If this skirt doesn’t say holidays and celebration to you, then I don’t know what does. It’s shiny, glimmering, and makes me feel like Belle from Beauty and the Beast (as noted by the twirling seen below).

Clothing Details: Skirt – Made by me | Shirt | Pumps | Earrings (similar, similar) | Bracelets (similar, similar, similar)

When my friends decided they were going to join me from Texas all the way up in Chicago for New Years, I knew it was going to be a big deal. I’ve invited so many of them a million times, and I’m so excited we’re finally doing it! The first step was finding a party to go to. Chicago is centered mostly around all inclusive bar and hotel parties since it’s so chilly outside. After a little research, it was safe to say that if we wanted a once in a lifetime experience we would go to the Drake Hotel New Year’s Eve party. We are SO EXCITED! I will make sure to let you know how that plays out…

Step two (OK, after hotels and flights) was finding a glamorous outfit! Since the party we are going to is a bit fancy shmancy, I felt I needed to go with a classy look. Not wanting to totally give up my normal sequined and sparkle adorned dresses, I was inspired to find a golden skirt. After trying this baby on at Express and not finding it shiny enough for my liking (still perfect for a Christmas party or something similar), it was DIY time again for me! Though I had planned to spend a pretty penny on some high quality gold fabric, there weren’t a whole lot of choices at my local Joann’s, so this skirt only cost about $20 including the zipper and lining!

Fools gold or not, I’m really in love with this skirt and can’t wait to rock it for New Years. The shimmer is great under mood lighting, and the shape makes it easy to twirl the night away on the dance floor while not being worried about it flying up in the wind on the city streets. I paired it with this incredibly flattering, key-hole back top from G by Guess that shows off just the right amount of skin, and plenty of gold accessories (thanks Mom!).

Happy holidays everyone! I hope you’ve had incredible Christmas’s and have an even more fabulous NYE to come! Where is everyone going and what are you all wearing? Aaaand now I feel like the mom from Mean Girls… Scroll below to see the full tutorial.

Gold Pleated Midi Skirt Tutorial

Supplies:

About 2.25 x Your Waist measurement of Gold Fabric (1.75 yards was perfect for me)
12″ Off-white Invisible Zipper
Sewing machine with Invisible Zipper Foot
Thread to match
Pins
Scissors
Measuring tape
Iron

1. Take your fabric and cut a piece 9″ in width from the long side (for me, this was the side that was 1.75 yards). This will be used for the waistband. The larger piece will be used for the skirt.

2. To make the skirt, take the large piece of fabric and create the pleats by matching the measurements I have listed above, making sure to continue adding pleats in this pattern until you use all of the length of your fabric. (Remember to buy a piece of fabric 2.25 x the length of your waist! I promise this is all the math you should have to do.) The pattern should give you 4″ wide pleats along the front side of your skirt with 1″ overlap in the folds for a 2″ pleat on the back side of your skirt (Please ignore the measurements shown below! There was a lot of experimentation done…). There should not be any gaps between the pleats on the front side of the skirt.

This is the most difficult part of the project, in my opinion, so it may take a few tries. Pin each pleat down and iron to keep them in place. Sew a seam 1/4″ from the edge of the fabric across the top of the pleats.

3. To make the waistband, take your remaining piece of fabric and cut it to the length of your waist plus 2″ (sorry, just a little more math). Hem the long sides of the fabric by folding them inwards 1/4″ on each side.

4. To complete the waistband, fold the fabric in half so that the hemmed edges are touching and the nice side of the fabric is facing out. Then fold this in half again and sew along the open edge about 1/4″ from the edge of the fabric. By folding the fabric so many times, you ensure that you have a nice, sturdy waistband.

5. To connect your waistband to your skirt, place the sewn edge of the waistband on top of the seam on the skirt. The waistband should be on top of the skirt so that once a line is sewn over the old seams, it can be folded up and the sewing is on the inside of the skirt. Sew along the old seam of the waistband and skirt (one seam).

6. The next step is to sew in the invisible zipper using an invisible zipper foot. Start by measuring the skirt around your waist. You should have one pleat that forms at the back of the skirt where the zipper will go that has the 3″ pleats (these two will connect and make one 4″ pleat). If you have two perfect 3″ ends then you are ready to go, otherwise trim the ends down to this size. Then, iron the two ends of the skirt inward about 1″. Follow this sewing tutorial that always helps me!

7. To finish off the skirt, you can add a lining, or just hem the bottom and be done! You will have to try on the skirt and measure to your desired length. Since I am 5’9″ with a lot of leg I needed mine to be a bit longer than most people. Just measure and cut the fabric to be about 1″ longer than the desired length, then hem twice about 1/4″-1/2″ each time.