The humble skirt. I feel like it’s been somewhat ignored by this blog for quite a while now. So I’m here this week to rectify that with a bumper issue of great skirts to see you through the summer.
I’m not sure why I skip over skirts so much. I think it’s because I’m always 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 a waistband. I also find that elastic waist skirts, while promising comfort and joy, just accentuate the belly fat that I should try and lose, but my dual love of cheese and my disdain for any energetic exercise holds me back.
That said, there’s a new boxing gym that’s opened up near me and for the first time I’m actually interested in trying that out. A workout where you can legitimately punch things is something I think I could get on board with. Plus my arms are pathetic. I would like them to be less dinner lady, more First Lady (I’m talking Michelle O here, not Melania or Barbara Bush).
When considering skirts, I tend to opt for ones with a proper waistband that will be suitable for a slight tuck-in of the shirt or T‑shirt. I’ve scoured the internet to find some for you that look like they’re potential winners…
LOVELY LEOPARD SKIRT
We all know that leopard is a neutral and that age should never hold you back from wearing animal prints. In fact age should never hold you back from wearing anything you damn well please, except maybe hot pants with the arse hanging out. Or Crocs. But, although it pains me to say this, I’m finally coming to terms with Crocs. Not that I will ever wear them, but I’m accepting of the fact that both my husband and youngest teenager like them. I admit defeat in the face of plastic shoes. Live and let live. Besides, I wear these ridiculous JW Anderson shoes and laugh in the face of the naysayers so really who am I to judge?
1. Mango New York City T Shirt
2. Zadig & Voltaire Mick Bag (on sale)
3. Anine Bing Vintage Eagle Sweatshirt
4. Ganni Leopard Print Midi Skirt
5. JW Anderson Gold Buckle Mules
MINI SKIRTS
MINI SKIRTS
Here’s another thing that, like shorts and leopard print, you don’t need to stop wearing when you get over a certain age. If you have the legs, then go for it. 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 just sewing up two pieces of fabric. Usually so tight and short that I couldn’t even sit down on a night out for fear it would fall apart at the (handsewn) seams. These days I consider ‘mini’ to be hovering somewhere about two inches above the knee, not two inches under the bum. This one from Hush is my favourite.
1. H&M Orange Print T Shirt
2. Bird Print Scrunchie Hair Tie
3. Hush A Line Khaki Mini Skirt
4. White Stuff Flyaway Cotton Shirt
5. Grenson Willa Leather Sandals
6. Loewe Leather puzzle bag
DENIM SKIRT
The denim skirt is one that has always been there for us. In the 80s we had the snow wash ra-ra variety, in the 90s the full-length ones we made out of a pair of jeans unpicked and sewn together again (or was that just me?). In the 00s it was the black denim mini to go with the dodgy tribal tattoos (me again?). Now we are looking at a more grown-up version. I like the denim pencil skirt as a ‘homage’ to the 1970s look. At least I was actually too young to have worn this the first time around.
1. Mango Cotton Ruffled Blouse
2. Zadig and Voltaire Light Suede Jacket
3. Frame Denim Le Bardot Skirt
4. Mango Jute Cross Body Bag
5. Esska Charlie Rust Suede Sandals
THE PRINTED SKIRT
The printed skirt, a slightly less scary alternative to an all-over printed dress. I know some of you do shy away from bold prints, but just having them on a skirt with a less busy top half is a great way to try them out. Rixo do the best selection of printed skirts; size up though as they seem to come up small. Also check out Whistles as they also do skirts well.
1. Zadig and Voltaire Amour T Shirt
2. & Other Stories Suede & Leather Bag
3. Cos Cropped Fitted Overshirt
4. Rixo Kelly Printed Silk Crepe De Chine Midi Skirt
5. Vans Checkerboard Slip On Trainers
SMARTER SKIRTS
If you’re looking for a smarter way to wear a skirt in the summer, pair with a button-down shirt and a linen blazer. Summer jackets are so tricky, aren’t they? Do you wear one or do you risk it? Maybe next week I’ll look for some summer jacket options that are an alternative to the bog-standard denim jacket we always turn to. This navy skirt from Modern Rarity has a lovely flowing shape and would look just as good with a T‑shirt and sandals.
1. M&S Linen Spot Shirt
2. APC Geneve Mini Cross Body Bag
3. & Other Stories Relaxed Linen Blazer
4. Modern Rarity Navy Drape Skirt
5. Isabel Marant Velcro Strap Trainers
80s THROWBACK CO-ORD SKIRT
Finally, this lemon and white stripe number from People Tree just spoke to me because it reminds me so much of a striped two piece I had back in 1985. I vividly remember it as it was given to me by our babysitter, Katie, who was, in my eyes, the coolest girl ever. She always wore the best clothes and had the MOST handsome boyfriends. One of them was a dead ringer for Nick Kamen, I swear. She also taught me all the lyrics and a dance routine to ‘Bad Boys’ by Wham! I wore that yellow crop top and matching skirt down the precinct on the morning of Live Aid. Another thing I won’t forget, especially as years later my Dad told us he got offered tickets for it but didn’t think we would want to go…
1. People Tree Dylan Stripe Shirt
2. Anthropologie Tortoiseshell Sunglasses
3. Hooray & Co Cherry GIngham Bag
4. People Tree Betty Stripe Skirt
5. Birkenstock Arizona 2 Strap Sandals
I hope this has given you some summer skirt inspiration. I will dig out some of mine to wear this week. I’ve got a great Stella McCartney denim skirt I got for a song on the Outnet about 5 years ago that deserves another airing soon.
K x
