Lace-trim slip skirts are everywhere this summer; we most likely have The Row to thank for that, but also Dôen, who's had a slip skirt in their lineup for awhile now. I owned several slip skirts in the late '90s, including one from Dolce & Gabbana that I luckily dug out of storage recently, and while the most logical thing to do would be to wear something vintage, what makes The Row's and Doen's version so modern is that they have a wider band of lace around the hem and they come in more substantial fabrics—The Row's is silk charmeuse; Doen's current version is cotton poplin although their Giuletta skirt, which is sadly sold out, is also 100% silk. I combed vintage fairs and resale sites (as well as my own closet) for awhile in search of something similar, thinking that secondhand was the ideal place to find a good dupe, but ran into a little Goldilocks syndrome: everything was either too long, too sheer, and/or didn't have the right amount of lace at the hem. I'm sure I could have kept looking, but when I popped into J.Crew recently with my mom and saw the Gwen skirt, I knew she was The One.
The J.Crew Gwen Lace-Trim Slip Skirt
I had not been in a J.Crew in awhile—their San Francisco store closed last year—and I've obviously been missing out, because I was really impressed with what I saw. Like in olden days, I got lucky on the sale rack, where I found a Gwen Skirt in my size for an extra 60% off sale (it's currently an extra 50% off on the website, but the price is even lower than when I was there). The skirt currently is available in navy and black; it came in white à la Dôen, but that color seems to be long gone. And while it's offered in sizes XX-small though 3X, I should mention that many sizes are sold out at the moment, however there is a white linen version as well that has a lot more sizes in stock. My version of the Gwen is 100% acetate with a crinkled texture, and while I normally don't go for synthetics, it has a really nice weight and sheen to it, and it looks and feels much more expensive than it is. It has an elastic waistband that is a bit on the looser side, but I think if I had gone a size down, the skirt would have been too tight through the hips (I'm wearing a medium here). This feels like the perfect summer skirt; I wish I had it for my trip to Italy a few months ago!
J.Crew vs. Dôen vs. The Row
The Gwen skirt is definitely not a 1:1 dupe for The Row—it's shorter, it's the wrong color, and the lace is too exaggerated—and while it's not a perfect dupe of Dôen's Giuletta either, it's pretty damn close. For both, the wide elastic waistband is hidden (this helps it lay more flat and not dig into your waist as a more traditional thin band of elastic would), the scalloped lace trim at the hem has a very similar proportion, and the above-the-knee length looks about the same. Dôen's skirt, however, has a slide slit (although this one does not) and a smooth texture, versus J.Crew's crinkled one. I actually prefer the crinkle as it makes the skirt look less like an actual slip and, as I discovered, makes it great for traveling too (no iron required!). Most importantly, even at full price, J.Crew's skirt is less than half the price of Dôen's and a tenth of The Row's—and while some things are definitely worth the splurge to me, a slip skirt is not one of them.
What to wear with it
More like what wouldn't you wear with it? Since I bought this skirt a few weeks ago, I've paired it with everything from tank tops and T-shirts to more polished blouses like I'm wearing here. In terms of shoes, everything from a flat, chunky sandal to a higher heel works, and I particularly like wearing the skirt with sneakers, as it makes it look more low-key (it's all about contrast!). I think it will even work well into fall and winter with tights and/or knee-high boots and a big chunky sweater on top. I'm amazed I've made it this long without such a versatile piece, but better late than never!
OUTFIT DETAILS: Toteme monogram shirt (on sale!) | J.Crew Gwen Skirt | Toteme T-lock bag | old Isabel Marant sandals (similar)
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