Recycle An Old Dress Into a Trendy DIY Burberry Skirt Copycat

Burberry’s Spring 2010 Prorsum collection includes what has fast become a highly coveted Italian made, 18 inch long viscose and silk “double reef knot skirt”, available directly from their website for the budget weeping price of $1595.00. Creatively speaking, I’ll be the first one to admit that the skirt’s eye-catching front criss-cross detail might be worth a bit more ka-ching than a simple a-line version, but the 154 year old British luxury fashion house has it priced at about $1570 more than I’m willing or even capable of spending (even if I did opt to put it on layaway for a year).

As you can see, this exact skirt has been worn by the likes of a pouty teen Kristen Stewart (back in February at London’s Chelsea College of Art Parade Ground) and an older, somewhat more appreciative Gwyneth Paltrow…but you know what? I can’t help but question why celebrities like them should have all the fun? They blow through fashions without batting an eyelash at the price tag and often wear garments just once before moving onto the next cutting edge design. Admittedly, it’s one of the carnal sins of Hollywood to never run the risk of being photographed wearing the same outfit twice, but I’m sure that the rest of us wouldn’t mind strutting our stuff multiple times in something a little more edgy than what can be found at the mall. 

This is the part where we should all take a moment to praise the planet and budget friendly powers of DIY. As it turns out, anyone out there who is not intimidated by their sewing machine can create – with their own two hands – a dead ringer for Burberry’s slick criss-crossy skirt using nothing more than an old mini skirt as a pattern, a few yards of reclaimed fabric from an old dress (or new fabric from the craft store which shouldn’t cost more than $20), some pins and thread that you hopefully already have on hand and that’s that! Below, you’ll find step-by-step instructions and photos detailing the entire process that Stephanie from Anywho took on with great success. You can do it too – the only real skill that she says you need is patience.

1. Use a high-wasted body hugging skirt as a pattern. Leave 1 centimeter (0.393700787 inches) for the seam as you cut.

2. Cut out 8 wide pieces of fabric – they should be approximately 25 centimeters wide (9.84251969 inches). Sew them together in pairs so you’ll end up with 4 long fabric tubes.

3. Cross two fabric tubes to achieve a draped effect. Repeat with the remaining two fabric tubes.

4. Pin everything down all the way around the skirt and then attach the pieces from the back to the front. Sew in place and get ready to party!