Fashion produces huge amounts of waste annually. Some of the no longer wanted garments land in the landfills because they are worn out, or broken. However, many pieces are still in very good conditions, but don’t fit anymore. When these garments are of great quality, which is typical for medium to high-end brands, they often end up in second hand or thrift stores. Alternatively, the fabrics of these high quality attire can be upcycled into something new. This post illustrates how to slow down fashion by upcycling an unwanted silk shirt into a skirt and how to style the upcycled skirt.
- Why I Upcycled my Hubby’s Silk Shirt into a Skirt
- Rescuing High Quality Silk Fabric from a Spring Closet Overhaul
- How to Upcycle a Shirt into a Skirt
- More Silk Fabric for Sewing
- How to Style Floral Skirts in a Mature Way
- How to Style the Skirt from the Upcycled Shirt?
- Try It with a Biker Coat instead of a Blazer on Casual Friday
- What Happened to the Other Silk Shirts?
- Interested in Other Upcycling DIY Projects?
Why I Upcycled my Hubby’s Silk Shirt into a Skirt
Some time ago, we bought a shirt for my husband. On the first view the shirt looked like a camouflage shirt, and he likes camouflage. However, when unpacking it turned out to be a Hawaiian shirt inspired floral print in camouflage colors. Thus, it was not his style. Unfortunately, we had lost the receipt, so we couldn’t exchange/return the shirt. My husband wore it a couple of times as I really liked the shirt. However, then the shirt disappeared somewhere in the back of the closet. Needless to say, it just hang there taking up real estate.
Tip: When you didn’t wear an item in a season, you will not wear it in the next season. It will just take up real estate. Donate it or toss it, but get rid of it.
Rescuing High Quality Silk Fabric from a Spring Closet Overhaul
This spring, I helped him with his closet overhaul and pulled out the shirt. I had already forgotten about it, so had my husband. He immediately threw it onto the pile “I can’t even remember when I wore it the last time.”
How to Upcycle a Shirt into a Skirt
When sorting out which clothes to give to charity and which clothes go into trash, I pulled it out as it was in pristine conditions. It was a heavy silk shirt that just flows perfectly for a skirt. Furthermore, I have always loved a Hawaiian inspired print floral print, and I love camouflage colors.
Tip: Check old clothes for their potential of upcycling.
Tip: Camouflage is sort of a neutral that goes with almost everything.
The shirt must be at least one size larger than your size. In my case, it was an XL while I wear a size S. I made a straight line starting just underneath the left sleeve to just underneath the right sleeve. Then I cut off the sleeves along the line. The lower part became the skirt. Next I created a bias cut waistband to my waist measures plus two inches. I used pre-made bias cut band you can buy in any sewing store. Of course, you can create the bias-cut waist band from the sleeves if you like.
Then I distributed and pinned the shirt’s former body part along the waist band leaving an inch of the waistband free on each side. Note that I pinned the waistband to the left side of the skirt part and then sewed it on. I folded the waist band over to the right side. To make the job easy I ironed the fold and the rough part so I could do the sewing easily after pinning the the waistband to the right side of the skirt. I pushed the 1 inch ends of the waistband inside the “tube” created by the waistband. Then I closed the tube with a couple of stiches. I used eye hooks to close the waistband. However, large press buttons would work too.
It was just a fifteen minutes procedure from cutting to having the new skirt in hand. I tried the skirt on and liked what I saw in the mirror. I went downstairs where my hubby was working on the computer.
More Silk Fabric for Sewing
I walked around and made noise so he had to notice me. He looked up and said in an astonished voice “That’s my old shirt!” “You put it on the pile of clothes you didn’t want to wear anymore, remember?” I replied. “What do you think?” “You will cause a new trend of skirts with a pocket on the left side and a men’s button line.” he replied. “Should I take the pocket off?” “No, it looks great.” he answered, stood up, and went pass me going upstairs. When he came back, he had about ten other beautiful silk shirts on his arms. “Here you have some more material.” he said and put the pile in front of me on the table.
How to Style Floral Skirts in a Mature Way
Which gal doesn’t love a floral skirt? The print reminds of summer, great smell, love, beauty, you name it. And, yes, floral prints may be romantic. Unfortunately, exactly this fact makes anything floral a risky item to wear at the office. It may be because romantic is often associated with dreaming, naïve, inexperienced, young woman. Over 40, it’s often associated with conservative and not-up-to-date. Therefore, a floral midi skirt looks like a no-win situation.
In my opinion, Romantic Style is just a great personal style that looks best on certain women. Actually, it’s the on-viewer’s own fault and pre-justice to make the wrong conclusion. And they may be pretty astonished when the “romantic woman” plays hardball. A great camouflage!
To play it safe, go either for abstract floral prints at the office or tough them up. An utility jacket, biker or bomber leather jacket do the trick.
How to Style the Skirt from the Upcycled Shirt?
Hawaiian prints are a classic and the flowers are typically abstract. The print of this skirt looks like an olive based camouflage on first view. This Hawaiian print works well with neutrals. The A-line cut is classic too and hence office appropriate.
On Casual Friday, you can pair a floral skirt with a solid color utility jacket like this blush pink one in the photo above. Blush pink and olive shades colors look always great together. Olive also looks great with red or burgundy. Olive is the new black, because it is as versatile, but easier to pull off as black.
Try It with a Biker Coat Instead of a Blazer on Casual Friday
Unless you have to wear fashion-forward corporate style, a blazer can be often substituted by a chic leather jacket – especially on Casual Friday. The best way is to choose a color that repeats in the print like the white one in the photo example. This look also meets the bill for a going out with colleagues after work.
Tip: Black and white is also always a great idea. Adding a black shirt and black sandals toughen a floral print skirt up.
I really love my DIY upcycled shirt. You can find another outfit inspiration of a floral print skirt with a green leather jacket.
What Happened to the Other Silk Shirts?
One of the silk button-downs had colors matching my oyster maxi leather coat with faux fur trim. I always had a hard time how to style this coat. The silk of the old shirt was turned into an infinity scarf.
Four silk shirts were redesigned into a dance skirt.
Finally, I upcycled 3 shirts into a maxi Dress.
Interested in Other Upcycling DIY Projects?
When you like DIY, you may also enjoy reading how to
Photos of me: G. Kramm
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