Over the years, Vintage Diva has been my most popular skirt design. I think this picture does a great job illustrating why:
On the left, you see a sassy, seductive saloon girl costume. On the right, you see an elegant Victorian lady. Yet, both photos show the same skirt!
I designed my Vintage Diva skirt in 2014. I kid not, it took me 4 tries to get the pattern just right! I wanted a bustle skirt that was as quick as possible to make, and thus as economical as possible (pleats and tucks are oh-so labor intensive), and could be worn with various things underneath for versatility. The photos below show early versions:
I finally figured out that for the best look, you need gathers across the back, and pleats on the sides. The photos below show the first skirt made in my finalized pattern – complete with bows adorning each hip!
If you look closely, you’ll see that the bow is very slightly different than the ones on my skirts today – there’s a very specific way a bow must be constructed so that it doesn’t go floppy the first time the skirt is washed. My current Vintage Diva skirts have bows that stay looking gloriously bow-like even after washing.
How to Style a Vintage Diva Skirt
If you’ve looked at the ready-to-ship skirts in my online store, it’s likely you’ve seen photos like this:
I create those photos to showcase the how the skirt looks worn with my lace-all-over mermaid skirts and my long organza bustle petticoats. But those are just the most popular options! Vintage Diva skirts also look amazing layered over an a-line petticoat in any length (so long as the bulk starts below the hips):
And, of course, it looks incredible worn over my garter shorts and stockings like the red photo earlier in this blog post!
Why this skirt became my bestseller
For more than a decade, customers have kept coming back to the Vintage Diva skirt. I haven’t counted, but I’m pretty sure I’ve made hundreds of them!
I’ve made Vintage Diva skirts for themed weddings, stage performances, renaissance festivals, cosplay conventions, LARP events, Halloween parties, and more.
Similarly, I keep coming back to it again and again when coming up with outfits for my own costumed adventures. No matter what type of costume I’m planning to create, if the aesthetic I’m going for is Victorian, Gothic or Steampunk, Vintage Diva will be the most comfortable, the most versatile, and the most practical option.
Inclusive Sizing and Customization
Vintage Diva is part of my line that comes in extended plus sizes. I’ve drafted this pattern in sizes up to 6X, or low hips up to 65 inches. It’s also a pattern that’s really easy to tweak and customize to fit unusual figures. Reach out to me before purchasing if you think you may need a skirt with a customized pattern.
The most-frequently-requested customization is to make the skirt a bit longer in front. I can add up to 3″ to the length by gathering less fabric in the pleats, and I can add about 7″ to the length all around (making it approximately knee length) by adding a ruffle all around the hem. The ruffle version has a new name: “Victorian Delight”.
If you’d like to see the current ready-to-ship versions or order a custom color, you can browse the Vintage Diva collection here.