For those of you non-believers who doubted the staying power of the jumpsuit YEARS ago? Well, clutch your pearls. The jumpsuit isn't going anywhere, anytime soon. Be mad! LOL And to really wash your face with it, different iterations just keep on coming forth. Like the culotte jumpsuit. This is my second variation on this trend. As much as I loved the first version, and even though I made it sleeveless, the fully-lined garment in the fabric that I chose is way too hot for this time of year. So, she's packed away until fall.
Whereas, some versions of the the jumpsuit have slim tapered legs, by definition the culotte jumpsuit is wide leg. My personal rule of thumb is if I have volume on the bottom, the top should be fitted. And as far as the hemline on culottes go -- think of it as a midi skirt. If you can wear a midi skirt, you can wear culottes and that's where your hem should fall.
I picked McCall's 7167, because I loved the details. The criss cross open-back is perfect for summertime. I love halters and this fits right into my wardrobe perfectly. This pattern comes in cup sizes. I cut the size 12, with a C cup and graded out to the 14 at the waist. I always make a one inch bodice alteration. I don't know if it's because this pattern came already adjusted for cup sizes, but I had to go back and remove that one inch because I had fabric pooling around the waist.
This waistband piece sits at the natural waist. So if these were pants, they'd be high-waist pants. Keep that in mind. And being that this is a jumpsuit, I added an inch to the rise length. The main thing you MUST avoid with a jumpsuit is a wedgie. And as a tall girl, it's a rare find to discover a RTW jumpsuit that doesn't give me one. And the last alteration was an additional two inches to the length.
After creating my daughter's bodice for her graduation outfit, I should've known better. But I didn't. My fabric is green Baby Silk Ultra Polyester from Hancock. I love the idea of a 4-ply silk crepe jumpsuit, but I enjoy even more the ability to just toss it into the washer. And I love the way this fabric feels. But back to the bodice... I decided to self-line the bodice so I wouldn't have to bother with trying to find a coordinating lining fabric. It just made sense. BUT, I feel that it should've been completely interfaced. If not the front, then definitely the criss cross straps. If I make this again, I'm going to do that. I feel they would lie better and feel sturdier. And even though crepe de chine is a recommended fabric, for a bodice like that and one that if you're like me a bra might NOT be an option, interfacing would be beneficial. And about that bra... I have a serious underpinning collection... like I have some real trick bras in my collection and nothing was working with this jumpsuit. So if that's going to be an issue for you, then I just using the full coverage bra-friendly back.
Overall, even after working through the fitting issues I had -- not saying that everyone will have these -- I love this jumpsuit. Especially the side zipper. I'm still trying to decide if I want my zipper on the right side or the left. This one is on the left and I'm right-handed. It feels a little awkward zipping it. So next time, I may move it.
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