# Made a skirt from husband's old shirt: cute or stupid-looking? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 2, 2011, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/made-a-skirt-from-husbands-old-shirt-cute-or-stupid-looking/584027 "2011-06-02T01:03:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/made-a-skirt-from-husbands-old-shirt-cute-or-stupid-looking/584027/41 "2011-06-02T17:42:50Z")
Male here. Honestly, it looks a bit silly to me, but probably not silly enough for me to think "what the _hell_ is she wearing? The comments about it looking like wearing oversized boxers are spot-on. Then again, where I live, people wear their freaking pajama bottoms to the local Target, so I may have become a little sensitized to fashion. (Really, WTF is all that about?) ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/made-a-skirt-from-husbands-old-shirt-cute-or-stupid-looking/584027/42 "2011-06-02T18:15:55Z")
If it was a choice between that skirt and the pajamas I too see in public, I would take that skirt a million times over pajamas. I like the hemline as it is. I think a little white lace on the bottom would also look good. ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/made-a-skirt-from-husbands-old-shirt-cute-or-stupid-looking/584027/43 "2011-06-02T18:21:17Z")
I was hoping to see the collar and cuffs incorporated somehow! You can pull it off. I wouldn’t mock you if I saw you at Target in it. And you know I’m all about the mocking. I second putting some lace trim on it but I know you hate the frou frou. ETA: What does hubby think? ---
**Author:** ![Ludy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Ludy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludy)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/made-a-skirt-from-husbands-old-shirt-cute-or-stupid-looking/584027/44 "2011-06-02T18:27:12Z")
I think it’s cute but maybe adding a bit of lacy filler on the sides where the hem raises and I am picturing a viney type flower image reaching up from the bottom. I kinda like the combination of really girly on a mens shirt. If you don’t want to go the girly route, than maybe just a contrasting colour patch in the raised hem that can be echoed in the buttons or an extension of the hem all the way around. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/made-a-skirt-from-husbands-old-shirt-cute-or-stupid-looking/584027/45 "2011-06-02T18:30:32Z")
Very cute. I love the idea, but I agree that the particular shirt you used does make it look a bit like men’s boxers. I bet if you used something with a different pattern or a darker color it would look even cuter. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/made-a-skirt-from-husbands-old-shirt-cute-or-stupid-looking/584027/46 "2011-06-02T18:41:33Z")
> [@](#): > > I was hoping to see the collar and cuffs incorporated somehow! Hey! Use the cuffs to make the top edges of rear pocketses! It’s too late to make set in pockets, unless you want to rip out the waistband (and I bet you don’t want to do that), but patch pockets in the front or back might help move this from “oversized boxers” to “skirt” in appearance. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/made-a-skirt-from-husbands-old-shirt-cute-or-stupid-looking/584027/47 "2011-06-02T18:44:31Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Even though it looks like a cross between oversize boxers, or a men’s shirt that managed to disappear under your shirt, I can’t bring myself to hate it. Every word of this. It looks kinda weird, like you’re wearing the wrong underwear or something, but it’s not…_bad_. It’s suitable for Walmart or the grocer, but not the salon or the mall. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/made-a-skirt-from-husbands-old-shirt-cute-or-stupid-looking/584027/48 "2011-06-02T18:47:56Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > I like it some. > > As a homesewer myself, I love that you did this. I just made a women’s summer top, for a friend, from one of her husband’s old shirts, nothing like your invention, it’s very creative. > > That said, my opinion, (worth what you’re paying for it!), is it needs something else. It’s good so far but need a little something extra to make it really appeal. Have you considered some trim perhaps? You could make a false underskirt, little more than a band attached inside and under the hem. It could be ruffled, pleated, straight hemmed, sheer, contrasting or complimentary colours. Or maybe cord trim that follows the hem, as it stands, in navy blue or something? Of course there’s always, lace or beads, too girly for myself but could be nice. This was my thought. (My advice comes as a guy who ended up taking a bunch of costume design classes in college and who dated a professional costumer for about half a decade. I am not myself a professional and don’t necessarily know what I am talking about). If you give it a contrasting hem, and perhaps a trim to lengthen it by about a quarter inch, and something else to say “skirt” loudly, you will lose the boxer quality. The problem is both the place on the leg where the skirt stops (boxer level) and that there is nothing to give the garment a solid silhouette so it seems a bit shapeless because the pattern of the shirt allows your eye to glide off of it (even though it isn’t shapeless, you you get that illusion) Also I would put the buttons up the back, but that’s me. All that said, the idea is cute and you \*do \*have the legs to pull it off. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/made-a-skirt-from-husbands-old-shirt-cute-or-stupid-looking/584027/49 "2011-06-02T19:30:20Z")
The skirt’s cute, and you have nice legs! ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/made-a-skirt-from-husbands-old-shirt-cute-or-stupid-looking/584027/50 "2011-06-02T20:36:47Z")
They look like pajamas. I’d say it would be suitable for around the house and getting the mail, but not for going to the store. ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Goliath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rex\_Goliath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Goliath)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/made-a-skirt-from-husbands-old-shirt-cute-or-stupid-looking/584027/51 "2011-06-02T20:50:18Z")
Looks like boxer shorts. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/made-a-skirt-from-husbands-old-shirt-cute-or-stupid-looking/584027/52 "2011-06-02T21:09:07Z")
Undeniably cute, especially for summer. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/made-a-skirt-from-husbands-old-shirt-cute-or-stupid-looking/584027/53 "2011-06-02T23:10:38Z")
Cute. I wouldn’t wear it to work, but its cute. ---
**Author:** ![Greenlight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/439d5e/32.png) [@Greenlight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greenlight)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/made-a-skirt-from-husbands-old-shirt-cute-or-stupid-looking/584027/54 "2011-06-03T00:05:55Z")
It’s fine and as far as I’m concerned so what if people don’t like it. I don’t see how looking like big boxer shorts (I don’t really think it does) would even be a problem, but maybe I’m strange. I would also like to point out that the people who don’t like it are in the minority. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/made-a-skirt-from-husbands-old-shirt-cute-or-stupid-looking/584027/55 "2011-06-03T01:10:10Z")
Thanks for all the replies. Sorry I’ve been away from this thread, it’s been a busy day. Obviously, fashion is full of controversy 😉 and I’m sure about 30% of people hate everything I wear, so I’m not too concerned that it isn’t a universally loved item of clothing. I hate a lot of the clothes I see people wearing, for that matter. I like the idea of a ruffle for the bottom; if I do that I’ll cut the hem line straight across before I sew the ruffle on, an I might be tempted to make the whole thing more fitted, which would of course change the entire nature of the skirt. I’m not sure I can be bothered. We’ll see. I’ll wear it out sometime soon and report back on the reactions. And thanks for all the complements on my legs, they’re not a body part I think much about, good to know they’re taking care of themselves. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/made-a-skirt-from-husbands-old-shirt-cute-or-stupid-looking/584027/56 "2011-06-03T02:24:40Z")
I agree that it’s cute but looks like boxer shorts, and that some sort of trim would be a good idea. I’m thinking also that if it could be made where the stripes were horizontal it wouldn’t look so much like boxer shorts. ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/made-a-skirt-from-husbands-old-shirt-cute-or-stupid-looking/584027/57 "2011-06-03T04:04:05Z")
I think the skirt is a-freakin-dorable and I’d wear it, and don’t think it looks like boxer shorts at all. Good job! I love repurposed clothing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/made-a-skirt-from-husbands-old-shirt-cute-or-stupid-looking/584027.md?page=2)