Jennifer Hudson's Superbowl Skirt

First let me be clear that I think Jennifer Hudson is a beautiful woman, at any size, so I'm not snarking on her body here. I also love fitted high-waisted pencil skirts and have found they work with body shape better than most skirts. But I've walked away from skirts before because they seemed to be pulling across my hips, creating a horizontal line, especially as I move around. Of course, I'm extremely self-concious about my hip area so maybe it's all in my head?
Sewers and fit experts, was this skirt just a little off in fit? It seems to me that just half an inch of give across the point where it is wrinkling would help. It does look better in pictures than I expected, but I found a couple that I think highlight what I am talking about.

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13 years ago

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I'm not a sewer or fit expert by any means Jules, but I also felt the skirt was a bit snug. It could have had a bit more give and still been body con and gorgeous on her. I totally agree that she is gorgeous at any size!

Janet

(website)

I believe JHud and I have very similar body types, and even if a skirt hangs without creasing like that at first, depending on the fabrication, a little walking can easily make it do what it's doing in these photos unless I am careful to 1) hitch up the back of the waist (see how it is dipping a little lower in back) and 2) smooth it out when I stand or stop moving around. I always thought it was because I have no booty, but maybe it's the generous low hip that helps cause this too. I am not sure, but a little extra room may have helped the creasing. Beautiful skirt, though. I was there IRL although too far away to see well, and I thought she looked great.

Yay for my Ravens!

Anonymous

Yes, I think she needs just a bit more ease in the hip area. This is the body type that looks so good in A-lines, a cut that falls flat on me.

Jules

Having a somewhat similar shape although not as dramatically curved, I actually find A lines hard to fit. If they fit my hips they tend to be floating around my waist. Or they just hang very low and look too big. I've never been sure if this is something a tailor could deal with easily.
I actually hardly wear skirts at all because of various fit issues. A friend passed on a high waisted pencil skirt that I never would have tried on, and I was really surprised how well it works, I love it. But I don't see this style too often and it is quite bombshelly, not an everyday look for me.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

I think that the stretch in the fabric makes the skirt ride up and look like it's pulling. And the skirt rides up because of the extra curve on the hip and thigh of the body. It will also happen when you walk. It's unavoidable.

Jules, flared skirts are the way to go.

Beth Ann

I agree, Angie. As someone whose body curves from hip to thigh, I can testify that a little "hitching" happens, even when the fit is generous. I love this skirt on her (she has a killer figure). In white, however, the crease is particularly noticeable.

Thanks for chiming in Angie (and Janet and Beth Ann for your experiences). Yes I think my skirt does this a bit too and I adjust it/pull it down. I think because it's darker its wrinkles are not quite as obvious so it falls within my comfort zone. I don't think *I* would have chosen this skirt if I were JH but, I am not a superstar either Maybe this is something I can work on getting more comfortable with.
I've thought before that I need to give flared skirts more of a chance. I love the way you wear them Angie. I'm not as crazy about those that are gathered at the waist.

Charmian

I'm neither a sewer nor a fit expert -- and it sounds like Angie and the others have it sorted out anyway -- but if this is something that happens naturally as a result of the cut and the fabrication, I'm not sure I would have worn this skirt. It seems too fussy, to be yanking down your skirt throughout the day!

Jules, gathers at the waist can be very hard to wear and I hear you :). All pouffy . You're after a flared skirt that is fitted on the waist and high hip - where the pleats are stitched down for extra structure. I hope that makes sense.

And thanks for the skirt compliment.

Yep, she is curvaceous and that's what happens, the curves shift things around. I do suffer from the same predicament. I just flatten things up as I walk or move around. The answer is not in sizing up, because then the skirt will twist around. Not pretty. I have had skirts made custom (pinned using my bod as the dress form) and that still happens.

it is just what curves do.... things seldom lay flat or drape.

Aida

Yep, what Angie said. I'm curvy but less curvy than she and I get the same thing unless the skirt has a TON of ease (and then we lose that pretty bodycon effect!). It used to drive me nuts, but I've come to terms with it I looooved her whole outfit and would happily wear it myself!

Diana

Yes, this happens on me with pencil skirts all the time, which is why I rarely wear them. It's not just a function of it being too tight, but of the skirt naturally wanting to ride up to the narrow parts all the time, which can create not only creases but also excess fabric pooch. Interestingly enough I think it's worst with a body type like mine and Jennifer Hudson's, where you have a booty but a pretty flat tummy/small waist. It also happens when the position of the hips on the skirt is not *exactly* lined up with the position of your hips. (This is why the famous Halogen seamed skirt that was so popular here last year never worked for me in any size.)

I like tulip skirts the most these days - extra room for the booty and still nice and slim at the top and bottom.

DonnaF

I think if Ms. Hudson's skirt were a little smaller at the waist it would not have slid down toward the back and would not have slid down giving her the creases. Looser at the waist can be comfy, but it comes at the price of skirt twisting and hip creases. She may need deeper darts above her booty. I could usually use darts above my tummy which probably sticks out farther than my pancake booty.

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