DIY Spring 2012 Fashion Trends: The High-Low Hem

hilowhem

Some like it and some hate it, but the High-Low Hem is a hot trend for spring.  I’ll admit that it’s a trend I wasn’t initially on board with (heck, let’s call it what it is: a mullet!), but the more I see pictures in magazines or skirts and dresses in stores with this type of hem, it’s grown on me.  It’s a lady-like hem that can range anywhere from demure to daring depending on the length of the front hem.  There aren’t a whole lot of options when it comes to finding patterns to copy this trend, but I imagine it’d be fairly easy to adapt a skirt or dress pattern of your liking with a french curve to alter and grade the front of a pattern.
Skirts:
This McCall’s skirt pattern was the only pattern in the Big 3 that I could find with this type of hem.  The patterns seems like a versatile collection of skirts with varying hem styles, including your plain ol’ regular hem.  
Dresses:
Simplicity 1881
If you’re looking for a dress pattern, these two from McCall’s and Simplicity seem to be your best bet – McCall’s for a shorter dress and Simplicity for a longer, evening style dress.
Tops:

Vogue 8771

This trend isn’t just for skirts and dresses!  There are also a lot of RTW tops now with this short in the front/long in the back hem.  Vogue 8771, which I featured in my color-blocking post, also has a view with a slightly curved hem that fits this trend.  This is a much more subtle look than a lot of high/low tops available at a store near you.
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2 Comments

    • April 24, 2012 / 4:28 pm

      Is it a trend? These looks — asymmetrical hems for skirts and pants and blouses and sweaters– have been fairly standard since 1990. In fact, that is the one silhouette that I absolutely associate with the 90s. Kwik Sew patterns and McCall's have featured some variation on the theme for over 20 years now. I absolutely love the wackadoodle hems, most especially because my (1970s) middle-school home ec teacher would have abhored them.

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