WIW: hard edge with skirted leggings

Angie's ensemble, "Hard Edge with a Soft Touch" is one that stuck in my mind. It's a mostly black look, with some softness added with color or feminine style. I recalled it today, as I put together this outfit. Encouraged by Torontogirl on my thread here, I not only wore the controversial skirted leggings again, but I am posting the outfit for you here.

The outfit (worn to work--yes, as in, skirted leggings to work): Black knit tunic with ghost horse print in shades of gray and asymmetric hem and seams (made by me); black skirted leggings (Eileen Fisher); light gray scarf; black distressed suede tall boots (Donald J. Pliner, Devi 2); long black coat (Gallery); espresso and black satchel (Joy Gryson, Natalie).

I had planned to wear my long gray cardigan over this outfit, but I didn't like the look. And I didn't want to cover up the tunic so much. So I went with the scarf for warmth instead.

Thanks for looking! And, my joking about controversy notwithstanding, I welcome your thoughts and suggestions!

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Nordstrom

Eileen Fisher Skirted Ankle Leggings (Regular & Petite)

$138.00

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Top Pick

9 years ago

dashielle (Ann)

(website)

Veteran

You are my hero Sharan, seriously. This is how I love to dress these days,Mao we are he sisterhood of the hard edge skirted leggings! Rock on!

Firecracker (Sharan)

High five, Ann! Thanks for your encouragement--and inspiration.

Dixie

Active Member

It looks good, it seriously looks like part of your tunic. The layers are really fluid.

Joy

I want to stay out of the skirted leggings debate as I have not tried them, but I like this outfit on you. The star for me is the gorgeous tunic. You should be a designer!

Jeanie

Great execution of hard edge with a soft touch. That tunic is rockin'! The way you style your skirted leggings is really working.

Thanks, Dixie!

Joy, LOL! I don't want to debate, either. Thanks for the tunic love. I really like this piece, too. I thought the fabric was so cool, and I felt it was a great match with this asymmetrical tunic pattern from The Sewing Workshop.

Peri

LOVE that tunic. Add it to my list, okay?

I like the leggings on you. For some reason they seem a little longer than others I've seen...they look more like a real skirt. I'm staying out of the real discussion on them too, but I think you look great here. As usual!

Deb

Like Joy and Peri, I chose to stay out of the overly discussed skirted legging debate, but I have to say you have given them a 'wow' factor here. Love this look on you....great styling and impressive new bag Firecracker.

Thanks Jeanie and Peri!
Looking at my photos today, I felt like the outfit looks simply like a skirt, tunic, and heavy tights. I realize the skirt on these leggings is not too much shorter than what I might wear with opaque tights. That factor contributes to my comfort in them. And I think the skirt is relatively longish on me because I actually sized up from my usual Eileen Fisher size (and took in the side seams on the skirt).

Thank you, DEB. I think the bag is destined to see a lot of use.

Janet

I am, again, seriously impressed with your design/seamstress skills! Totally fab tunic, and you are one of the people inspiring me to consider the Skirted Leggings of Controversy.

approprio

I too chose to skirt the butt vest controversy (see what I did there?) but these really do work for you.

And now we have to talk about that spectacular tunic! What is that fabric and where did you get it from? How did you topstitch the white contrast on the seams? I need nerdy details!

haha, Janet--thanks!
Approprio, too funny. Okay, the details: I got the fabric from marcytilton.com, a couple of years ago. It's a cotton knit, a white base fabric overprinted with black and the print, so it's kind of stiff even after the fair amount of washing it has seen. The pattern called for a zipper down the back. Instead, I flatlocked near the two edges, using a thick, variegated cotton thread in shades of gray and ivory, in the needles of my serger (overlocker) and then sewed the seam so that the two rows of flatlocking were adjoining each other, mimicking the zipper idea. I flatlocked the asymmetrical sideseams as well, and I used the same topstitching thread in my sewing machine for the hems on the tunic and sleeves.

Ah cheers, that all makes sense. Beautifully done, good job!

Elizabeth P

Oh my goodness, this is fantastic. Just fantastic. Probably one of my favourites on you. That tunic steals the show, sheer genius how you dealt with the zipper.

You seriously make me want to get my sewing machine out!

Anonymous

I am seriously in love with that tunic! Thanks for providing the pattern link, I just pinned it I'm guessing you used that awesome Babylock Evolution to sew it with :). I to think the skirt on the leggings is spot on for length and I think you did right sizing up and then taking in. Love it. Love it all!

Summer

I'm watching these skirted leggings threads with interest, and I have to say that the look is growing on me. Your outfit is so cohesive that I am not noticing the individual components, except for that beautiful print on the tunic, echoed by your scarf, and the contrast seaming. The whole outfit is just stunning.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Works beautifully. Your comment in an earlier thread about treating the skirt of the leggings as an extra layer and not a mini skirt as such seems to be the key to this look.

kerry

Perfection.

shiny

KILLER.

Kristin L

What a great look! Your tunic looks amazing and it goes great with your skirted leggings.

Thank you for all your nice thoughts!
Elizabeth, I'm so flattered--thank you.
Diane, yup, you're right about the machine. It worked beautifully.

UmmLila, it's funny, but with this outfit I didn't feel like I was following my own "extra layer" philosophy--it seems more skirt-like--and yet I liked how it looked.

Catnip

Great look! Not only do you look fabulous in the skirted leggings, but the tunic is outstanding. Inspirational! You are very talented.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

You DO wear these skirted leggings to perfection, Sharan. Killer. And I LOVE the new bag. Rock on. xo

gryffin

Firecracker and Dashielle add me to the list of the traveling skirted leggings!! Love the tunic and how you styled them. Just fabulous. I wore mine to work yesterday with the EF long tweed jacket and ugg cortonas.

unfrumped

Tunic print is beyond fab.
I DO think the skirt part appears not quite as mini the way you've sized and altered it( thanks for the inside scoop- I wonder if that might be the solution for some that would really like to makd these work. I bought an AT skirt in Tall recently that worked).
Looks just great!

merwoman

Genuis!! The tunic is to die for - and you look incredible in the skirted leggings!

rachylou

The tunic is gorgeous. It's incredible how well you do the skirted legging.

Windchime

You had me at "ghost horse print" and "asymmetric hem and seams!" I absolutely adore your elegant, arty tunic. This is one of my favorite skirted leggings outfits I've seen. I really like how the asymmetric hem of the tunic blurs the horizontal line between tunic and skirt. Great boots and bag, too.

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