What is a Culotte?

 I've been busy sewing on spring and summer camp culottes/split skirts for the upcoming camp season.  It's great that camps are opening up again, and kids are able to go back to the things they enjoy.  My youngest is super excited about being able to go to camp in Oklahoma in a couple months herself. 

What is a culotte?  A culotte by our conservative definition is a split skirt that looks like a regular skirt, allows for more activity, and keeps the wearer better covered.  No Marilyn Monroe skirt issue.  There are different styles of culottes in the conservative world, from the gathered waist like the ones above, to drop waist ones and box pleated ones.  Box pleated styles are most often seen as school uniform style in khaki.  

I make all 3 styles, and sizes run from girls 3/4 up to plus sized women's 6X.  I prefer to make the gathered waist style as pictured above, as it is more straight forward and less room for error.  They have French seams and occasionally the hems are bound.  I've started adding in size tags into each pair.  

Most are made with quilter's cottons, unless otherwise specified.  There are occasions I use a satin type poly fabric if it looks cute.  

When worn, these looks just like a regular skirt.  The gathers fall in the right places and they are indistinguishable from a gathered waist skirt.  

Some would call these old fashioned, and that's fine.  They are modest, they allow for activity while keeping child (or adult) from showing everything off, and with more feminine fabrics and colors can look very nice for church and school.  

Have you worn culottes/split skirts before?  I'd love to hear your thoughts on them!