Slip Skirts Are Still a Hallmark of Great Minimalist Style
Beloved by '90s icons and championed by designers like Calvin Klein, the style is alive and well.
As a Marie Claire style editor, I usually turn to the Fashion Week runways for seasonal wardrobe inspiration. With balmy weather merely a few months away, slinky slip skirts have been on my mind—a '90s-era trend that has re-emerged in recent seasons and is having another big moment on the Spring 2025 runways. However, this year, top-tier labels are putting their own modern twists on the retro look. Favorites include Gucci’s sweet slip skirt covered in an assortment of poppy flowers, Hermès’s masterful sheer-textured version, and Giambattista Valli’s nautical alternative that resembles an embellished fishing net.
This sense of variety undoubtedly gives the slip skirt silhouette longevity. Designed with lightweight fabrics, they're also super low maintenance and unfussy on days when the humidity index peaks. They make dressing for sweat-inducing temperatures a breeze, especially when jeans or tailored trousers are simply not in the cards. That said, you can also wear slip skirts during the colder months while you wait for warmer conditions. Team them with a chunky sweater and trendy sneakers to keep things casual, or amp up the elegance with a sculpted turtleneck and a pair of kitten-heeled boots.
We’ve got you covered with the best runway-inspired slip skirts that will carry you from this season into the next.
Under the Sea
Roberto Cavalli, Giambattista Valli, and Zimmermann co-signed the aquatic fashion trend with net-like slip skirts.
Nautical styles are making quite a splash across the fashion set. If you need visual evidence, look no further than Roberto Cavalli, Giambattista Valli, and Zimmermann—all of which showcased fluid slip skirts that resemble the seafaring fabric. Dive into the trend with the styles below. They’ll provide an exaggerated sense of movement as you enter and exit a room.
In Full Bloom
What’s the quintessential spring pattern? Florals, of course.
Floral slip skirts blossomed on the runways at Fendi, Gucci, and Michael Kors. They ranged from realistic depictions of green leaves to intricate sketches of poppy flowers. Take styling notes from each designer and pair your slip skirt with a structured blazer, a polished lady jacket, or a coordinating bralette.
Barely-There
If you're looking to take a fashion risk this season, a sheer skirt will do the trick.
Naked dressing has become a widespread trend, especially on red carpets, but will likely continue to surge in popularity as the weather warms up. Designers like Hermès, Victoria Beckham, and Chanel have embraced the diaphanous aesthetic with a fashion take that can be worn out in public through semi-sheer slip skirts. If you're not willing to bare it all, there are ways to style them so they don't feel overexposed. Wear them with neutral biker shorts or as a layering sheath over a solid skirt. They can also work well as cover-ups at the beach.
Embellishments Aplenty
Make heads turn in an ornamented slip skirt that champions maximalism.
Sequins, fringed fabric, and appliqués, oh my! Attico, Christian Dior, and Louis Vuitton designed slip skirts that command attention with various embellishments. If your capsule wardrobe needs a bit of a shake-up, invest in one of these. They’ll fit right into your rotation of going-out outfits.
Sultry Satin
This spring, we're taking a trip back in time to the '90s.
We may be living in 2025, but Dolce & Gabbana, OpéraSPORT, and Versace have reminded us that slip skirts from the '90s are very much alive and well. Most notably stitched with sumptuous satin fabrics, this vintage style is a minimally minded variation that pairs seamlessly with kitten heels, thin-strap tank tops, and slightly chunky hoop earrings.
