Culottes - they're back.

I love culottes, in all of their 70's, late 80's and early 90's magnificence. I really didn't think I'd live to see fashion turn around to notice them again, however since the decades I remember were simply reinterpreting the 30's and 40's, it's really of no surprise that they're baaack!
Leading the culottes revival are the gorgeous Debbie at Lily Sage & Co and eternally stylish Kirsty B at Top Notch who have both inspired me with every version that they've made.
I can add Jillian of Sew Unravelled to that list now as well - I adore hers!

Definitely Culottes.

I love a girly silhouette, maxi dresses definitely for the win, however my history of climbing all trees/random vertical surfaces and then sitting cross legged on the floor, does limit the practicality of many skirts.

In my professional life, I've worn pencil skirts and maxis (not so practical), daft fitted dresses (let's just not go there again, although the pockets were a good thing), tailored trousers with collared shirts (I can't shake the sensation that I'm styling myself after security guards), PJs (seriously, I just can't be comfortable in a drawstring waist), I even led a petition for tailored shorts (in 1994). However my absolute favourite, and the style I chose when I have a choice, is culottes (well, ok, I'm very partial to a skort too).
I met my DH while wearing culottes and short or long, tailored or full, I wore them all.

I have some fabulous time-capsuled culotte patterns - These ones from Chloe even have buttoned sides... I sent a pattern overseas when Sew Grateful week was on, I so love the style and was convinced that the rest of the world must too...

Gorman inspiration, V2675 Carol Horn, V2855 Chloe, S9787 view 1 blue

So, being so spoilt for choice, which pattern did I settle on for my first pair of me-sewn culottes.?..?...

Vogue 2675 circa 1982

I used my Vogue 2675 to cut the front and back as they fitted on my fabric and I prefer the tailored rear and full front. I then realised that my dislike for gathered or pleated skirts extends to gathered or pleated culottes (derrr...), so I converted them to box pleats in the style of the Girl Friday Culotte by Liesl&Co.

They have volume, perfect for sitting cross legged ;)

Then I examined the pattern envelope of the Simplicity and sewed the pleats down as done in view 1, the blue version.... Both (ok, all 3) of my vintage patterns have a side pocket opening that isn't actually closed with a zip, just at the waistband. I then bought the Girl Friday pattern to see this side pocket zip magic (I admit to being too lazy to search Threads online for the tutorial), and ended up using a lapped zip & omitting the left pocket anyway... This wasn't due to the instructions - I'd chosen a co-ordinating yet contrasting lightweight cotton for the pockets & it was far too visible - if I'd made the pockets from the pineapple fabric, they would be much more hidden in this busy print.

The difference in width between the back and front of each leg

You can hide small puppies in my right pocket though...

playing with pleating #yespineapplesareathing

Oh, and has anyone mentioned that #PineapplesAreSoHotRightNow? yes, this is the now infamous pineapple linen from DarnCheapFabrics. I resisted buying any when Kirsty bought hers, then found myself back in DCF a week or so later & bought 1.5m thinking a pair of shorts for summer would be fun - well, there's a lot of fabric in 1.5m of 150cm and the pattern pieces fitted.... so culottes it was ;)