A pair of jeans. A crisp white shirt. A drapey wrap dress. All wardrobe staples that can be pulled out at a moment’s notice or shoved in a suitcase at the last minute… that always work come heat or hail, and offer a little hug of comfort whether you dress them up or down. So what is my go-to staple, nay signature? I give you the tulle skirt.
I know, I know. Not the most obvious candidate for a fashion “basic” given it’s generally pigeonholed as pretty-pretty, perhaps a tad fussy and, let’s face it, aimed at the young. But I have long considered tulle skirts to be more than party pieces for tiny tots or sartorial star turns at Covent Garden. In fact, I’ve worn them throughout mid-life, and never more so than now, aged 62.
Quite probably, my long-standing interest in ballet softened me up to their charm (I still attend adult ballet classes every week). So naturally, I’m enjoying this season’s fashion and beauty balletcore trend; think wrap cardigans and ballet pumps, spun-sugar blusher and high buns.
Tulle also leapt into the realms of upper echelon chic at Chanel’s spring/summer haute couture show, which was a-froth with full skirts, fondant shades and ethereal layering. It hasn’t been tulle’s only recent net gain. Earlier this year, the $5 thrift store tutu Sarah Jessica Parker wore in the title sequence for Sex and the City was sold at auction for $52,000 (£41,000), proving that when Carrie Bradshaw was puddle-splashed by a bus promoting her column, we were witnessing one of power-tulle’s most iconic moments.
For me, though, the true value of the floaty-fabulous skirt is its versatility. I wear them to various events and in all kinds of weather – with a shirt to a meeting, or to a posh do with a cropped cashmere cardi (do hitch them up and gather them out of the way on escalators and steps). But I’ll also don them for a country dog walk with chunky jumpers, woolly tights, a cagoule and wellies.
‘From a designer’s perspective, tulle skirts are so much fun to design and wear because they are just so adaptable,” says Laura Green, whose latest collection features the ultra-luxe Luna Tulle Skirt in navy. “They can be mixed with other fabrics, layered as much or as little as you like and be as maximalist or minimalist as you choose.”
Budget versions have long been at the heart of my capsule travel wardrobe, especially as they don’t crease. In the past, I’ve worn them sightseeing, from Pompeii to the pyramids. They also work as a cruise essential. For my most recent holiday – an African safari – I bought one in khaki (it doubled as a mosquito net for my legs).
People are always coming up and complimenting me on my skirts, interested in how to rock the look. In fact, when I pictured them on my pro-ageing website, 60.life, I had so many enquiries, I drew up my top tulle rules.
Firstly, there’s the skirt itself. Avoid anything with loads of gathering around the waistband. This creates puffiness and makes you look like an angry fairy in a music box. The best option is a gored design that offers a flatter fit at the waist and over the hips. However, it then needs to kick out with some fullness (if the silhouette continues in an A-line shape, you lose the fluffy, flirty quality). I’ve purchased from numerous sources, including online from uk.chicwish.com and southoftheriver.co.uk, and stores such as The White Company. I also snoop and shop around on eBay and Etsy.
Next, opt for a generous fit, checking actual measurements, rather than purely going on label size, which these days can be a concept so varied as to border on misleading. And remember, psychologically, slightly slouchy rather than bunchy-bunchy helps you appear more comfortable in your skin.
Lastly, what you pair with them with is crucial – and that starts from the ground up. If you slip on dainty kitten heels or classic court shoes, you risk tiptoeing into a Buckingham Palace garden party. Instead, subscribe to the “wrong-shoe” theory, which means seeking out a potentially jarring juxtaposition to add some delicious subversion.
“The key to wearable tulle styling is all about balancing its femininity and softness with a contrast, whether that’s sturdier fabrics, structured silhouettes or pieces with opposing associations, such as a leather jacket – call it ‘fluff with tough’,” says Green. That’s why I favour chunky boots or schoolgirl plimsolls.
Ditto with hats. If you wear tulle with a fascinator, immediately, you’re off the races. Which is fine if you really are off to the races, but not if you’re going anywhere else, bar a wedding. In summer, a straw fedora fits the bill; in winter, one in felt does the job. And if it’s slightly travel-worn or weather-beaten, so much the better. Just watch out for those puddles.
Country casual
Recycled cashmere jumper, £185, Bee & Sons beeandsons.com
Straw fedora, £89, Hicks & Brown hicksandbrown.com
Tulle skirt, £39.90, Chicwish chicwish.com
Boots, Jan’s own
Sunshine chic
Wool blend cardigan, £99, Hush hush-uk.com
Skirt, shoes and headband, Jan’s own
Pretty in pink
Cashmere cardigan, £265, N. Peal npeal.com
Headband, £33, Francis + Louise francis-louise.com
Mesh and leather loafers, £249, Pretty Ballerinas prettyballerinas.co.uk
Tulle skirt, £39.90, Chicwish chicwish.com
Laid-back linen
Linen shirt, £39.90, Uniqlo uniqlo.com
Leather trainers, £109, Mint Velvet mintvelvet.com
Tulle skirt, from a selection, amazon.com
Hat, Jan’s own
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