I have a friend who confessed to having more than 40 skirts, more or less similar (short, a-lined), a significant number of which are of denim. But we all have items which we collect compulsively! 
As a student, denim was pretty much a staple. Needless to say, I have quite a few denim pieces in skirt form. Looking at this photo of Carine Roitfeld, I wonder if it is now alright, even as a working adult, to traipse about in a tee and denim skirt combo!
That is of course based on the assumption that the Queen Bee of French fashion can do no wrong. Which is probably a rather sound assumption to make, considering how little wrong she’d committed fashion-wise. But you never know.
So I dissect the outfit and posed some questions to myself in order to be more objective:
- If I see someone other than Roitfeld in this get-up, will I think it cool?
- Perhaps it is the accessories (the hat & shoes) which made an otherwise auntie-ish outfit Sartorialist-worthy?
- Is the length of the skirt a factor – meaning anything shorter than knee-length will be irrevocably trashy or sloppy?
I still don’t have the answers – what do you think?
xoxo,
Dottie
13 Comments
July 30, 2008 at 6:24 pm
The accessories has a big part in this! If you saw someone with white sneakers insted of the heels and no hat, it would look auntish, I think. It could just be Carine who makes the outfit what it is. If you saw someone else with it, would you think they looked great? I actually don’t think so…
Sophie
July 30, 2008 at 6:39 pm
im a fan of denim skirts, and short skirts in general (which is why, perhaps, i found the length of the denim skirt in the photo slightly weird o_O)
anyhow, (i speak of short denim skirts from experience; i wouldnt know if the same would work for knee-length ones), denim skirts tend to dress outfits down, so you can always pair it with a dressy top (of course, the classic crisp white shirt + short denim skirt + heels is a favourite look).
also, i’d wear denim skirts on instances when i’d consider wearing shorts. :p i’m more a skirt than shorts person
hope this helps!
July 30, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Personally, I’m putting on 3 “yes” for all the questions Stephie.
First, with the EXACT figure, EXACT fit and EXACT ensemble, it would be just as nice.
Secondly, pensil skirt “usually” works well with heels.
Lastly, denim skirt + anything flare/short = TRASHY!
So in my conclusion, denim+pensil skirt+tightness+the heels are the elements that made this ensemble work.
July 30, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Opps!
I mean Dottie! Not Stephie! Haha!
July 30, 2008 at 10:53 pm
I think so often fashionable ensembles have a lot to do with the people who are wearing them. An outfit can work for one person and not the next because of a variety of reasons, such as body shape, age, skin tone, etc.
Of course there is the factor that some people have such innate style that they can pull off a look that would be ridiculous on other people. Personally I think confidence has much to account for.
After all, clothes are nothing without the wearer?
July 30, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Her skirt has a very good fit – perfect denim pencil skirts are really hard to find – and it takes the dowdy quality out of her outfit. The hat is way cool. The shoes are hot. So that’s points for good taste.
On the other hand, because she IS Carine Riotfeld, possessor of awesome rock chick hair, fierce eye makeup, lean body, feline face and all-round kickass attitude, she can make anything look special. So an outfit anyone can put together just looks amazing on her.
July 30, 2008 at 11:14 pm
i only like the shoes, they are gorgeous!
July 31, 2008 at 12:12 am
i think the shoes and the hat made a HUGE difference
without these, i think her outfit will be reduced to just normal. then again, she IS carine riotfeld and i think her being the queen bee of french fashion helps a lot.
July 31, 2008 at 12:36 am
Such incisive questions, and I think yes to all! This outfit has inherent style, and as someone who will admit to having no idea who Carine Roitfeld is, I can say objectively that I liked it immediately. The accessories totally make the outfit – it’d be dull as dirt without the hat and shoes. Although the skirt could come up an inch or maybe two, anything higher would transport the outfit into the Realm of Skank.
July 31, 2008 at 12:54 am
i think the shoes and the hat definitely make the outfit a bit more interesting.. and honestly are the only things i noticed about the outfit.
July 31, 2008 at 1:21 am
I don’t think if it wasn’t her Sart would have snapped the pic. Still, I like her outfit and I think the nude details make. I have one denim pencil skirt and it will always be in closet for a fall back.
July 31, 2008 at 3:28 pm
I think the outfit really depends on the person wearing it and her attitude. The outfit may work sans acessories and with, say, sneakers, but it will a person of a certain look and confidence to own the outfit.
August 27, 2008 at 3:09 pm
I think she carries the outfit well but the hat and the shoes make the outfit. Plus aunties would normally make the outfit look bad paired with some lacey/sequinned/OTT blouse or t-shirt, so really, the simple black tee with the tan hat and shoes make it look current.