like some early 20th century inventor's latest flying contraption..

but then i realised that i'm probably picturing it the wrong way up/down. :)

Meg said...

I think I'd always be worried about possible gaps between the buttons when I sit down, I still buy shirtdresses a size bigger to avoid this!

Elisabeth said...

*sigh* So many skirts, so little time to purchase them all.

I am a huge skirt lover!

riz said...

Sorry I haven't been around - I've been bogged down with teaching...
I am a huge fan of Dreamecho, and congrats to ellegirl Korea for featuring bloggers like these

ineedmoredrama said...

i love skirts which is why i'm puzzled that most of mine are of the black puff or a line variety!

anyway, i know what you mean about 8 days being a long break from the blog. i always have this nagging feeling like i had forgotten something when it takes me longer than 4 days to update. but judging from the frequency with which i DO update, that nagging feeling never goes away...

Siru said...

I'm a jeans girl in every single way, though wearing skirts is one of my dream goals in future. I guess I just need inspiration like this :).

juliet xxx

emerald cloche said...

I love these too!
But I always have trouble finding button-down skirts where the button placket doesn't gape. I'll also have to follow fashion bloggers' lead and do the man's shirt thing

Teresa said...

The only time shirts as skirts is a problem is when your going up an escalator and give the whole world a show...

Anonymous said...

what an adorable title!

NewYorkChique said...

i really want that silver and yellow skirt =]

Couture Carrie said...

Skirts rule! That pencil in the middle paired with the blue opaque tights is simply divine!

Blue Floppy Hat said...

The Clothes Horse: yes, it really is gorgeous- I coveted it too!
Bobo: you did get it the wrong way around...I tie up the sleeves.
Meg: I find that gaps between the buttons aren't an issue when the skirt is in a softer fabric, but for stiffer skirts that gape I sew the gaps closed if it's too bad (leaving the buttons I need to undo to get into the skirt, of course).
Elisabeth: We should form a skirt lovers' club! So nice to have company..
Riz: don't apologise, you're busy :) I'm really happy about the added recognition to the bloggers too, and I can fully understand being a Dreamecho fan.
Evie: I just took an even LONGER break from my own blog, and yes it has felt naggy at times..
Juliet: good for you, being a jeans girl! I've always wished I was one, but alas it doesn't seem to be happening :( Either way, I'm glad you found inspiration in this.
Emerald Cloche: I think the man's shirt route is the easiest way to go, too..
Teresa: I've never had a problem with shirts as skirts, particularly oversized shirts- if anything, they tend to have an inward-curving hemline that doesn't allow people to see up your 'skirt'..
Cupcakes and Cashmeme: *blushes* thank you!
Newyorkchique: Ah, a lot of us want it...but Dreamecho's is unique :)
Couturecarrie: Skirts do rule :)

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