Several designers, from the visionary Stella McCartney to our own Prabal Gurung, sent down the models in elongated silhouettes—be it palazzo trousers or mid-calf skirts. For the UK-based newspaper, Telegraph, fashion critic Hillary Alexander quoted Gurung saying that the new length was a reaction against vulgarity of OTT miniskirts.[break]
In February 2011, cultural anthropologist Bill Cunningham even documented attendees of the Autumn/Winter 2011 New York Fashion Week sporting different versions of such skirts. He termed the trend as “elegant.” In May, brands like Zara introduced a collection of such long skirts in bold colors.
In Kathmandu, it was only a few months back that ankle grazing skirts, maxi skirts started popping up in main fashion outlets. Palazzo pants and long wide trousers also got rack space in the same timeline. Even though long skirts have always been sold in several outlets of Thamel, they never made it to the mainstream. But now such elongated hemlines seem to slowly make their way to the closets of the fashion conscious.
However, the difference between Thamel and the present collections that has penetrated the market is obviously the fabrics and silhouettes. Apart from mixed cotton, the designs are found in jersey, flowing mixed satin and stretchable textiles. And the silhouettes have been tapered so that the skirts hug your lower torso rather than envelope it. At present, block colors rule the major outlets. Online stores like fmirror.com have also recently added a selection of such wide leg trousers and maxi skirts.
Before the length play actually kicked off in Kathmandu, The Week’s art editor Kanchan G Burathoki had already taken cues from her mother’s 80s trends. In June posts, she blogs, “as a teenager, I never fancied the long calf-length high-waist skirts which I used to pull out of old suitcases once a year for ‘airing.’”
Along with its style factor, for Burathoki, the skirt had more utilitarian value. She further writes on her blog, “The skirts don’t constrict my movement and I can wear while traveling in a microbus. They go below my knees and I feel comfortable to sit and walk around in them,” she explains her love for the length. Her skirts have vintage feel to them.
For fashion blogger Sarita Chamling, getting into the latest version of mid-length skirts was wearing something that had longer hemlines yet didn’t have the corporate pencil skirt feeling. It was during one of the shopping sprees that Chamling bumped into mid-calf skirts. Chamling, however, says that long skirts have always been one of her favorites.
“I had seen long maxi skirts in Gucci’s fall 2011 (also in spring 2011) ready to wear collection while surfing the website. The sheer fabrics caught my eye and I knew it was going to be big this year as for the past two years maxi dresses were big hit in the fashion circuits.”
She says that they are comfortable to wear, look very feminine and classy. “And the plus point, it makes me look tall.”
After the trend stormed the summer/spring runways in 2010, fashion experts predicted that the minis and micros days were numbered. Well, the coming Summer/Spring Fashion Weeks with New York Fashion as the precursor will show whether the designers will stick to the same hemlines or experiment further. And it is yet to be seen whether the trend will make it to the mainstream in Kathmandu. Whatever the verdict, like Cunningham said, a properly structured skirts surely brought the elegance back.
HOW TO GO ABOUT IT
Such skirts can be worn year round. However, handling the floor sweeping skirts can be quite a hassle during monsoon. For winter, teaming it up with proper structured leather jacket is a chic look.
Get it waisted. Whatever you pair it up with, make sure to tuck it in and belt it up. It helps in defining your waistline, mainly for Nepali girls of average height.
Whenever we talk about maxi skirts or dresses, people often tend to take it as a bohemian look. But diversity is the story here. One can mix and match the new versions and make it a casual or even a corporate look by opting for well structured shirts.
If the skirt is pleated or a little loose, pair them up with vests and sandos for that balanced look.
Long trousers or skirts are often recommended with wedges or high heels, but again, balancing is the way out. And perfect fitting is the key to attaining the proper look.
Related story
Average length of stay of third-country visitor in Nepal increa...
