Adding Shorts to Skirts
A Modest, Stylish Skort Conversion
One of my favorite creative challenges is transforming garments I already own into pieces that work better for my lifestyle. This time, I’m converting skirts into skorts—keeping the flow and elegance of a skirt, but adding the practicality of shorts underneath.
Why? These skirts were purchased for a summer vacation that I didn’t go on in 2020 because of Covid. Normally, I’d never been particularly fond of skorts or skirts above the knee but since I was going on vacation to a beach front local with my daughter I needed lighter clothes. I’m planning my next adventure, set is a beach, me, the character, plans to go to beach cafes at night, museums & tours etc. Upscale skorts are perfect and the shorts will provide peace of mind and freedom of movement on windy days, while. Plus, it’s a great way to breathe new life into skirts I don’t wear.
Choosing the Right Skirts
Not all skirts are equal for this transformation. A narrow skirt can be tricky because it limits movement. My first candidate was a silk floral skirt, that I planned to use as a trial, but its slim cut would make adding shorts impractical. Instead, I chose three skirts to try it out on, each flares out below the hips—plenty of room for hidden shorts without changing the outer silhouette.
Selecting the Right Shorts Fabric
The added shorts will sit underneath the existing lining, so I want something:
- Stretchy: (like biker shorts) for comfort.
- Lightweight: so it doesn’t compete with the silk overlay.
- Hand-wash friendly: to match the care needs of silk skirts.
- Breathable: so they’re comfortable in warm weather.
Keeping the Original Lining
I’m not removing the lining—just adding the shorts to the inside by attaching to the skirt’s lowered waistband. This way, the shorts don’t change how the skirt moves and drapes, but still give the modesty and confidence I’m looking for.
The Plan
- Pattern – Draft a simple shorts pattern tailored to my measurements.
- Choose the Fabric – Select a fabric that’s stretchy, lightweight, breathable, and hand-wash friendly to suit the skirt’s outer layer.
- Fabric Test – Quick wash to make sure the fabric behaves well with silk.
- Construction – Sew the shorts, then hand- or machine-stitch them into the skirt lining at the waistband.
- Trial Run – Wear for a day to test comfort, movement, and layering.
Once I perfect the process on these test skirts, I’ll move on to my favorites.
This is the beauty of intentional making—you’re not just creating something new, you’re making your wardrobe work for you.
Do you want me to also create a step-by-step photo guide for this article so it looks like a professional craft tutorial on your site? That would make it even more engaging.