Office Capsule: Balloon Skirt
Part 1: The Balloon Skirt
Welcome to the first of four posts on my ideal office capsule. Each week I will focus on a different bottom because when it comes to getting dressed I always build an outfit from bottom to top. This week’s focus is the balloon skirt.
My process of discovering interesting pieces never had the words behind it until I decided to make personal styling my job. Now it feels like all I do is explain to clients why something does or does not work based on a few key elements. The balloon skirt contains all of the factors of what catches my eye in a killer piece. Let’s run through these elements and hopefully you can start to drum up your very own capsule!
Color
Whenever my daughter asks me what my favorite color is I say black and she just sort of stands there in disbelief. Black is one of my power colors. It makes me feel so chic and sophisticated (two of my core style descriptors for office/elevated looks). Navy, cream, white, heather grey, taupe and dark brown also fall into this power bucket. I feel comfortable investing in these neutrals.
The power of shape and Line
When pieces have an interesting shape they stand out. Shape meaning the silhouette or the outline of the fabric. To break it down simply, the fabric literally forms a shape. Shape is created by lines. Lines can be straight, curved, diagonal, horizontal and vertical. Pay attention to the lines your eye is drawn toward in a garment and take note of the shape the lines are creating. The balloon skirt has a soft curved line, creating a rounder shape-something I’ve been gravitating towards recently (balloon, barrel and horseshoe).
Black and navy - safe investment starting points
Whenever I try a new shape at an investment price point, I reach for black or navy. When I decided to invest in a nylon balloon skirt last spring I couldn’t quite wrap my head around the army green option. I learned the skirt came in black and it felt safer. Safe is okay. I love to go over the top in shape, but keep things low key and classic with color. It’s more subtle and cool.
fabric structure
A fabric’s structure comes from it’s weave, thickness and composition. The structure of a fabric smoothens the shape of your body and helps create a line. Denim, cotton canvas and cotton twill are examples of fabric with structure. They are slightly thicker and hold up well! As someone who doesn’t love clingy fabrics, I have grown to cherish pieces that don’t touch my body, but also don’t add a ton of bulk like a sturdy cotton t-shirt. The balloon skirt is made of a compact Japanese nylon blend, so it’s durable, but also lightweight. With age comes the realization that expensive things have better quality. I love that this fabric is sturdy and not bulky. It doesn’t hang from my waist, it almost floats. That makes it so unique. I’m glad it found it’s way into my wardrobe.
What is your balloon skirt?
The article wasn’t so much about the balloon skirt as the elements of what makes the balloon skirt an important part of the capsule. I think that’s important to note because not all of you want a balloon skirt. It’s all about the why behind the piece. What are the pivotal pieces that are going to round out your wardrobe? What is your balloon skirt? More to come on the capsule next week.