Unique Skirts Create Joy

In an article by Olivia Allen on January 27^th, British Vogue predicts “Spring 2026 Will Be Defined by the ‘Bonkers’ Skirt”. Unique skirts are a way to “…spark joy” and as noted by senior sustainability and features editor Emily Chan, “Paired with a simple black roll neck (turtleneck), it’s an easy way to inject some fun without having to try too hard.” 

My wardrobe is chiefly composed of unique skirts paired with an immense collection of black turtlenecks. Skirts made of taffeta, tulle, drapery sheers, repurposed drapery lining, painter’s drop cloths, and some made of more common skirt fabrics in atypical shapes. There is joy in this way of dressing.

This fact first came to me during the pandemic. The local grocery store opened from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. so people could shop without crowds. We went very early in the day. While wearing a skirt created from leftover drapery lining with a drawstring made from utility ribbons from Williams-Sonoma napkins sewed together, I glanced up from the lemons to see a young woman and her mother looking at me. The young woman whispered, “Why don’t we dress up like that? It might make us feel happier.” Since then, many lovely conversations based on my skirts have occurred with people in our world. With this post we’ll look at repurposing a vintage petticoat and using photos on tag-walk.com as a tool to style the “new” skirt.

This vintage lace petticoat came from Somewhere in Time in Galveston, Texas. A corner of the antique and vintage shop is devoted to clothing, millinery, buttons, and sewing notions. The lace on the petticoat is lovely, but it was an awkward length. Perhaps it could be preserved and sympathetically lengthened at the same time. This photo shows the petticoat with its waist let out completely. Nothing on the garment has been cut.

The next step is to cut a length of fabric similar in color and weight the length of the circumference of the waist of the petticoat. Vintage trim lace is sewn to the new panel, and the panel is attached to the former waist of the petticoat. A double turn down to the top of the new piece enables me to insert a piece of elastic to gather it at the waistline.

The completed skirt! This will work perfectly with all my black turtlenecks – sleeveless, short sleeved and long-sleeved – cotton and wool! What about other ways to wear it?

Let’s look to tag-walk.com where you can search a designer, a season, or an element of a garment to find photographs of models walking in fashion shows. You might look through things you already own and see if there are new ways to wear them!

Here are two looks, the first from Sea New York and the second from JW Anderson.

Here is my look. This is my husband’s jacket and here it is bunched up and tucked which is rather impractical for actual use. His jacket is great, but, on me, it looks better with a pencil skirt.

Acne Studios styled their lace skirt with a belted cream sweater worn out over the waist of the skirt.

Here is my look inspired by Acne Studios. Not seen in the photo are the knee-high brown boots.

Here are two looks featuring lace tops; the first from Blumarine and the second Georges Hobeika.

My look. This stretch lace turtleneck is usually worn with a raspberry-colored taffeta skirt with a train; lately worn at home on New Year’s Eve!

A look from Spring/Summer 2026 by Polo Ralph Lauren.

Without a striped shirt, my look includes a long black round necked sweater and a ramie boater trimmed in vintage grosgrain ribbon.

A look from Spring/Summer 2026 by Zimmerman.

My look…not having a white blouse with full long sleeves, this black blouse with full sleeves, a slight peplum and a wrap and tie bow on the side will work.

These looks, the first from Dior, Resort 2026 and the second from Ralph Lauren Spring/Summer 2025 inspired me to pull a cream-colored linen jacket from the closet.

Here is the look with the addition of straw kitten heel pumps and a straw hat. Underneath the jacket is a beige knit bralette.

Chloe Fall/Winter 2025!

My interpretation.

Chanel Fall/Winter 2025 chosen for the beauty of the sheer, full top.

This is the sheer top sketched in my journal and then created out of drapery sheer fabric. The second photo shows it with a matching scarf.

Notice the open loose flowing jacket over the lace trimmed bottom in this Chloe Spring/Summer 2025 design.

My interpretation of the look using a loose full sleeved cotton shirt jacket over a black knit bralette.

Chloe Spring/Summer 2026 – something flowing and romantic on top.

My look…This is a semi-sheer organza top with ruffles over the shoulders and down the front in black.

Such joy in a new and unique skirt…final look – a turtleneck from my collection!