Which girl didn’t admire ballet clothing with all the tutus? When you are a hard-die fan and still adore a tulle skirt over 50, read this post to learn how to pull the look off in midlife and beyond.
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Can a Piece Be More Feminine than a Tulle Skirt?
A tulle skirt can bring a lot of femininity into your wardrobe. It evokes childhood dreams of being a Princess. Recall these costumes all had tulle and glam all over them. Ballet and dancing. I spend hours watching ballroom dance competitions on TV because I adored the dresses. The skirt reminds of the famous painting The Dance Class (La Classe de Danse) by Edgar Degas. And of course, tulle is a great fabric for wedding and evening dresses. This post addresses how to style a tulle skirt for various occasion and different style personalities at any age.
Tulle Skirts Come in Various Cuts
In its “original” form it is an elongated tutu design. The half-circle cut works incredibly good to hide some flaws. Both styles draw attention to the waist. The same is true for a tired-style version.
When you prefer a sleek silhouette or find all that volume unpractical (yes it is), a full-skirt version is a great option. In maxi or tea-length, it looks great with a cropped top. In this case, the skirt gives the illusion of miles-long legs, especially when paired with heels. Skip the heels for bare feet, and you have a stunning outfit for a beach wedding.
There also exist cuts that have asymmetric hems or ruffles (see photos below).
My Love for Tulle Skirts Started Early
Ever since I was a kid, I liked figure skater attire, ballroom dance gowns and ballet tutus. I also adored the Dior-introduced skirts of the 1950s. It fascinated me that the skirt would stay away from the body due to the petticoats. I made figure skating and petticoat skirts for my dolls and wished being a living Barbie doll.
Of course, I wanted ballet lessons or learn figure skating. The tutus and sequin embellished attires were definitely reasons for the desire. Instead, my parents enrolled me into gym and self-defense classes!
To imitate the tulle skirt look, I sew a circle skirt when I was a teenager. While the huge amount of fabric at the hem made the skirt standing out a bit, it wasn’t the look, I loved. On the contrary, that circle skirt failed to look great on me. Therefore, it remained in the closet, and later ended up at Goodwill. Well, clothes not flattering your body shape is just one reason why you never wear some of your beautiful clothes, right?
Dancing Brought the Retro Style and Tulle Petticoat
When I was in graduate school, I bought my first petticoat. I wore it sometimes at my Rock’n Roll practices underneath a self-made 1950s skirt (see a photo of that skirt). I still like 1950s inspired retro dresses.
My knack for the tulle and mesh skirt look is still alive. They provide shape, alter the look of the body move. They are so feminine. I love being a woman.
What to Wear with a Tulle Skirt?
The piece is easiest to style in nude, white or very light neutral pastels like pale pink, light gray, light blue or beige. It easily can dress up a plain T-shirt.
When You Are a Hard-Die Romantic
A tulle skirt in pastel is a Must-Have when you are a Romantic Style personality. A denim jacket is a perfect pairing keeping the romantic vibe of the look. Just think of Rene Russo in the stands at the final baseball play playing Jake Taylor‘s ex-girlfriend Lynn Weslin in the 1989 movie Major League. Her blond curly long hair, white eyelet dress and blue jeans jacket is pure romantic. This look is what to wear with ballerina flats.
In spring and fall, pair it with a Romantic style classic gingham shirt. In winter, try a pearl embellished cashmere sweater or wear a cardigan with lace collar as top.
Or go down the pastel-color ballerina route and stay with the ballet type colors like in the inspiration with the pale pink sling backs and gray cashmere silk sweater in the next photos. Since in ballet, woolen leg warmers are a common thing, you can wear a mesh skirt skirt in fall with gray tights, a long sleeve top and flats. For extra warmth, put a half slip underneath.
The different price ranges of the items make the outfit down-to-Earth real life. The pastel color scheme makes it very summery and feminine. More on Romantic Style over 50.
Rock’n Roll
A tulle skirt in a statement color like blue or red provides a more edgy, street chic vibe. Thus, when your are Rock’n Roll kind of gal try a graphic Tee, red tulle, ankle booties with or without a black leather motorcycle jacket. Swap the graphic T-shirt with a plaid shirt, striped top or a denim shirt.
Drama Queen
An outfit with black tulle bottom, black lace top, sky-high heels, up-do, red lips and jewelry like Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany and up-do works well for a Femme Fatale vibe for going out. A variation for every day: Red skirt, black (lace) top, heels, big sunglasses.
Friday night is for going out, leaving the stress of the week behind, relax and start to recharge for the next week. A perfect weekend starts with dressing up, going out for dinner and dancing the night away. This outfit is one of my favorites for starting the weekend.
Holiday Season
Try a white classic around-the-knee tutu version with a red sweater, pantyhose and red pumps for a holiday party.
Eclectic Style
The eclectic style mixes everything with everything and ties it together with the accessories, colors, … in search for what looks the best “wrong”.
Stylist tip: You may try a sleek layered version like Leandra Medine with a striped sweater over skinnies.
Gamine Style
A white just above the knee full skirt styled with old-school sneakers with a black-and-white or blue-and-white striped top is great option when you have Gamine Style.
Street Chic
The photos below show a nude full skirt tea-length cut styled with a boxy abstract floral print top (and jeans jacket) with colorful strappy sandals.
The next example shows an all neutral Street Style look.
Wrapping Up How to Style a Tulle Skirt over 50
This super feminine piece works with many styles and for many occasion, even a wedding or a holiday party. Sleek versions in light neutrals or pastels are easier to style over 50 than those in crayon colors. The former colors, namely are feminine and elegant.
The major take home message is you can wear a tulle skirt at any age.
Photos: G. Kramm
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