Moms in slips

Back in February I posted about the slip dress trend after Jennifer Lopez stepped out in one. As noted at the time, it started in the back half of last year, a throwback to the 90s with Drew Barrymore and Kate Moss, and also the 2000s and the party girls who were dominating the gossip ecosystem at the time: still Kate Moss, Sienna Miller, and Nicole Richie. Like I said in February, everyone will be wearing slip dresses in the spring and the summer, including celebrities.

Several celebrities were seen over the Mother’s Day weekend in slip or lingerie style dresses. Among them Halle Berry and also Teyana Taylor, both in brown. (I’m telling you, brown is the all-season colour of 2026.) But in addition to the slip dress, the slip skirt is also trending. That’s been my focus recently – because for weeks I had my eye on one item from the new Stella McCartney x H&M collection (that went viral with all the fashion girlies) that dropped last Thursday at 10am ET. Literally burned the date and time into my brain so I could log on like concert tickets and get the piece. But I ended up getting assigned to do an interview that day that started right at 10am so by the time it was done 15 minutes later, it was sold out. It’s the lace-trimmed t-shirt dress, basically how I dressed from 1997-2003, SO GOOD.

This is a dress, but it basically looks like an oversized tee over a slip skirt. Which is what I ended up recreating since I couldn’t get the original. And Jessica Alba just did it for Mother’s Day, in a white oversized tee over a baby blue lace-trimmed slip skirt. I’ve tried on at least two dozen slip skirts in the last week, and with a slip skirt, just as I said about the slip dress, you don’t need to spend a lot of money on one. This is why I haven’t bothered identifying hers – a baby blue lace-trimmed slip skirt is easily duped, and the alternatives are equally cute, if not cuter. At least for now, because as I also said, it’s a dominant trend for the season, so they’re selling fast. These are the ones that have been on and off my wardrobe rack.

The Wilfred Henrietta Satin Skirt comes in 13 colourways, including Jessica’s light blue. It’s slightly more narrow than hers, but it also falls slightly lower, which I prefer.

But Aritzia also has a full slip dress in light blue, the Nocturna, with an asymmetrical lace hem, and it’s low-profile enough on top that you can throw a tee over it, or a jacket, to a better effect than Jessica’s look, in my opinion.

And H&M’s Asymmetric Viscose Skirt has great movement and you really can’t beat that price, under $55.

Reformation’s Carolina skirt is more expensive, but also more textured. The textured version only comes in one colourway, which is Jessica’s blue, and it has a matching camisole if you want to turn it into a whole set.

If you don’t want it in blue, though, the Reformation Carolina Silk Skirt is basically just satin, with the lace trim, in nine different colour and/or print options. I tried it in a floral print called “poet” and, yes, she’s more money but she really is a beauty.

Anthropologie’s Bl-nk Cinzia Laced Satin Midi Skirt also comes in multiple shades, their blue version is darker than Jessica’s but it’s on sale right now, under $100, and I tried it on in “flamingo”, SO pretty paired with a slouchy cream sweater-hoodie.

That sweater also looked great over another H&M skirt, lace-trimmed in light beige is low in stock but it comes in two other colourways. This skirt is more A-line, truer to the cut of Jessica’s.

Staud has a slip skirt right now that’s more pricy, but if you’re in the market, this one does have a good feature. The Sonoma skirt in black has a white asymmetric hem that stands out nicely but what I really liked about this when I tried it on is the way it gathers at the hip. Instead of a longer tee, I tried it with a boxy shirt that stops right at the waist to highlight that detail.

Can’t talk about slip skirts without mentioning Free People – this isn’t a trend at Free People, the slip skirt is a staple, they will always have at least five slip skirts in rotation. Right now my favourite is the Long Lost Lover Maxi Slip, in the peach paisley colourway. The slight flare at the hem is gorgeous, I wore it with an oversized dress shirt, super sexy.

Speaking of sexy, here’s an option that’s a bit more risqué but the whole point here is to wear it under something oversized. The All Saints Arran lace skirt is, yes, totally sheer so we put it on under a very slouchy and long black sweater and then combat boots. I love this look. 

Zara’s answer to this is a little more conservative but still chic. The Combination Lace Midi is cut kinda like a skort up top, with lace falling to the bottom. This one is popular so sizes are moving fast.

Like their version of Jessica Alba’s baby blue, the Zara Lace Midi is not satin but rippled, and a matching tank. I liked this so much but I wish it came in different colours.

And they have a standard black lace slip skirt that will pretty much go with anything. We kept it on the rack and I might just keep it for life because that’s a great price, $55, and it’ll work all year round.

I also tried on a short slip skirt from Zara which dips at the front to almost the knee, like a wrap skirt where the split is lace.

Finally, if you’re into the idea of a slip skirt but don’t want it in satin, the Zara double layer knit midi is slightly heavier along the body, and clingier, but the ruffle hem gives the effect of a lace trim, still qualifying as lingerie coded. This skirt looks great under baggy denim, a summer holiday look if I ever saw one.

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