Yes, Yes, Yes, they are goofy. I am 50's and definitely no fashion diva but no bromstick skirt. I have a black slinky knit suit that has a fitted type jacket with no buttons. It can be made to look very dressy with a silk camisole or blouse and a few little jewels. It doen't wrinkle, weighs little, and the top and botton can be worn separately to further stretch my wardrobe. It is the best travel thing I own. I make a point not to wear it at other times so it will be "new" to me again on my trips and will last longer. I am on my second one now.

Hey, I didn't say I didn't find the posts amusing!

See Kavey you knew what they were all along!! That's what I was trying to get at mentioning "ethnic shops". I never knew about the wrap around a broom handle part, I just thought it was because the skirt looked like the broom! I think the Sarah Arizona pieces actually mimic this fashion in an updated way and in good colors.

For smooth travel knits check Chicos, Travelsmith and Lands End all have websites with a wide range of reasonable options.

Just got back and traevled with my Chicos 'travelers, the best! Black pants that are skirt like,they have them in different lengths,and they have skirts..a long jaket and different tops. I thought I would get tired but the accessories and different tops,scarves were fine and I never looked 'traveled' even though they had been in and out of my suitcase several times...they have a Chicos website..

The problem with Chico's travelers is that they weigh a lot. I'd rather bring something like lightweight cotton, silk, or mesh-type fabric. Last year, my suitcase weighed an all time low, thanks to limiting my clothing to types of fabrics that are lightweight. (Yes, those broomstick skirts are indeed light. I gave mine away several years ago, though..)

When the broom skirts were popular(also huraches, that are different now)they were a light weight cotton. Today most are made of rayon. Emmanule Kahn years ago made beautiful cotton gauze clothes that were wonderful for travel. Now gauze that is around is not as sheer nor is it all cotton.

Suze, yes I just hadn't heardn of broomstick skirts and I couldn't tell from the picture on the page posted as an example that they were the same thing.
I only have one left now, I bought it in the US in 1993 but haven't worn it for about 10 years. I'm loathe to throw it as I love the print but it doesn't fit me anymore! LOL story of my life!

I think that most of the previous replies havn"t got a clue as to what a TRUE broomstick skirt is. In the 1945 era (high school), in sewing class, we all made broomstick skirts and they WERE certainly popular then. They were full, dirndl all cotton fabric and you washed them (remember, this is before driers), then rung them out, twisted them actually around a broomstick, tied them and let them dry. They came off somewhat twisted, wrinkled and of course we were all IN STYLE. To me, that was a true broomstick skirt. Have a good day. Halfpint

I think I saw something similar to a broomstick skirt in the window of Banana Republic the other day. It was very crinkly and looked pretty good (on the the very tall think mannequin - I'm sure it wouldn't look so good on me!).

Maybe that's why they're really called broomstick skirts--you have to have a broomstick's figure to look good in one!

halfpint, I mentioned that above Did you also have a felt skirt with a poodle applique? remember the real mexican huraches?

I saw broomstick skirts on display at a store a month or so ago and wondered if they were coming back in style - or if they just found them hidden away in the stockroom and decided to put them out onto the floor. We used to wear them all the time back in the 90's. Very comfy and traveled well.

I forgot to mention that when I took mine to the dry cleaners, they ironed it out straight as a board. Of course, the thing was HUGE, because of the amount of fabric!! I couln't wear it again, because I couldn't get it to crinkle back to the way it was!

OK so I'll ditch the broom skirt idea! But do I hear it's 3 to 1 FOR the cream and black combo? Aren't these colors a popular Chanel combo?

Chanel in the 80s/90s - now they're far more subtle, but I'm not an huge Chanel fan - they're suitable for Parisian women of a certain age and look.

bashful, look at www.sundancecatalog.com, there are some cute affordable skirts there.

BTW, I have seen broomstickish skirts lately but I can't remember which catalog they were in.

I sit in the morning with coffee and thumb through the stack of catalogs from the day's mail.

Black and cream are elegant together...and so versatile! Look at any fashion magazine or show. Almost better than black and white!
"Broomstick" skirts have been around for ages and will continue to be...just by VARIOUS NAMES! Some say they are great for travel..often they have three layers and "wad up" nicely if in a thin material. I don't wear skirts personally, mostly because of a "shoe" problem, and one should really be fairly slender to wear the "broomstick' skirts. We do most of our European travel in the cool months of Oct/Nov and March/April...so black slacks do me fine, along with black cardigan and bright colored knits under...or gray/purple, dark knit tops.(this took me to the opera in Vienna along with an all purpose black topcoat..no one cared!I was clean and neat and well groomed &gt
Am trying to cut back even more on our next trip in Nov. to a 22 inch suitcase. (that size is hard to find,, does anyone have a suggestion of brand!? 20" is to small for me, and 24" last year seems too bulky,,,even though we had a car and left it in the car most nights and took a small carry in at nights.

Now..M_Kindgom: to each his own!!right?

They are back in style!! They are now shorter and flirtier and worn with sandals or boots.

mari,

Costco's Kirkland brand makes an awesome 22" roller. DH would never use that size, saying they're too small, but now this is the only suitcase he'll use.

Celine produce Dr Scholl sandals for 125GBP, whilst Celine is one of the fashion greats, I think this is ridiculous - just because something is in fashion doesn't mean it's a good look. Classically fashionable is the best basis for most of your wardrobe, coupled with a few high fashion pieces of the season.

As for taking a 22" case - I'm away for 9 nights and am taking one 33" case and a 28" one - how you can take a 22" case for anything longer than a night is beyond me.