A bubble skirt is a short skirt with a balloon-style silhouette that billows at the bottom and sides. It consists of an outer layer, an inner layer, and a waistband, and can be made from various fabrics. Elastic can be used instead of a belt.
A bubble skirt is a type of short skirt with a balloon-style silhouette. These skirts are designed to billow at the bottom and sides, while fitting well at the waist. The bubble skirt was popular during the 1980s, and is sometimes known as a tulip skirt. Bubble skirts usually hit mid-thigh, but are sometimes shorter. Bubble miniskirts often had shorts sewn under the skirt, or worn over knee-high stockings.
There are generally three main components to a pattern for a bubble skirt. The cut pieces consist of a longer, extra-wide outer layer, a narrower, shorter inner layer, and a waistband. Although the skirts usually consist of only three pieces, they may require some skill to assemble.
To accessorize a bubble skirt, the wearer must be measured from the waist to mid-thigh, and then an additional 8 inches (20 cm) must be added to the length. The final total represents the length of the piece of fabric that needs to be cut for the outer shell. To determine the width of the piece, the wearer should measure around the hips, then that figure should usually be doubled. The undercoat should be approximately 12 inches (30.5 cm) narrower and shorter than the outercoat. The waistband should be cut to fit the wearer’s waist, with approximately 2 inches (5 cm) added for closure and ease.
After cutting out the fabric pieces for the bubble skirt, they are ready to be assembled. The bottom edge of the outer piece of fabric should be snug against the bottom edge of the inner piece. Once this is done, the top edge of the outer piece should line up with the top edge of the inner piece, once again bringing the outer piece together to fit the inner section. At this point, both pieces should be attached and ready to be gathered at the waist. Once this is achieved, the skirt can be finished by inserting a zipper and button closure.
Some styles of bubble skirts use wide bands of elastic instead of sewn-in belts. Using elastic allows for an easier fit, but attaching fabric to elastic can sometimes be tricky, especially for beginners. The elastic should stretch as the fabric is sewn. Failing to do so can cause the elastic to lose elasticity, defeating the entire purpose.
Bubble skirts can be made from most soft, pliable fabrics. Most bubble skirts of the 1980s were constructed from cotton or polyester fabrics. Other fabrics that work well for this type of skirt include smooth satin, silk, and taffeta.
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