hmmmmm.....you're giving me an idea that maybe I should just make my skirt instead of buy one, since I already have the compression shorts.
Has anyone here done this before and is there a good site for ideas or patterns? Also, what is the best type of fabric to use?
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I just typed out a nice reply and it vanished, so I'll try this again.
I recently made a skirt for a July 3 race. I bought a sparkle skirt for Expedition Everest, but wanted a patriotic skirt, so for half the price of one, I was able to make two skirts - one for me and another for a friend.
I don't really sew, and it wasn't that difficult. I did find a video online by doing a search that was a little helpful and I used the purchased skirt I had for reference. You just need an elastic waist band (found in any craft store)and I used whatever sparkly material I was able to find. I used an inch and a half wide waist band this last time, but I think next time, I would just go with an inch.
Fit the elastic to where you want it to sit on you, and pin it. Then sew a square around the seam to really hold it in place. I used red, white and blue fabric for my skirt and the blue was the fabric sewed to the waistband. You want that piece of fabric to be almost twice the size of the elastic when it's stretched out. I pinned the fabric to the center front and back first and then on side (so it was spaced out evenly) and then pinned it really well to the elastic. This part is easier if you have a sewing machine, but you need to stretch the elastic out as you sew the fabric to it. This was a pain on the first skirt I did and I had to undo the seams a few times to get it right. I was ending up with a lot of extra fabric. The second one was easier. But when it's done, you end up with a nice gather at the waist and it fit my (big) hips, without having to do any fancy patterns or panels or whatever it is you have to do. After it was sewed to the waistband, I sewed the red and white fabrics to the blue (to make the bottom half of the skirt -- they were almost like strips but not really). I didn't worry about the seam because that creates a ruffle like the one I bought has. Even if I was doing the same color, I would sew it in two parts to get that ruffle at the hip/thigh. I didn't worry about hemming the bottom and just cut the fabric to the length I wanted the skirt.
I hope that makes some sense. I'm sure anyone who sews could see the mistakes in my skirt, but I got a lot of compliments on it during the race. I plan on making my outfit for the Princess too.
If I knew how to include a picture, I would, but I don't know how to do that.
Holly
The second one I did I was able to do in a couple of hours from start to finish.
ITA with amykay - we don't even have many races scheduled around here until late fall because it's just too hot for racing. I do almost all of my training outdoors, though, adjusting pace and intensity for the heat, and I'm certain it'll pay off big when the weather finally cools off! 
I guess I'll have to go to bed extra extra early and sleep on the plane...
