(or how to get a plus size hoop skirt for around $30.)

I just wrote this out on a plus-size historic costuming page, but maybe it will be useful to someone here too. Cheap hoop skirt hacks: unprofessional, not HA, but whatever. (or how to get a plus size hoop skirt for around $30.)

You can get a plus size hoop skirt on Amazon or Ebay for about $30. Here’s the trick though- it will not be big enough for someone over a size 22 or with full hips, and it will not have the nice swoop of a later style hoop- it will just be a bell, no backward sweep.

Tips to make it work:

Get a hoop with as many rungs as possible, you can re-use the rungs.Take out the top rung! If you have hips you won’t need it anyway. Then you can open the slit (where a zipper, etc would go) lower to let you step into it easier. You can take out the second rung too, for that matter.If it is really really too small, which it might be, you can use the channel where the top rung was as your new waist placement and string a cord through for a waist tie.

Looking for a nice long cord for a waist tie? Look for laces for ice skates- they are usually cheap and super long.

Once you can wear it, look at the length. If it is too wide, you can press the rungs in, ends together to make it a bit slimmer. If it is too short you might need to get handy and add a ruffle with something to hold out the bottom- I am tall and use one of the bands from another hoop skirt to add one to the bottom when I need to.

Sweep to the back– a small bum pad under the hoopskirt at the back will help the hoop not rest forward due to weight of skirts. Adding some length to the back, with a bum pad will help even more.

I use a previous hoop skirt as materials for the next one. If the rungs might show under your dress- add ruffles and/or a petticoat on top. Wide ruffled lace in any color sewn in between the rungs helps smooth it all out, and a ruffled bedskirt can make a great petticoat on the cheap if you find one at a thrift store.

Oh, and they store nicely behind a couch, lol.