Amazon skirt

Breton Shirts and A-Line Skirts

Dinner at Zahav

While dressing for our recent dinner at Zahav, I found myself at a loss for something to wear. If it hadn’t been so chilly, I would have put on a dress. All of my dresses (except for one) are sleeveless and wouldn’t have been appropriate without some added layers. I decided to pair my Everlane Breton shirt with a black skirt from Amazon; my navy Supergas completed the look. The ensemble was similar to the outfits worn by the models in the Air France Bienvenue à bord video. This look was a winner for dinner on the patio.

Works Sighted

Everlane modern Breton tee // Sacai skirt // Superga 2750 (white/gold)

Breton Shirt Co Picasso // Grace Karin skirt // Superga 2750 (navy)

Breton Shirt Co Breton vin // Banana Republic Factory skirt // Superga 2750 (off-white)

The $20 Amazon Skirt With Two Thousand Reviews

Grace Karin A-line skirt from Amazon, ASOS top, and Superga 2750 Cotu classic navy.

Pleats are the epitome of my aesthetic. They make me look polished, buttoned-up, tidy, put together…all qualities I strive to exude. Have you ever had a moment when an item of clothing, a pair of shoes, or an accessory just appeared before you? I don’t mean in a box marked free at the front of someone’s house. My colleague wore this Grace Karin skirt to the office one day, and I knew I had to have one too. She sent me the Amazon link, and just like that, I owned three of them (one in navy and two in black). This style is one of my biggest steals. Apparently, a lot of other women thought so too; 2,352 of them decided to write product reviews.

Although this skirt is rated 4.2 out of 5 stars, it’s worth all 5. There are a plethora of skirts under the same listing (including three dissimilar ones made of polyester), so read the description carefully before ordering. Also, follow the size chart provided in the product’s image lineup, not the one provided by Amazon. As I’ve already mentioned, I own this style in navy and black. Both colors have the same composition: 95% cotton and 5% spandex. The spandex helps to keep the skirt free of wrinkles. It doesn’t need to be ironed; a good steam will do the trick (here’s the steamer I use).

According to the description, you are supposed to hand-wash this skirt in cold water, but I refused. I chose to launder it in a garment bag in the washer on the cold setting, and it turned out fine. After a few washes, I noticed that the coloring of the navy skirt appeared to fade a bit even though I always let it air-dry. I don’t know if this would have happened if I had followed the washing instructions to a tee, but I’m really not concerned. For the record, I didn’t notice any fading in the black skirts after washing. Furthermore, the laundering process hasn’t damaged any buttons or zippers.

The skirt has a hidden zipper on the side, which zips up to the bottom of the waistband. There are two buttons at the waistband, and you may use either of them to secure it. The zippers aren’t made by YKK, but they are of sound construction. The product’s description says that there are two versions of this skirt, one with a zipper and two buttons (as I have described) and another version that zips all the way up through the waistband (without the buttons). Unfortunately, there isn’t an option to select your preferred version. All things considered, I really can’t think of a better skirt for $18.99.

Works Sighted

Grace Karin skirt; ASOS top (old); Superga 2750 Cotu Classic (navy); LARLiving large French market basket; Kate Spade sunglasses (old)

Warm-Weather Rain Essentials

Planning a stylish outfit with the rain in mind isn’t difficult if you are prepared with the essentials. Sometimes, the rain is so torrential that going outside requires more than grabbing an umbrella on your way out the door. I’ll never forget the time I attended a fashion forum at FIT. It rained continuously that day, but I was determined to arrive looking and feeling my best. I spent a great deal of time coming up with the perfect outfit for warm-weather downpours, and I’ve repeated it in a similar fashion over the years. This winning look is composed of rain boots, an A-line skirt and a complementary shirt, a lightweight jacket, and a rain-appropriate bag.

Rain Boots

Knee-high rain boots are perfect for a walk in the mud, but otherwise they can be heavy and uncomfortable to wear for an extended period of time. I’ve owned the same Hunter Chelsea-style rain boot for years, and they continue to meet my needs over and over again. My black, glossy style is similar to the boots included in look #1. I don’t feel the need to take them off when I get where I’m going; they’re versatile and extremely chic.

Umbrella

A cheaply made umbrella never did anyone any good. I am partial to London Undercover. I’ve owned the umbrella pictured in looks #1 and #3 since 2018. It has survived London rain and excessive Edinburgh winds. While I don’t recommend that you subject it to high winds, the fact that mine is still intact after being open in the elements of Scotland attests to its durability.

Lightweight Jacket

If you haven’t done so already, you must find a lightweight jacket suitable for warm-weather rain. I usually wear a trench coat on days like this. Since I am accustomed to carrying an umbrella, I don’t necessarily need to wear a waterproof jacket (unless the windspeed is high). I love the way the belts on coats of this style define my waist. Additionally, the traditional mid-thigh length always seems to be right.

A-line Skirt and Complementary Shirt

Think of how pleased you’ll be when you arrive at your destination in your dry outfit. I usually wear a skirt when it rains because I’d rather not walk around with wet pants. When you walk in the rain, the motion of your stride kicks some water up onto your legs. I can dry my skin with a paper towel if need be, but drying wet pants isn’t as easy. Aside from the A-line silhouette being my favorite, it has the same waist cinching effect as the trench coat. Furthermore, the fabric of the A-line skirt flares away from the body, so even it it were to get wet, I would barely notice because the fabric doesn’t cling to the body. Pairing my skirt with a nice top makes going out in the monsoon-like weather worth my effort.

Rain-Appropriate Bag

You don’t want your belongings getting wet or your bag damaged from the rain. Under these conditions, I always carry Longchamp’s le pliage, the original version that’s made of polyamide canvas. I own both the shoulder bag and the top handle versions. They keep my belongings dry, and the leather handles and side tabs add a hint of practical refinement to the piece.

Works Sighted

Look 1: J.Crew Factory classic trench coat; J.Crew ruffle-neck top in end-on-end cotton; Grace Karin vintage pleated A-line midi skirt (black); Longchamp le pliage shoulder bag L (black); London Undercover automatic umbrella (black); Hunter original Chelsea (gloss)

Look 2: London Undercover automatic umbrella (navy); Barbour Inglis waterproof jacket (mist); J.Crew flutter-sleeve jersey T-shirt with swiss dot; Grace Karin vintage pleated A-line midi skirt (navy); Longchamp le pliage shoulder bag L (navy); Hunter original Chelsea (navy)

Look 3: Barbour Inglis waterproof jacket (slate blue); J.Crew tie-shoulder linen top; Grace Karin vintage pleated A-line midi skirt (dark grey); Longchamp le pliage top handle bag L (gun metal); London Undercover automatic umbrella (navy); Hunter Original Chelsea (black)