Gladdest Hours

Winter Skirts - Day 4

Remember how I said that we don't get snow here?  So choosing footwear for a snowy climate to go with skirts is not one of my dilemas?  Y'all must just think I'm crazy, because there seems to be lots of snow in ALL THESE PICTURES!  This is extremely unusual for us here in the Northwest.  I've lived here for 10 years and have never seen snow stay this long.  I grew up in Minnesota, so it's far from foreign to me and a welcome change.   

This is a Liz Claiborne, pumpkin-colored, cotton-twill, full skirt from a thrift store. It is 35" long and 84" around the bottom hem. Liz Claiborne has durable, soft fabrics and usually modest, practical clothes.  Sometimes I type in "Liz Claiborne" on e-bay and do a little perusing.  A black sweater turtleneck is on top, with yet another vest (faux-sherling, gift from my dad YEARS ago).  Black paddock-riding boots.  And, that's my dh's Carhartt jacket I'm wearing; it was just the first thing I grabbed from the very large pile of outerwear snarling at me from the floor.  (I don't have a system for snow-clothes because..... remember? We don't get snow!) 

Here are some random daily activities.....conversing with Dorothy Jo (age 3) about why we don't lick our snot, working in the kitchen, changing the suet in the bird feeder, dumping garbage and hauling buckets, looking through boxes for something (that I never found) in the gararge and analyzing animal tracks in the snow.  Oh yes, the picture with the blue bin at the top....Bridget's post about her compost pile reminded me of my poor, little, freezing worms in my worm bin.   It normally doesn't get this cold, this soon, here.  So "move worm bin into basement" is not on my to-do list until December.  Poor little worms. 

I think that's it for my "Winter Skirts." I'm sure you have all had quite enough. Plus, my photographers are starting to lose interest, and it's time to get ready for Advent!   

More Moms Blogging About Skirts

Here are some more moms who are blogging about everyday life in skirts.

Lisa at Joyful Chaos

Bridget at Our Magnum Opus

Ruth at Just Another Day in Paradise

Cheryl at My Thoughtful Spot

Mrs. Chancey "Through the Week in Feminine Dress"

Winter Skirts - Day 3

Day 3.  This is a black, corduroy, wrap skirt.   For those of you who live in warmer climates go here, for the same skirt, lighter fabric.  Lest you starting thinking of the typical wrap skirt that FLIES open with a slight wind or a tiny lift of the leg, revealing the color of your underwear, let me reassure you, THIS SKIRT is NOTHING of the sort.  On me, the fabric is overlapped about 20" at the waist.  This design is brilliant, and I don't know why there aren't more skirts made like this. 

This skirt fits women sizes 4-16.  I wore this when I was 3 weeks post partum, and I am wearing it today, 35 pounds lighter.  Which is one reason why it's so wonderful, perfect for the ever-changing waist and hips of a child-bearing woman.  I sound like a commercial. It's probably not for everyone....may be a bit too much fabric, too wide at the bottom, too "prairie-looking" for some to wear for everyday to fit in. But, if you are at all attracted to this skirt or wondering about it, I highly recommend trying it.  If it's not the right style for everyday /at home, then you have an absolutely gorgeous skirt for special occasions, church, parties, etc.  Women who play in orchestras buy these in VELVET and black corduroy to wear during performances; they are very elegant if dressed up.  They are long (38").  I have a couple shorter friends who have them and they hemmed them up a couple of inches.  Jewish women who follow the "tznius" (modest) guidelines must have skirts this long.

I am wearing black, microfiber tights.  On top is a gray/lavender fleece top with a black short-sleeve cotton shirt underneath. I took a gray vest on and off today.  I also buy these headbands from tznius.com.  I wear either black boots or black Mary Janes with this skirt.

Shaking the rug, painting time, working in the kitchen (complete with a mean-guy-egg-shell-act), carrying in a case of our favorite holiday microbrew (Jubelale), hauling a baby and a dollhouse around the house, nursing, and sitting at a child-size table.  All in a skirt.

 

Winter Skirts - Day 2

Here we are, Day 2.  I hope Pete never reads this; he'll think I've lost my mind! 

This is a dark brown cotton/polyester-blend, 6-gored skirt.  It's very long (40") and 63" around the bottom hem.  With 60" at the bottom, I can sit Indian-style with all my skirts.  I usually stay away from brown, only because I only have black shoes, but for $3 at a thrift store, why not?  I have an old pair of exercise, black, cotton/lycra leggings underneath with brown knee-high socks. 

On top is a white (well, sort of), ribbed, turtleneck sweater with another vest. 

So, I can sit on the floor, put a child between my legs for morning-hair-combing, fish for polly-pockets under the bed and stand on a chair in the kitchen to look for my favorite Christmas mug.  There was about 5" of snow today, and I was outside with Caroline in the sling, pulling Dorothy Jo on the sled. 

Of course the pictures don't show it, but I took inventory at about 3 pm today and I had flour, chalk and lotion on the front of my skirt, oatmeal on the front of my sweater, and spit-up or snot (I'm not sure which one) on my vest.  There were also several evergreen needles stuck to my socks and hair.  THIS is why women used to wear aprons.  Which I do in the kitchen.....but that helps only PART of the time. 

Winter Skirts - Day 1

There is a great thread on the 4real forum right now about wearing skirts/dresses in the winter.  Bridget is doing this, and I thought I would copy her....take pictures throughout the week in different skirts/dresses doing regular working and mothering activities. I also found it VERY helpful to SEE other moms working in their skirts and dresses, when I was considering switching from pants to mainly skirts/dresses a couple of years ago.  And, my eldest daughter is oh-so-happy to be given free reign of the camera for a few days!

My winter clothes are definetely less feminine - heavier fabrics, darker colors, no floral, less dresses, etc.  For obvious weather-reasons. 

Here is one of my favorite skirts.  I only like denim if it's a "soft denim," which this skirt is because it has TENCEL in it (whoever invented Tencel should be KISSED a million times!)  I like my skirts longer....they have to be AT LEAST 37" long for me (I'm 5'4").  And, the measurement around the bottom hem of the skirt must be AT LEAST 60" (this one is right at 60") in order to have a full range of movement.  I mention this only because I have bought skirts off e-bay and I ask for these measurements to make sure it's the right skirt (along with waist and hip measurement, of course). Buying from ebay is actually easier than from a catalogue because ebay sellers will take precise measurements for you.  With catalogues, it's just a guessing game. I have never had an ebay purchase be too big or too small, but I have had catalogue purchases returned MANY TIMES.  I also bring my tape measure into thrift stores and don't even try on skirts that don't meet this criteria; it saves lots of time.  I also like my skirts a bit big (probably to a fault)....it just makes me feel like I can do ANYTHING in them if they aren't at all tight (just a personal preference, I have never liked tight clothing...I would NOT be a very good teenager these days!!)

This is considered a gored, A-line skirt.  I LOVE gored skirts; they are attractive and slimming.  This one was on clearance at Macy's for $20.  On top is a navy blue waffle shirt with a fleece, red vest.  We keep our heat pretty low in the winter, so it's all about "layering" here.  I wear lots of vests in the winter.  I also do not like to wear bulky sweaters when I'm nursing.  I am wearing gray footless tights (microfiber) with navy knee-high socks over them with black, ankle, Paddock-Riding-Boots.  When we go outside in the winter I wear legwarmers from mid-calf on up (you can't see them).  I wear ankle boots or Mary-Janes in the winter time.  We don't get snow, so I don't have that dilema.  But, because of the rain I do need ankle boots or thick bottom shoes. 

Hopefully, tomorrow will be another outfit, another post!