Long flared checked skirt with a shirred waist

A long checked skirt, fully elasticated waist and a full A-line, to wear from morning to evening.

A long skirt in fine checks, cut in a very flared A-line. The waist is shirred all the way round: it goes on with no fastening, adjusts by itself and stays comfortable after a meal as well as after a day spent seated.

The cut

A gathered high waist, then a fullness that opens out clearly towards the bottom. The skirt measures 85 cm in length: it falls below the calf on most figures, at the ankle on shorter ones. The regular gathers under the waistband spread the volume without cutting into the stomach, and the fabric moves as you walk without puffing out.

The fabric

A checked fabric with a light wool look, supple and matte, with a fine motif in a light-coloured thread. It has enough hold to keep the flared line, enough fluidity to fall straight once on. The exact composition has not been communicated to us by the supplier: we prefer to tell you that rather than invent a label.

How to wear it

• With a fine jumper or a fitted ribbed knit, tucked into the waist to keep the high line.
• With a white shirt and low-heeled ankle boots for an office wardrobe.
• With a roll-neck and a long coat in winter, low trainers at the weekend.
• A camisole or a close-fitting T-shirt between seasons — the skirt is enough to structure the silhouette.

Good to know

The elasticated waistband runs from 62 to 106 cm in waist measurement. As on any piece with a shirred waist, plan on a covering top if you dislike seeing the gathers show.

Key points

• Shirred elasticated waist from 62 to 106 cm, no fastening to deal with
• A very flared A-line that creates movement as you walk
• Length 85 cm, below the calf or at the ankle depending on your height
• Fine, discreet checks, easy to pair with plain pieces
• Fabric with a light wool look, suited to autumn and winter
• Goes on in one move, worn from the office to the weekend

Fabric and care

Composition: Woven checked fabric, light wool look, soft and matte. The detailed composition is not communicated by the supplier: we therefore do not state it. Fine checked motif in a light thread, simple hem with no visible topstitching.

Care: Wash in cold water, preferably on a delicate programme. Do not use bleach. Iron at low temperature, on the reverse to preserve the motif. Dry on a hanger, in the open air: the skirt takes its shape back as it dries and the gathers stay crisp. Avoid the tumble dryer.

Size

One size. Shirred elasticated waistband: waist measurement from 62 cm at rest to 106 cm stretched. Total length of the skirt: 85 cm, measured from the top of the waistband to the hem. To place the length on yourself: measure 85 cm down from your natural waist. Measurement tolerance of 1 to 3 cm depending on the method.

Good to know

• Can one size really suit my figure? The shirred waistband stretches from 62 to 106 cm, which covers a wide range of waist measurements. Beyond 106 cm, the elastic would be stretched and uncomfortable: better to give it a miss. The length, on the other hand, is fixed at 85 cm: that is what changes the look most, depending on your height.
• The composition is not stated — is that a problem? We prefer to assert nothing we cannot verify. What we can describe is the result: a checked fabric with a light wool look, matte, supple, with enough hold to keep the flared line. Cold care and drying on a hanger, as stated.
• Does the elasticated waist make unflattering folds? The gathers are regular and spread all the way round, which avoids a build-up of bulk on one side. With a fitted, tucked-in top, the waistband reads as a detail of the cut. With a jumper worn over the top, it disappears completely.