WearsMyMoney

All hail the humble skirt. I tend to gloss over them in favour of shorts or dresses in the summer, so this week we’re going to rectify that with a bumper issue of great skirts to see you through the warmer weather.

I’m not sure why I skip over skirts so much. I think it’s probably because I’m more drawn towards dresses, because with a dress you don’t have to think too much about how to wear it – you just throw it on and add some shoes. Job done. With a skirt, you’ve got to consider the top half and how it works with the waistband. 

When contemplating skirts, I tend to opt for those with a proper waistband suitable for a slight tuck-in of a shirt or T‑shirt. Full elastic-waist skirts, while promising comfort and joy, just accentuate the belly fat that is a constant struggle to lose after about 45. Elastic at the back is fine, I should add; we just need more structure at the front.

I’ve scoured the internet to find some summer skirts for you that look like potential winners…

CLASSIC WHITE SUMMER SKIRTS

I think that a white midi skirt is a summer staple in anyone’s wardrobe. Pair with vest tops, shirts tied up at the front, graphic T‑shirts – you name it, everything goes with a white midi skirt. I like to wear mine with black or denim to keep it simple.

1. Mint Velvet Black Scallop Trim Vest Top
2. White Stuff Abstract Frame Aviator Sunglasses
3. Orelia Polished Bamboo Large Hoop Earrings
4. Arket Seersucker Midi Skirt 
5. Aligne Boxy Denim shirt 
6. M&S Large Open Weave Grab Bag
7. Office Flawless Woven Ballerina Flats

SMART SUMMER SKIRTS

Beige doesn’t have to be boring. Combined with a crisp white shirt, this look is smart enough to take you anywhere. Even more so if you add a contrasting blazer. I’ve toned down the smart a little bit with this Mango linen-blend jacket. I know we haven’t really needed our jackets recently, which has made going out in the evening so much easier, but this heatwave can’t last forever. I might do summer jackets next week, actually. It could be nice to look at a few that can take you from August through to October.

1. COS Tailored Pima Cotton Shirt 
2. Sezane June Necklace 
3. M&S Chunky Polarised Sunglasses
4. Mango linen-blend jacket
5. Zara mixed rigid bracelets 
6. Reiss Raffia-Effect Drawcord Bucket Bag
7. ME + EM Button Front Cotton Maxi Skirt
8. Reiss Raffia-Effect Stripe Ballet Flats

CUTE MINI SKIRTS

Can we wear ‘cute mini skirts’ at our age? Yes, we can. When I was younger, my mother would chastise me for going out wearing a ‘pelmet’. I used to make my own very rudimentary mini skirts by sewing two pieces of fabric together. Usually so tight and short that I couldn’t even sit down on a night out for fear it would fall apart at the (hand-sewn) seams. These days I consider ‘mini’ to be somewhere about four inches above the knee, not four inches under the bum. My favourite summer mini is by 46 Stitch. A great small brand. They sell out fast though, as they’re only made in limited numbers, so get in quick.

1. TBCo Fish White Cotton T Shirt 
2. Minerva Prawn Ceramic-And-Glass Necklace
3. Sezane Freya Heart Earrings
4. 46 Stitch Gingham Cotton Wrap Mini Skirt
5. Adidas FLORAL GFX T‑Shirt
6. Monsoon Blair Faux Suede Ballet Pumps
7. Balzac Paris Myriel Liberty print skirt

SKIRTS FOR THE EVENING

Think lace, silk, satin, frills and embellishments. An evening skirt can be more versatile than a dress as you can change what you wear on top to get more wear out of it. You could wear a black cami like this, or do that Sharon Stone at the Oscars look and wear with a plain white shirt. Add a tuxedo jacket draped over your shoulders for good measure.

1. Arket Lace-Detail Strap Top
2. Rixo Zandra 18ct Gold Plated Necklace
3. Skims Scoop Lace Bralette 
4. ASOS Pendant Earrings 
5. COS Jacquard Fringed Midi Skirt 
6. Forever New Fluffy Frame Clutch Bag
7. Mango Satin Lapels Blazer 
8. Whistles Leather Kitten-Heel Mules

EASY EVERYDAY MIDI SKIRTS

I know what counts as midi length on one person can be maxi on another, and vice versa, but skirt length is very important. My ideal is something that will hit mid-calf, thus exposing a flash of ankle but without dragging on the floor or getting caught on an escalator. I also avoid a knee-length skirt as I feel like they cut you in half. For me, it’s got to be at least two inches above the knee or about four inches below to work.

1. Arket Bead Pendant Cord Necklace
2. Le Specs Aviator-Frame Acetate Sunglasses
3. Mint Velvet Navy Scoop Neck Vest Top
4. Hush Melinda Supersoft Relaxed Utility Jacket
5. Jigsaw Cotton Poplin Midi Skirt
6. Miu Miu Raffia-effect woven tote bag
7. Whistles Chocolate Asymmetric Buckle Sandals

MAXIMALIST SKIRTS

More is more for this one. If stripes, patterns and prints are your thing, then go for it. A printed skirt is a slightly less scary alternative to an all-over printed dress. I know some of you shy away from bold prints, but just having them on a skirt with a slightly less busy top half is a great way to try them out.

1. Rixo Zodiac T Shirt 
2. Zara Bewjelled Drop Earrings
3. M&S Lycocell Pleated Bomber Jacket
4. Zara Resin Charm Chain Bracelet 
5. Zara Striped A Line Midi Skirt 
6. Pieces Printed Straw Shopper Tote Bag
7. Zara Striped Ballet Flats 

CO-ORD SKIRT SETS

Finally, we have to mention the co-ord set because I love something you can mix and match. ME + EM do this so well, and these Uniqlo x Cecilie Bahnsen skirts and tops are now in the sale.

1. Uniqlo Shirring Volume Sleeve T‑Shirt
2. Uniqlo Shirring Skirt 
3. Monica Vinader Birthstone huggie earrings 
4. Anthropologie Mini Nola Woven Leather Bag
5. ME + EM Stripe Knit Slim Metallic Vest 
6. ME + EM Stripe Knit Maxi Metallic Skirt 
7. Jones Bootmaker Leather Strappy Sandals

I hope you enjoy skirting the issue this week.

K x