Everyone has their tastes in fashion, right? I’m talking about those clothes that make your heart race because of all the memories.
It could date back to your teenage years when clothes were the gateway to adulthood (any platform boot) or it could be something that accidentally fit like it was made for you and wearing it made you feel like the queen of the world (satin strapless). dress, red, borrowed just for one night in the 1980s).
One thing about a fashion crush is that you can guarantee it won’t be a useful turtleneck or waxed jacket. Still, if you’re lucky, you’ll have one that could work again, if certain conditions were met, and when the day comes when this crush re-enters the fashion charts, you’ll be able to revisit your fashion happy place.
Actress Katie Holmes wore a summery monochromatic maxi skirt while in New York, left, while model Kendall Jenner was seen in a cream maxi skirt in California.
If you like long skirts (number three on my list), now is the time. They’re back this summer in a big way, and the risks of looking like an old Woodstock hippie are less than zero, as long as you stick to a few basic rules, starting with opting for a slimmer cut.
The long skirts I’ve worn over the years have varied from tiered and low on the hip (in the 1990s) to a narrow A-line with a yolk top (Laura Ashley 1974), but tiered skirts now are off the table: too virginal or too hippy and (unless you’re very skinny) it almost always makes you fat. However, stick to simple, minimalist styles, and long skirts have a lot to offer.
On the one hand, they are resistant to age. You don’t need to have great legs, good skin, or even smooth, shaved legs to wear a long skirt (although a decent pedicure is advisable, as you’ll want to wear open-toed sandals with the skirt: closed-toe shoes can end up making you feel too covered ).
They have a similar silhouette to baggy or palazzo pants, but dressier and cooler in hot weather.
And they have some of the advantages of pants (they elongate your legs, they’re easy to wear) and none of the drawbacks of regular skirts or dresses, ie. having to decide what to put on your lower legs (especially tricky in early summer when they’ve been hidden away for so long).
Worn smartly casual, with a simple t-shirt or vest under a shirt, they can be a really useful part of your summer wardrobe.
The long skirts we can do business with do not have a waist: the top has an elastic waist (more comfortable and flattering than a gathered waist) or a top with a soft and somewhat elastic yoke, which allows the skirt to be worn higher or lower. below. the hips, whatever suits you best.
Hush has a nice orange long skirt with drawstring waist, slim and drapes nicely without being clingy (£79, hush-uk.com) and Me+Em makes a yoke skirt in soft chiffon with a bit of stretch in cream with a black daisy print (£125, meandem.com).
The way to wear a long skirt now is with a t-shirt that skims the waist (not tucked in with elastic waistbands), or with a vest under an open jacket or shirt, or with a fitted knit top.
Cate Blanchett paired a long skirt with a matching shirt at the 2023 Critics’ Choice Awards, left, and fellow actress Michaela Coel wore a Ferragamo ensemble at that year’s Fashion Awards.
Flowy tops in flowy fabrics, block prints, rope or cork wedges or any type of heels take away from the clean sporty look that keeps this new batch of maxis looking fresh. This is not, I repeat, not a boho look, which is why it works for us.
A rich linen skirt in black or dark olive green, still with a drawstring waist, is a dressier look for every day in the city (£25, brandsandspencer.com). The Marks & Spencer style has a side slit, falls nicely and looks work-ready with a vest under an open striped shirt with tan or black flats or sandals.
Marks & Spencer’s crisp black A-line maxi (£39.50) also fits perfectly into this summer-in-the-city vibe.
It has slouchy pockets and the attitude of relaxed wide-leg pants and would look stylish with a short-sleeved cream knit blouse or a cropped button-down cotton jacket in cream, black or khaki.
Another secret to keeping your maxi looking modern and grown-up is to take a look at sandals, just enough so that you don’t look like you’re riding a roller coaster (many longer skirts are described as maxis, but a true maxi is ankle-length. ). deck).
During the holidays you can go crazy and the maxis are your friends who defy the mosquitoes at night. Ro&Zo Moroccan Rose Print Skirt (£63, jdwilliams.co.uk) will look great with that gold lurex knit top.
Who said never again?