New arrivals: the ruffle skirt rack

This is the whole rack, in order, before any of it goes up. Tiered ruffle skirts in cream, blush, lilac lace and black, one paisley print that arrived by accident and earned its place, and the soft knit we kept pulling out to style them against.

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In this video

What came in

Five tiered skirts, each in one colourway, plus the paisley. They share a shape — a soft black or tonal waistband, then ruffle tiers that get wider toward the hem — and they behave completely differently depending on the fabric.

The cream and blush are chiffon: light, floaty, a little sheer at the edges. The lilac is a fine lace with the ruffles cut into it, which gives it weight and a bit of shimmer. The black is the quietest of the group and will probably go first.

Cream — chiffon tiers, softest drape
Blush — the same cut in a warm pink
Lilac — lace ruffles with a light sheen
Black — plain tiers, the easiest to style
Paisley — printed tiers with a black stretch waistband

The top we kept reaching for

A nude long-sleeve knit with a fine beaded neckline. It disappears against most skin tones, which means the skirt gets all the attention, and the beading at the neck stops it from reading plain.

Tucked into any of these waistbands it gives you one long line from shoulder to hem. That is the trick with a tiered skirt — keep everything above the waist simple and close to the body.

How to pick your colour

Cream and blush are for daylight — brunch, a shower, photographs outside. The lilac lace wants evening light. Black and the paisley go anywhere, which is why they are the two we would buy if we could only keep one.

If you are new to ruffles, start with the black. The shape is dramatic enough on its own; you do not need the colour to work as well.

Daylight: cream, blush
Evening: lilac lace, black
Every day: paisley

Small batches, and what that means

We buy one or two of each size per colour. That is not a sales line, it is how the boutique works — we would rather bring in five good pieces than fifty of the same thing. When a size goes, it is gone until something similar turns up, which may be never in that exact colour.

Questions we get

Are tiered ruffle skirts flattering?

They are, when the top half stays fitted. The volume starts below the waistband, so the waist stays defined and the movement happens at the hem. Tuck a close-fitting top and the proportion works on most shapes.

Which ruffle skirt colour should I start with?

Black, if you want the most wear out of it. Blush, if you already have black skirts and want something for daylight. The lilac lace is the statement piece of the group.

How do I stop the chiffon from creasing?

Hang it rather than folding it, and let a hot shower steam the room for ten minutes before you wear it. A cool iron on the waistband only is usually all it needs.

Will these come back in stock?

Probably not in the same colours. We order in small batches, so sizes sell through and the next shipment brings something different. The email list hears first when a new rack goes up.

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