Silk slip skirts are one of those “style essentials” you’ll see on lists for building your wardrobe. And while I don’t think that these are hard and fast templates for building up a wardrobe from scratch, I can’t deny that personally for me, they’re a big yes (for you, it might be a different cut in a different fabrication, or, no skirt at all). Combined with the trend towards 90s minimalism, hem lengths have dropped in favour of the maxi. Long and lean silhouettes. So today we’re going to chat through how to style a maxi slip skirt three ways.
Which, is a great starting point if you’re planning to add a new silhouette into your closet. If you can’t identify three different outfit combinations which you’d realistically wear, give it a pass.
#1 | Worn with a pop of colour
The first outfit combination denotes a neutral/tonal base, using accessories to add in personality and vibrancy. I’ve used a red shoe here for that fun burst of colour, which I could have amplified by also adding in a matching bag. Bright accents are a great way to breathe new life into your much loved style staples. Some of my favourite pairings with chocolate brown are lemon yellow, soft muted pinks, burnt orange and verdant green. But obviously what you gravitate towards will depend on the colour of your skirt.
Another tip for keeping things a little interesting is to consider your tee. Mine has a rich earthy red-brown print to it which serves to tie together the colour of the skirt and shoes.
Wearing Sezane graphic tee, Quince silk skirt, Quince cardigan, Margaux ballet flats, Karen Walker bag
#2 | Worn with texture and shape
Use this type of outfit combination to create visual interest and dimension. Slip skirts tend to have this long and lean element, so you can either play into that, or opt to create friction through the use of fun proportions. This outfit does the latter. Not visible from this image but the top has a slight blouson/puff sleeve and relaxed fit. Though the jacket is really what is doing all the heavy lifting. It’s a fuzzy tweed combined with the oversized style that feels counterbalanced against the dramatic length of the skirt.
You can also use your accessories to increase the tactical quality of your look. My bag is a mock croc leather, but then you could throw on a big bulky scarf in a fuzzy fabric. Also, it looks a little like I’m wearing “shades of” here, and in some ways I am. If you’re having trouble matching colours in your outfit, look for like with like colours (so brown with light brown, charcoal with black) as it’ll create variation while remaining cohesive.
Wearing & Other Stories knit (also here), Quince maxi slip skirt, Mango bomber jacket, Arket boots, Sezane bag
#3 | Worn in blocks of colour
Something I talk about often is considering where you are adding visual breaks into your outfit. It’s why certain hem lengths might look off with certain shoes. Or why despite using all your other tricks and a usual style uniform the outfit just isn’t working. Matching the colour of your shoes to your skirt helps to continue that clean line and has the illusion of adding length – you can reveal a little bit of skin though the effect is amplified when wearing a boot or sock and shoe in the same colour as the piece on your lower half as the visual line is extended all the way down to your toes.
Best way to think about this is using the rule of thirds. How can you break up your outfit like that for a look that feels settled and at ease on the eye?