Burda Style Godet Skirt Pattern Review

What happens when you cant find the right bottom to match an existing top your mother has and time is running out for an upcoming wedding?
(Yep, i had to play stylist and find dressy bottom that works with her top)
You whip out the good old Burda Styles and find a quick and easy skirt to make!

I sifted through all the Burdas in my ever growing "collection" (i hesitate to use the word collection as it implies there is an emotional connection or attachment to these items) over and over and finally decided on a #103 godet pencil skirt from Burda issue 02/2011.

The skirt isn't very clear in the magazine since the skirt is black and the setting is quite dark!

Good thing about this skirt is that its 'minimalist' (code for quick and simple) and has an understated detail of interest in the back that makes it slightly different. Loving the big diagonal darts in the center back.

I made this skirt up in a black medium weight de-lustered stretch satin (yep, didn't need to use the reverse side of shiny shiny satin, both sides of this fabric is reverse side). Unlined.
I found the pattern to be quick and easy and very close to the line drawing. Thumbs up!
The pattern pieces lined up quite well. I've ran into commercial patterns in the past where the pieces didn't really fit together! So another thumbs up for this pattern.

My only complaint is that the pattern runs large. Based on the body measurements, i had made this up in the size 38 - already a slightly smaller than the measurements i had taken.
The right size should have been one size smaller - the 36. I had to do some quick and dirty downsizing. Not too noticeable in the end but the shape of the skirt would be changed for all eternity =P

Oops! i lost the photo of the front =P not much to look at though, its just plain.
Outfit to come.. that will show the front.

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ETA:
Adding my hopeless outfit pics :)

Escada silk & lace bustier

Guiseppe Zanotti fish bone heels

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Pattern Review: V1170 Vogue Patterns American Rachel Comey

Its coming into cooler weather now and its time to break out the stash of velveteen and actually use it.
Based on the fabric, i chose to make the skirt part of this two part pattern.

Rachel Comey Vogue Patter V1170 Envelope front

The skirt is described as "flared skirt, has front and back seam details, back invisible zipper closing and wide waistband".
Its not very clear what the skirt actually looks like based on the photo on the front of the envelope as the skirt is black... and well the black just prints out as a black hole (besides seeing the shape of it).
The line drawing looks like this

Rachel Comey V1170 line drawing

Doesn't quite match the photo. The drawing looks a lot more fitted and higher waist-ed than the silhouette of the skirt in the photo.

Soldiering on.

The pattern itself turns out it matches the line drawing much more than it does the photo.
Very fitted through the hips and when they described it as a wide waistband, they weren't bloody kidding. The waistband ends up being about 6cm wide!
Not that that is all bad news, at least it helps to smooth out the tummy ;P

Almost faultless pattern until mid way when you reach the step in joining the composite skirt back/sides to the skirt hem. The pieces did not match up. The composite back/sides was a lot bigger than the skirt hem leaving me with an excess of fabric in the center back.

Secré bleu! (let's pretend the french really say this)

And you end up with something like this...

Extra wide seam

Took a little bit more stitching and seam ripping to get the back sitting nicely across the butt.

Another difference i saw was the line drawing showing some curve/flounce of the hem at the front, this was not the case with the actual pattern. Its more flat / A line.

 

This skirt is seriously high waist-ed.
So high in fact, that the top is a crop top and can be tucked in!! I have a short waist so that compounds the fact.

Overall, i could use this pattern again as the end result turned out surprisingly good... even though it neither matched the photo or the line drawing. Bear that in mind!

Wearing with 

VIVETTA 'Sandra' hands collar top
ISABEL MARANT Sheila boots

nb: if these designers allow Vogue Patterns to copy their items, why can't Vogue Patterns just get the actual item and take it apart so that it really is a pattern of the item??