The Long Winter Skirt

At a time when the general mood is incontestably classic, some silhouettes perceived at the biggest houses will give us a chance to take a break from the bourgeois dress codes en vogue, going for a delicately grungy, cozy and feminine allure instead.

At the heart of a season characterized by a slightly passé elegance, the discovery of dissident pieces has proven to be, at the very least, refreshing. The fall colors may be permeating every last square centimeter of wool cloth, pointed pumps may be making their big comeback and the chignon may be replacing the fashionista's eternal bangs, but an interesting alternative to the overriding rigor is being offered via a loose silhouette ignoring all the precepts of the moment.

The result of a surprising mix, this look consists of combining large-knit pullovers (or oversized sweatshirts), long chic skirts - more accustomed to grazing the wooden floors of the (Paris 4* hotel) Crillon than urban asphalt - and a pair of slightly masculine boots.

However, given the looks presented at Marc Jacobs, Dries Van Noten or even Michael Kors, it is hard to tell if this curious alliance is destined to come down to street level, or if it will only serve to raise Anna Wintour's eyebrows during an exclusive reception. It must be said that when examined, the length and the luxurious fabrics of these daywear skirts do not seem destined for urban use.

This being said, we may want to avoid sweeping the sidewalks with moiré velvet and precious silks, yet this does not mean that the long skirt (in this case, stopping at 1cm from the floor) should be shunned. On the contrary: whether they be in jersey knit, pleated viscose or short-pile velvet, they can embellish a neo-cool silhouette à la casual sporty or bohemian.

The tubular models can be worn with a blazer, a denim shirt, a thin leather belt and a pair of flat, laced boots. They can also be worn with a woolen parka, a round necked pullover and 8-holed Doc Martens. The flowing and flared skirts will go well with cable-stitch sweaters, cropped sweatshirts and brogues with socks and hand-knitted caps.