McCall's M5382 (Skirt!)

[khraene]

I really like the skirt on this pattern (C), but as I am too cheap to buy it (and I probably couldn't follow it anyway, plus it wouldn't fit me), how would you achieve that effect? How do you make it poofy and do the gathers?

I feel so stupid asking this

[black and white photo]

to me it lookes like a circle with a petticoat or somthing underneath and some gathering

hope it helps