Toast Denim Skirt

Wednesday 28 January 2015


The word on the street is that denim is a biggie this summer. If you read one article, the jean hems are getting wider, the denim skirts are getting longer (think midi to maxi) and everything seems to be a little more polished and structured. Or if you read another article, you can go the other way and wear your denim totally destroyed, stick patches everywhere and wear your denim skirts all short, cute and a-line. Basically it looks like anything goes where denim is concerned - make up your own rules if there aren't any out there to suit you. 

So what have I found that I think will add a little denim oomph to the old wardrobe this year? This :





I thought I'd go over to the long, dark structured side. This Toast skirt is not my usual thing but I liked the asymmetric front fastening detail. It's also a longer length which is perfect if you're one of those who are a little shy about getting the old knees out. I don't suit long boho floaty numbers so this is a great way to do a longer style in a more flattering way. However, if you're a lady who goes to an office and you can wear denim for work - this type of skirt could be a chic way to do denim instead of usual jeans. Team it with a smart white shirt like here if you are looking for inspiration. I had a little play with what I had to hand (my white shirts are in hibernation at the moment so navy blue silk it is then) and I think this works as a smart look :




Jigsaw silk shirt (similar here), Toast skirt, H&M sandals (similar here), Vintage Clutch


But as you know, I don't have an office to go to - I have a school run where casual and practical reigns. Rifling through the wardrobe, I was thinking it could be worn in the following manner when the weather warms up a little. Remember, I'm planning ahead #squirrel

Stripy Tee

Most of us have a stripy tee in our wardrobes. Most of us have a pair of trainers/plimsolls/Converse. I guess this is the moms no brainer look. 

CDG tee, Toast Skirt, Converse



Grey Sweatshirt

And I guess most of us have a plain sweatshirt or jumper? Dress it up, dress it down. It's your prerogative.

Uniqlo Sweatshirt, Hobbs NW3 Bag, Toast Skirt, Converse

Uniqlo sweatshirt, Toast Skirt, KG Sandals, Amanda Wakeley for Sainsburys Tote


Cropped Sweat Top/Tee

And this white sweat top is a Gap sweatshirt I picked up in the sale last year for about £8. It's a shrunken style and the sleeves were too long so I've chopped them off to just above the elbow for a slightly different silhouette - you can easily replicate this with a boxy white tee.  I think it's important to keep the proportions fairly tidy and short on the top with this skirt. I think this is my favourite look so far as it's quite a clean look.

Gap sweatshirt, Etienne Aigner Bag, Toast Skirt, Converse


So I think that's my first denim update for 2015 so far. I think it just feels a little fresher to try a different shape, style and denim finish. 

Fingers crossed this turns out to be a goodie for me!

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Last Note :

  • If you have good legs and prefer your denim short and sweet and looking for something similar to the Alexa Chung for AG Jeans Kety skirt which has sold out everywhere, ASOS have this one here which is a good dupe. 
  • The Toast skirt sold out today (sorry) and it was only £25 (sorry sorry sorry) in the Toast sale. Sorry I wasn't quick enough with this post. However ASOS have a couple of long denim skirts going here and here for £4.50 each.
  • Amendment 21:29pm. Just spotted a couple of sizes left online for the Toast skirt here. I am wearing a size 8 which looked better on me than the 10 though I would normally take a 10. Now if it had been a size 9 - that would have been just perfect.


30 comments

  1. Sue it is fantastic!! It looks so elegant on you - just perfect!! I bloody love it!! So perfectly styled again too - you need to start styling full time!!

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    1. I take it that you like it then? :)

      I loved the denim edit on NAP the other week and really liked all the darker denim which was coming through and it was so nice to see it styled more elegantly. So when I spotted the skirt on Toast - how could I not? My challenge was to make it work for me on a day to day basis but I think I've proved that one in at least 3 ways so I know it's a goer!

      And styling - nah! I can barely dress myself some days.

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  2. J Crew also has one on sale that is a high waisted pencil skirt that hits an inch or two above the knee (that's my personal go-to lenghth).

    I haven't had a jeans skirt since the nineties so I was a bit scared at first but now I love its versatility.

    That first outfit might be the ultimate date night outfit!! I might have to copy it (many many months from now, we're in ski season right now)!

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    1. The pencil skirt you mention is probably a more flattering style and length for me but I quite fancied something a bit different - I needed to challenge myself a little. I already have an a-line button up front denim skirt (a la Alexa style) so I thought it would be interesting to go for something totally different.

      But yes it could totally be vamped up in to a date outfit if you swap out the tan accessories. Be interesting to see how you would style it.

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  3. That's such a great skirt - but my experience is that long fitted skirts are a disaster on me because I always want to take bigger steps and end up feeling like taking a pair of scissors to my skirt.

    I love the way it looks though, sigh. Really like how you've styled them too.

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    1. I don't have to run after the boys as much these days and I never walk anywhere fast or if I do, I probably do short quick steps - the joys of short legs eh! It's not too bad isn't this skirt, it has a certain amount of stretch and it does have a back split as well. The proof will be in the wearing Lin!

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  4. I searched out my denim skirt at the weekend - a tad shorter than I remember but it's still below the knee. Looking forward to return of the flares too although my one and only pair aren't quite right. Love the skirt Sue and what you've done to the Gap sweatshirt x

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    1. Flares - arrrghghgh. I'm pretty certain I will go there ... but it's making sure it's flares circa 2015 and not the pairs/bootcuts that we had a few years back. They are just cut differently. And you will have the opposite problem to me - ones which are long enough for you whereas I will be hacking off a foot at a time off the hems. Every pair I've tried so far has been at least 3 inches too long. Le sigh.

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  5. I adore look 1 - very classy, but as you say not much call for it in our mummy lives. your favourite look is much more wearable, love the pop of red! I must say long straight skirts I am not normally fan off, I feel like Lin who made the 3rd comment, they restrict my movement?? I am much more a short or maxi skirt girl. However, my short denim skirts are over (unless I am in a country were nobody knows me!) I quite like the 70's a-line ones that I have seen in mags recently. This skirt suits your cool, casual style very well Sue. X

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    1. It is quite classy (especially for me) - even the Grumps said "you look very nice dear". And yes, in general I don't do long skirts - I find long flowy maxis, I tend to do myself an injury in when I walk upstairs and always stamp on the hem but I think I'm okay with this - I think I will just have to be a lady and do little steps ;)

      And I do love the 70's a-line ones - I already have 2 which I drag out every year so I've got my bases covered on that point. Whoop whoop!

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  6. I love the exaggerated zip detail, so different to anything else I've seen. I love all the ways you've styled it, but I think the blouse just edges it for me. Gorgeous!

    Becky x

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    1. The blue silk shirt is the most put together outfit I would say and it is probably the most flattering as well. Shame I don't ever need to wear anything like that and I'm sure I would be asked "going anywhere nice?" if I turned up on the school run in it. But it's fun to play dress up isn't it?

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  7. What a gorgeous skirt Sue & such a steal at £25. I love all the looks you've created - just perfect!
    Jane xx
    www.mymidlifefashion.com

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    1. Thanks Jane - I can see you doing the first outfit perfect. You always look impeccable!

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  8. The first and last looks are my favourites Sue....I think they both show just how very versatile this skirt will be too! Love the shape of the skirt and being dark denim gives it an elegant edge but means you can also dress it down and make it work for everyday wear. An inspiring find....I think I will be giving the denim skirt a go again this year after purchasing a light denim pencil skirt from Gap last year, I would like to try a different shape and shade to create a completely different look this time around xx

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    1. I remember your pencil skirt from last year - will you be getting it out again this year? Or if you fancy - you could dye it really dark and set it off against black which I know you will do so well. I think like me though, you really want to try something different colour and shape wise. It's nice to push the boundaries a little for ourselves every now and then.

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  9. Sue you have found a little gem of a skirt! Love all the ways you have styled it, really like the first look for something a bit dressier, but I can see, you can do almost anything with this skirt!.....Clever you. Helen xx

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    1. It's more versatile than it first seems Helen. It looks so rigid and structured but the asymmetric fastening just gives it a little edge. I was thoroughly inspired by the NAP denim edit - sometimes you need a little inspiration like that to the old brain ticking.

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  10. This post has given me so many ideas. I love the way you have styled your skirt with the Breton and sandals. I bought a Mui Mui version of this which was drastically reduced at the end of the sale a couple of years ago. I have barely worn it so I'm looking forward to copying your styling here.
    I did make a detour to miss Selfridge before my meeting in the west end yesterday specifically to get their shorter Kety look a like. Obviously I'll only be bringing that version out in high summer and even then it'll only be worn in situations where I might otherwise have worn shorts.

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    1. Well I know not everyone is happy in a pair of trainers and some (many) people are much smarter than me so the sandals are just showing a slightly different look. But I'm glad to have provided a little inspiration here - it seems to be that there's a few people who have a long denim skirt tucked away in the back of their wardrobes - looks like 2015 is the year for bringing them back out again.

      And you managed to nab the Miss Selfridge version did you? If it gets really hot over here, I will get my old French Connection a-line number out too - it used to be for holidays abroad but now ... time's running out so let's just go with the flow whilst we can.

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  11. I love the CDG/Stan Smiths and the next fave is the gray sweatshirt look. How did you do the sleeves on your edited Gap white sweatshirt?

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    1. I'll knock up a post for you Kristina on the sweatshirt!

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    2. I like that the sleeve hem looks clean--I think you can only get that when you hand roll it/manipulate it some. Looking forward to this post.

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  12. ah i'm partial to this silhouette as you've probably guessed. this skirt is amaze! love the diagonal hem detail so much, bonus points for elongating effects!

    steph / absolutely-fuzzy.com

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    1. Stephanie - this skirt is so you! It's a bit like something you would find in COS actually. It's got structure - it's minimalist but not. You'd look fab in it with just a very simple top and a pair of your awesome shoes and the most minimal of bags! You need this!

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  13. This is so weird as only yesterday I found a very old straight ish denim skirt from Boden - midi length - and it nearly went into the ebay pile. But now I know how to update it - love it with Stabd and white tee - thank you x

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    1. Do you know, I'm delighted that this post has reignited the love for an old forgotten piece for so many. I just think this year is going to be such a denim biggie that anything goes! Have fun styling!

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  14. Fabulous look! So, so elegant ... every way that you styled it. Just love it!

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    1. Thank you Helen and I know you mean that truthfully or else you would say otherwise ;o)

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  15. It looks great on you Sue & I love how you have styled it! My Diesel skirt is unloved & unworn but I shall be digging it out this year! x

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Susie So So