Butterick B5466 the famous wrap-skirt

The Couture Faux-Wrap Skirt, Chanel-Style, is one of the most popular couture skirts because of its style and special characteristics.

It is designed by Coco Chanel for ladies "on the move" almost hundred years ago.  A complete new design in the times when petticoat and multi-layered skirts were mainstream. The faux-wrap design did not need an underskirt. The lining is quilted on the fabric, which makes the skirt feel very soft, easy to wear with panties and in winter tick enough to wear outdoors. The skirt is in combination with the cardigan jacket meant to be the perfect suit; easy to wear, yet elegant and superb sophisticated. The skirt is softly tailored; based on light-weight fabrics and simply styled.

Sewing the Chanel-Style Faux-wrap Skirt
The skirt is relatively easy to make if you are an advanced seamstress and you have the time for a lot of hand sewing. The book of Claire Shaeffer shows the techniques and the tricks to get it done. But buying a good pattern of a wrap-skirt will be a good base as well. Working your way from the base till the end result and keeping in mind the time spending is a treasure (and pleasure). It will not be a one-hour-skirt-project and a one-season-fashon-item. But it will be a piece of couture and a slow process. And you will have a timeless skirt which you will wear for decades.

Updating the skirt or making it a very fashionable item, all depends on the length of the skirt and the fabrics which is used. Take a look around on the inspirations pages of this website or on the internet. The shape of the skirt, the construction and the couture techniques used will be your base; anything else is up to you and open for endless variations, possibilities and modern results.

Book:  The Couture Skirt by Claire Shaeffer

Butterick B5466

Fabric:  Woolen checkered black/white/beige fabric
Lining:  Silk crepe de Chine, lined
Trims: Braid woolen binding with golden chain sewed on it
Buttons: Chanel gold buttons

Pattern alteration: The Couture Skirt
Size:  12

Styling: white blouse combination for Classic and business-style purpose

Tip:  The fabric should not be a heavy-weight wool as we use for this skirt; a light-weight version would have been better and easier wearing.

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Butterick B5466

Fabric:  Light wool/cotton mix white/light blue
Lining:  Silk charmeuse
Trims: Cotton binding dark-blue/white
Buttons: Chanel gold buttons

Pattern alteration: The Couture Skirt
Size:  10

Styling: white blouse combination for Classic and business-style purpose

Tip:  The skirt is long and easy to combine for different styles. The skirt can be wore in Summer and in Winter seasons.

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Butterick B5466

Fabric:  Light wool mix light blue/beige
Lining:  Silk, beige
Trims: none
Buttons: none

Pattern alteration: The Couture Skirt
Size:  10

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Butterick B5466 review

Butterick B5466, Easy Basic Skirt
Sewing level:  Easy
Fabrics: Broadcloth, Damask, Satin, Jacquard, Poplin and Tweed.
Notions: 7" Zipper. Also for A: Hooks & Eyes. For B: One Hook & Eye Closure. For C: One 3/4" Buckle without Prong, One Hook & Eye Closure. Skirt D, E: 9" Zipper, Hooks & Eyes. Lining.

GOOD:

• Very nice combination with the Chanel-Style French jacket.
• Great shape and ideal to wear without movement restrictions.
• Beautiful waist, hour-glass shape total.
• ++ Once you understand the altered pattern; you will be able to create modern variations !
• A perfect travel-item; use wrinkle-free easy maintenance fabrics! Merino wool, Terlenka, Tencell and Rayon.
  
• A timeless classic. we love it.
  
  

NOT SO GOOD:

• The skirt looks a bit old-fashioned because of the shape and length. Make sure to change it in your desired length. It will make the skirt look fabulous instead of out-dated.
  

Advanced Options

Changing/alteration of the sewing pattern, Butterick Basic Skirt, into a faux-wrap Couture Chanel-Style Skirt mentioned in Claire Shaeffer's book:
Couture Sewing: The Couture Skirt