Longer skirts enchant Bill Cunningham
I posted awhile back on getting rid of some long skirts I thought were dated. Not so fast, I learned last weekend.
In the February 20th Styles section, the marvelous New York Times photographer Bill Cunningham featured the long skirts he saw among the crowd at Fashion Week in New York, noting that low- and mid-calf lengths were also on the runway.
You can see them in his short video, "On the Street-Skirting" here; with the added treat of hearing Bill's delightful narration. His creaky voice, sounding quite astonished, is as old-school WASP as a Scotch in a Waterford tumbler.
Bill loves the long skirts, especially those with some transparency; he shot over a hundred examples of long. I won't choose a transparent number, but look forward to wearing my new Asian-print silk chiffon calf-length skirt by Citron Santa Monica that will bloom in spring with a pair of footless tights underneath.
Whether you can wear them this long or not, women are searching for a good length for their bodies, which for most of us is at least a hand's span longer than when we were in our 20s. (As I recall, my arms at my side were about as long as the skirt.)
What long looks like now
If lower calf isn't a silhouette for you, never mind! As Bill says "it's all about diversity".
The first is what I call a "long short skirt" by Rick Owens. It's a tie front silk-crepe skirt that drapes gorgeously. Price, $1,005 from Netaporter and no, I am not suggesting you buy it. But look, it's fresh.
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| Rick Owens |
Moving lower: this calf-length Marc Jacobs gathered cotton skirt has length but it's not overwhelming for an average-height woman if worn with a heeled sandal. Price, $1,100 from Saks. (I also find this super-pricey, but again, we're window shopping.)
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| Marc Jacobs |
A true maxi: the Elizabeth and James draped wool blend skirt. I'd happily wear it, as a tall woman, and it's not too voluminous. Shown with a flat boot: this is a look I've lived in for years. At $295 (at Netaporter), it feels absolutely cheap after the other examples but of course it's not.
I'm happy that designers are giving women choices other than super short, which looks less than smart on women who wore their first minis in the days when gas was well under a buck a gallon!
How are you liking long?
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| Elizabeth and James |
I'm happy that designers are giving women choices other than super short, which looks less than smart on women who wore their first minis in the days when gas was well under a buck a gallon!
How are you liking long?
Comments
Fuji: Black, as skirt is predominantly that colour- a green, gold and coral print on black chiffon. When summer comes, no tights, just sandals. It is not too sheer.
Northmoon: I in fact have worn all these skirt shapes over the last 40 years, as well as a few they have not yet revived: the long jean, the tiered peasant and the ubiquitous black knit tube of the '90s. Just saw the Rick O skirt in person, beautiful drape. Stood out!
I have recently caught some vintage Golden Girls episodes. There is Bea Arthur (as Dorothy) in her soft suede boots and long skirts. And I think-perfect year-round comfort for those of us who prefer not to wear pants. As the weather changes just switch the boots for flats and then sandals. Maybe Dorothy's look is flowy arty with too much volume to be current but that Elizabeth and James photo captures that less thinking, more comfort stylish look.
Francie
william: One of my tall friends bought her first one and is very happy (but does not wear for work as she says she keeps rolling over it in her chair); good luck looking for yours.
Tiffany: I think more women can wear longer skirts than think they can, and that many (NOT saying you!) would look better with a bit more length.
Mardel: Guess spending a grand saves you from dowdy (LOL). Seriously, you need great shoes, which you certainly have.
I will also confess to preferring longer skirts in no-tights-please weather, because they provide a longer block of color. It's not the pale skin I object to, it's that my legs are heavy and the proportions seem off without that unbroken line of skirt+tights.
Here's a recent blog entry on the subject of midi-skirts and dresses:
http://youlookfab.com/2011/02/16/welcome-back-midi-skirts-and-dresses/
I love the Rick Owens skirt. Can only dream of that, and it doesn't come large enough for me in any event.
Too much going on in the shot and the model looked as if she put on her drapes, but it certainly shows a different silhouette.