Apparel skirt system

Abstract

Embodiments herein may provide a powder skirt system that may include an outer shell/layer, an inner removable liner configured to be optionally coupled to the shell, an envelope of material coupled to a lower portion of the shell, and a powder skirt coupled to the envelope. The envelope may be coupled to either the shell or the removable liner, such that the powder skirt can be used whether or not the removable liner is coupled to the shell.

1 . Apparel and skirt system comprising:
 a shell having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a lower edge portion,   an envelope comprising an first longitudinal edge, an opposite second longitudinal edge, and one or more side edges, the first longitudinal edge of the envelope being coupled to the shell generally at or near the lower edge portion,   wherein the envelope is adapted to fold upwards and generally conform to a portion of the inner surface of the shell, and wherein the upper edge portion of the envelope is adapted to couple to the inside surface of the shell at a point above the lower edge portion of the shell; and   a powder skirt coupled to the envelope.   
     
     
         2 . The apparel skirt system of  claim 1 , wherein the shell comprises two or more layers. 
     
     
         3 . The apparel skirt system of  claim 2 , wherein the two or more layers are selected from the group consisting of an outer layer having water resistant properties, an insulating layer, and a lining layer. 
     
     
         4 . The apparel skirt system of  claim 1 , wherein the envelope is substantially continuous with and made of the same material as a layer of the shell. 
     
     
         5 . The apparel skirt system of  claim 1 , wherein the powder skirt is substantially continuous with and made of the same material as the envelope. 
     
     
         6 . The apparel skirt of  claim 1 , wherein the second longitudinal edge and/or the one or more side edges of the envelope are adapted to detachably couple to the inner surface of the shell a point above the lower edge portion of the shell. 
     
     
         7 . The apparel skirt system of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable liner coupled to the shell, wherein the removable liner comprises a liner inside surface and a liner lower edge portion. 
     
     
         8 . The apparel skirt of  claim 7 , wherein the envelope folds around the lower edge portion of the removable liner and generally conforms to a portion of the inside surface of the removable liner. 
     
     
         9 . The apparel skirt of  claim 8 , wherein the second longitudinal edge and/or the one or more side edges of the envelope are adapted to removably couple to the inner surface of the removable liner a point above the lower edge portion of the shell. 
     
     
         10 . The apparel skirt system of  claim 9 , wherein the second longitudinal edge and/or the one or more side edges of the envelope are further adapted to removably couple to the shell. 
     
     
         11 . The apparel skirt system of  claim 10 , wherein a zipper, hook and loop fasteners, and/or a plurality of snaps are used to removably couple the second longitudinal edge and/or the side edges of the envelope to the removable liner and/or shell. 
     
     
         12 . The apparel skirt system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more side edges are coupled to the shell and form a pocket between the envelope and the inner side of the shell. 
     
     
         13 . The apparel skirt system of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more side edges are permanently coupled to the shell. 
     
     
         14 . The apparel skirt system of  claim 12 , wherein the powder skirt is adapted to fold into the pocket in a stowed position when not in use. 
     
     
         15 . The apparel skirt system of  claim 14 , further comprising a fastening mechanism disposed below the attachment point of the powder skirt to the envelope that is adapted to couple to the shell or the lining to retain the powder skirt in the stowed position. 
     
     
         16 . The apparel skirt system of  claim 1 , wherein the powder skirt further comprises two lateral end portions, and wherein the two lateral end portions are adapted to couple to one another to allow the apparel skirt system to be secured about the body of a user. 
     
     
         17 . The apparel skirt system of  claim 1 , wherein the powder skirt is removably coupled to the upper edge portion of the envelope. 
     
     
         18 . An apparel skirt system comprising:
 a shell;   a removable liner adapted to couple to the shell;   an envelope having
 a first longitudinal end coupled to a lower portion of a shell, 
 a second longitudinal end adapted to fold upward and generally conform to a portion of an inner side of the shell or a removable liner, and 
 at least one side edge coupled to the shell; 
   a pocket formed between the envelope and the shell; and   a powder skirt adapted to couple to the envelope generally at or near the upper edge portion of the envelope.   
     
     
         19 . The apparel skirt system of  claim 18 , further comprising a first fastener disposed generally along the second longitudinal edge and a second fastener complementarily disposed generally along an inner side of the shell and/or the liner, wherein the pocket may be closed along the longitudinal second edge. 
     
     
         20 . The apparel skirt of  claim 19 , wherein the envelope further comprises a third fastener disposed below the first fastener and matable with the second fastener, wherein mating of the third and second fasteners retains the powder skirt within the pocket in a stowed position.