Like this?
(http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL417/1033223/23814262/406208398.jpg)
Or any of these (http://elizabethcbunce.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/brunhilde_review-10.jpg?w=667&h=510)? Much larger, zoomable image: Ride of Valkyries (http://elizabethcbunce.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/brunhilde_review-10.jpg) And you can see an extreme closeup of Brunnhilde's awesome hip flounce here (http://elizabethcbunce.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/brunhilde-sleeping.jpg).
I feel like something like that should be relatively easy to put together, but I need a little guidance.
Gramercy!!
I can't for the life of me find ANY pictures right now (internet, why do you fail me???), but a few years ago I helped my stepsister make a skirt that, while single-layered, was not too different from the skirt in that first picture. What we did was start with a circle skirt pattern, and through a combination of shifting the waist opening forward and to one side, and also making the hem a slightly oval shape, we got what we were after. (So instead of looking like a donut, the pattern looks more like a... fried egg? haha)
This particular skirt looks like it's made of three progressively longer layers, from some very fine/thin/lightweight silky fabric, so there's a bit of floof without much bulk. I'm pretty sure they're not attached to each other anywhere but the waistband, since in the folds I don't see the upper layers being affected by the pull of the lower layers...
...That's how my brain immediately translated the picture, anyway! (Yay, years of cosplay!)
I hope I gave you some ideas! And, man, there is some FABULOUS draping going on in that group picture... drool!!!
Thanks, Sev! That is what a local friend confirmed, as well--more of an oval shape to the skirts.
UPDATES!
After a lot of planning and pondering, I found some patterns for guidance: M6698 (http://mccallpattern.mccall.com/m6698-products-44754.php?page_id=108) for the asymmetrical tiers and M6471 (http://mccallpattern.mccall.com/m6471-products-15241.php?page_id=113&search_control=display&list=search) for the flounce.
And I found fabric!! I was JUST SURE I was going to go with iridescent crinkle taffeta, like this beautiful etsy skirt (http://www.etsy.com/listing/87022432/steampunk-skirt-victorian-copper-with?ref=usr_faveitems), or even just traditional taffeta... but after literally hours combing the Internets looking for the right colors (I am going with a gold/bronze/copper colorway instead of the pewter/greys of the original), I went to Hancock and came home with a total surprise. I was looking for copper or deep bronze or something of that intensity, but what jumped into my cart was neither copper NOR taffeta. It was an iridescent rayon satin (did you know satin came in rayon?!) with an applied metallic finish. This is a pretty good shot of the fabric--the "right" side is a frosty white gold, and the reverse (which I think is just as beautiful) is slightly shimmery honey gold.
(http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL417/1033223/24167320/406383249.jpg)
It looks glorious in the sunlight! However, it's drapier than I was planning--because of the rayon, it has a hand very similar to linen. The metallic finish gives it some crispness, but not the "oomph" that taffeta would have had. So I think I'm changing my focus from this Valkyrie (http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL417/1033223/23814262/406208398.jpg) to one of her bustled sisters (http://elizabethcbunce.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/brunhilde_review-10.jpg). It actually looks like a couple of the middle singers are wearing satin.
Does anyone have a great tutorial for the bustling? From what I can tell, it doesn't look like the mechanics should be too difficult, but I'm a little sketchy on the shape of the skirt panels.
The last update is that I have spoken with a local armorer who can make the scale mail bodice! Huzzah!!