Restyling a Mannequin and Bias Cut Skirt
Happy Tuesday ladies. On my last trip through Nordstrom, I came across a mannequin wearing an unusual combination and wondered what you would think. I like to think I’m as creative as the next gal when combining separates in an outfit, but this combo is outside my style comfort zone. Here’s what I tried for restyling a bias cut skirt.
Note- bias cut shirts are cut on a 45-degree diagonal grain so they have greater stretch and hug the curves of the body.
I find bias-cut skirts hard to get right on my hips. I need to size way up so they will drape properly. I’m wearing a small which doesn’t have enough room through the hips so don’t consider the poor fit.
I found a tank in a similar blue, but I’m not crazy about this look. It feels too bare on me. Then I tried this cashmere sweater which is miles too large for me and I have at least 8 inches tucked into the waistband. I prefer this proportion but the cashmere is so tissue-thin, my nude bra shows right through.
Then I tried this silk cowl neck top with short dolman sleeves. I topped it with a Pima cotton cardigan because dolman sleeves are very unflattering on me. This was getting closer to my style but I’m not wild about the cardi with the soft drapey skirt and top. Finally, I tried a soft but structured, slim silk blouse, tied casually at the waist. This is an XL and it’s super large on me but drapes nicely so this is my favorite of the 4 styles I tried.
What ideas come to mind when you think about styling a bias cut skirt?
I like the thought of the sweatshirt with the bias cut skirt – but not the cutout. The sweatshirt introduced the thought of the skirt being appropriate for a casual day out with sneakers or slip-ons. I do think you need a little “hip” for a bias cut to be flattering. The skirt with the white shirt looked great on you and was the most “you” to me – but I could never wear it like that – it’s just not me!
Actually, my favorite on you is the silk blouse with the cardigan . Those types of skirts are hard for me as well. I have small shoulders, so I have opposite problem from you. The sweatshirt would probably work for me!
Really like the skirt, but would shorten it to knee length. Would wear it with a white short sleeve t-shirt, blue jean jacket & white or navy sneakers/running shoes.
I don’t think I could pull off a bias-cut skirt, but I think the sweatshirt/skirt combo would be really cute with sneakers (if the sweatshirt had normal shoulders).
Although I’m reasonably slim, I carry a bit of weight in the “love handle” area so bias cut skirts are not for me. I quite like the look on the mannequin although it’s a bit dull.
I prefer your 4th option although I think all your looks are a bit fussy. I think a very plain top like that on the mannequin is more modern.
I’d be very interested in knowing why people were upset by yesterday’s post. I didn’t get that feeling at all when I read it. I enjoyed it a lot, having moved 10 times in my adult life.
Thanks for your posts – I always enjoy them!
I like the idea of the skirt with a white tee or tied shirt like you have on. The sweatshirt would look cute with jeans. I just wouldn’t wear one with a cutout but that’s just me. Thanks for trying to style these outfits, it’s fun!
I like this quite a bit, although the cutout on the sweatshirt would not work for me and dolman sleeves don’t either. I would add tall, plain black boots and a long necklace. It looks like you may be trying to create a waistline with your substitute tops and the skirt is fighting your attempts. I would have worn this on casual Friday sorts of days.
That’s my usual inclination since I don’t have much of one
I like the cowl and sweater and the blouse tied at the waist. If I was going to wear a sweatshirt, why wouldn’t I just wear jeans. Must have been a young person dressing this mannequin.
Two of my favorite ways to wear a bias-cut skirt are with a chunky sweater or with a simple T-shirt. I never thought about it before, but maybe these skirts are easier to wear for curvy figures. The tied blouse is the best of the bunch.
I like the skirt with the white tied shirt. It looks good on you. I would like the gray sweatshirt with the skirt without the cutout.
p.s. I enjoy your blog. Thanks for keeping it real.
I love bias cut skirts for their fluidity and swish when I walk. I would shorten the skirt to knee length. Of all your looks, I like the one with the white silk shirt tied in front the best.
I like the skirt, but not as shown on the mannequin with the sweatshirt. I think the skirt paied with a white tee and maybe a short cardigan if needed would be a better combination.
BTW — I couldn’t open yesterday’s Monday Musings – Updating our Home. Can you add a link for it? I tried various combinations in your search feature but could not locate it. Thanks!
Sorry about that. Nothing urgent, I took the post down because people were upset by it.
May I ask what the topic was that upset people? It’s always interesting to read what you have to say. It’s certainly not necessary for us all to agree and we can stop reading if we’re upset.
Why on earth would anyone be upset that you were sharing with us some new decor in your home? The little that I did see was lovely and you have great taste in everything you do on your blog!!! Please repost it as many of us would love to see the whole post. We matter too, and please don’t let an individual(s) make you change what you share with all of us. It was wonderful. Honestly I don’t know what is wrong with some people. We have enough negativity in our world, we certainly don’t need any more on your site.
Please re post your home renovations story. I love looking at how other people style their homes, especially in other countries. It is beyond belief that people would be upset by it
Very attractive skirt.
I did not care for the sweatshirt with the skit at least I think it is a sweatshirt.
The blouse looked good and maybe a lighter weight sweater would work well also.
I like the outfit,maybe without cutout. Would be a fun outfit with white converse sneakers. My favorite look is with the tied front white shirt. Thanks for all the work you put in keeping us hip and trendy.
You are just the cutest thing ever and have so much style but this doesn’t do a thing for you. Definite no way!
Lol, it wouldn’t be my first choice for sure. Thanks
The look is a hard ‘no’ for me. The combination is not attractive, but beyond that, the sweatshirt is both too plain and too much for the delicate skirt. I don’t wear midi skirts because they make my already short and stubby frame look shorter and stubbier. I like the ways you styled the midi, but I would need to substitute a knee length skirt.
Many things came to mind looking at this combo: to my eye the two pieces don’t work together as the bare-shouldered top is a texture too heavy for the ‘ditsy ‘ print flow skirt. Perhaps the drape of the skirt looks better on a tall long-climbed person, but not for me at 5’3″. Then because it’s International Women’s Day, I wondered about the source location, Nordstrom’s info says ‘imported’, but not from where.
Not my style either. The skirt is pretty though, not paired with what looks like a cropped sweatshirt. On another note I started to read yesterday’s post and had to pause and come back to it later and it was gone. What I did see was a wonderful job with the new drapes and what you have done in the kitchen. It looks so pretty. Wish I had been able to see rage rest of the post. Maybe another day😄 have a wonderful rest of your week Jennifer.
My post upset so many people, I felt it best to remove it. I’m not a professional writer and often don’t explain myself well so rather than debating it, I felt it best to take it down. Have a great week!
I am so sorry to hear that. I just cannot imagine what would be so upsetting to people reading your post that they would make them post anything negative to you. If they don’t like something then don’t read it. No one is forcing them to read and then post unkind things. 😔😔😔
I really like how the mannequin is styled: it certainly catches my eye with the juxtaposition of a (“masculine” grunge-y, if that’s a word!) sweatshirt, and such a soft “feminine” skirt.
If age matters, I’m about to turn 70. I do not subscribe to the view that I must dress to suit my chronological age, but rather what suits/flatters my body shape. Since I’m quite fit, but am conscious of my thickening waist and tummy, I would avoid anything bias cut. As you mentioned, the bias sure hugs one’s curves!
Of your restyling suggestions, I like your cowl neck choice best. I also think that this skirt looks good on you.
I agree, we should dress to please ourselves
Oh! As addendum to my longer comment, I did not see the cut out shoulder on the sweatshirt! That softens the contrast between the 2 pieces . Maybe great for a much younger woman who wants to be cutting edge trendy.