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Monday 6 June 2022

Classic dressing - Skirts


Hello my lovelies. 

Today’s post is all about skirts, then and now. 

I like to look at styles I wore back in the day, and see if I still wear them and whether they stand the rest of time. 

So let’s get going!



Rabat, 1975 - a black floral print gored skirt, part of a two piece.  

Here I wore a black gored print skirt, part of a two piece - the second piece being a kimono style jacket. 
I loved this set and back in the day I did so enjoy breaking down the two pieces to mix with other tops or bottoms in my wardrobe. 

The nearest I’ve got to find this amazing print in 50 years is this. 


And of course I bought it because it reminded  me of
my 1975 print.  
But it’s not a skirt, so let’s move on. 



This is the nearest I’ve got to my black floral skirt in recent years.  Black and ecru print. 




Algeria, 1975 - a navy polka dot skirt (part of a two piece). 



My most recent navy skirt purchase was this floral affair a few years ago. 



Barcelona, 1974 - a green sort of patchwork floral print skirt.

It was softly pleated at the waist and was in a fabric that hung well. And  ðŸŽ¶ It had pockets!


And here is a floral skirt, a charity shop purchase a few years ago, worn with a white t and denim jacket. 


And more formally with a pink cardi and pointy loafers. 

This skirt is also softly pleated at the waist.  The fabric is a more robust cotton so is more voluminous that the softer fabric skirt of yore, but still has its own charm too.

Paris, 1987 - a black leather skirt. 

I still have this skirt, and it still fits - well, if I can get away with the back zip remaining open! 


A much safer option is this shorter black leather skirt I bought about 20 years ago - the zip closes!


It’s such a versatile piece. 


This skirt has spawned so many looks in the last two decades. 


 It’s been a real bargain when measured by its cost per wear. 


A less punchy hide is suede, here a lilac version. 


And this beige suede skirt has been another CPW success. 


So what sense can I make from these comparisons?

- Well, skirts are a versatile bottom to have in your wardrobe, that’s for sure.  
- An A-line skirt seems to stand the rest of time. 
- A black leather skirt never dates and can be worn for well over forty years - provided you don’t put on an ounce of weight around the waist!
- All of the vintage skirts shown could still be worn today (by a slimmer version of now-me), and not look dated.

From this little exercise I can see that buying a good quality skirt (A line or softly pleated or gored), at just below knee length, is a good sustainable investment.

And a hide skirt is an amazing CPW buy, for durability and longevity.  But I would recommend leather rather than suede as leather seems to improve with age and somehow seems more versatile, for it looks fabulous dressed down or up. 


Those are my thoughts on skirts.
What are yours?


A la perchoine,
Mary xxx. 








 

11 comments:

  1. Love your pics Mary and your skirts. I think you are correct about skirts so long as they are classic cuts.

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  2. Anonymous is Lise on the Black Sea btw

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  3. Your floral skirt is my favorite! I am going to be wearing more skirts this summer and I bought a new maxi one on vacation that is new favorite: the colors and cut are just amazing. Skirts are nice in the summer here with the humidity.
    www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com

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  4. Oh, you have some fab skirts - both then and now! I adore the bright big floral patterned one especially. The black leather skirt is definitely a classic piece and so versatile.

    I only ever had a blue (imitation) leather mini skirt when I was 16 - that was from the bargain basement of Whiteley's (in Bayswater) courtesy of my mum. She used to work in the area and sometimes bought clothes from there for me; I recall a lovely deep plum midi dress, too...

    Have a good week, Mary
    xxx

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  5. I agree there are some styles of skirts that never date - they are definitely good pieces to have in your wardrobe! I went through a denim or dresses phase a while back but last year I really embraced the skirts - so I'm hoping to continue that this year, get more of my skirts up to 30 wears!

    Hope your week is going well. It's a really cold, wintery one here!

    Away From The Blue

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  6. What a fun look at the past and present of your wardrobe! You clearly have had a great sense of fashion your entire life! Love these skirts on you!

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  7. I really like those skirts, particularly the black leather ones that are so classic and never really go out of fashion.
    Have a lovely week...........Susan

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  8. Nice collection of skirt, Mary. Some styles and colours (pencil skirt in black :) never go out of style. Have a nice weekend
    https://lookingfabulousat50.blogspot.com/

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  9. HI Mary,
    I do wear my denim a line skirt and white denim pencil more often than others. I have some faux leather pencil skirts I wear in the colder months. I am just impressed you have all these older photos of your fashion! Love the floral skirt with and the vibrant floral skirt ( do I see a trend? )
    Have a great weekend
    thanks for linknig!
    jess xx
    www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com

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  10. Hi Mary, I particularly like your pretty floral skirt with the white t shirt and denim jacket. My kind of style. I think a knee length denim skirt is very versatile and wear mine just about all year round alternating between pairing it with thick tights and boots in the winter to bare legs and sandals in the summer. I don't have a leather skirt but I do have a nice brown suede one that I gother at a friend's vintage shop. Corduroy ones too in an ' A' line are useful wardrobe staples for me. I love your patchwork skirt!

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  11. Sorry, that last comment was from me.

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