These are MARGESHERWOOD's CUT-OFF MAXI SKIRT_black and CUT-OFF MAXI SKIRT_charcoal, and THREE TO EIGHTY's CUT HEM BELT PLEATS SKIRT CHARCOAL and CUT HEM BELT PLEATS SKIRT BLACK. Instead of neatly hemming the skirt, pleated skirts these days lean toward adding an effortless, free-spirited vibe to neat pleats with a cut-off finish that looks naturally sliced with a blade.
In the Victorian era, a device called a skirt lifter, which raised long hem lines and secured them to a waist belt, was in vogue. To keep heavy hems from getting soiled on the muddy streets back then, the hem was clamped with padded tongs and pulled up with a chain to adjust its height. It was a clever accessory that protected expensive skirts while freeing up both hands for climbing stairs or playing tennis.
Long pleats that brush against the ankles create their own distinct lines with every step. Shall we look at maxi long lengths first, or start by checking out options with higher wool content in the fabric?
↳ View maxi long lengths only
I've picked three skirts from MARGESHERWOOD in ankle-grazing maxi lengths: CUT-OFF MAXI SKIRT_black with its naturally finished hem, WOOL MAXI SKIRT_grey that falls calmly, and BALLOON LONG SKIRT_black with its hem gently gathered into a rounded shape. With maxi lengths, the width and weight of the hem determine the mood of the whole outfit with every step.
The rounded, puffed silhouette that looks as though it was filled with air was first introduced by designer Cristóbal Balenciaga in 1957. Instead of following the trend of corseting the waist, he opted for sculptural experimentation by creating three-dimensional space between the body and fabric. Supported by delicate darts and lining that held the shape of the hem, he perfected the optical illusion of immense volume that looks light as a cloud.
The BALLOON LONG SKIRT_black in our list is also a lighter, everyday refinement of that sculptural volume. Among these three, shall I narrow it down to options with higher wool content, or would you prefer to look at neat straight lines first?
↳ With high wool content
I've picked three long skirts that boast substantial wool content: Belted Maxi Wool Skirt_Grey from LOW CLASSIC, RE-BORN MAXI SKIRT_grey stripe from MARGESHERWOOD, and Gaea Skirt in Black from MOONDAL. All three have the cozy feel and weighted silhouette unique to sheep's wool, making them perfect neat bottoms for the chilly season. The softer and finer wool is, the more treasured it has been throughout history.
The Spanish royal family regarded Merino sheep, which have exceptionally soft wool, as the nation's greatest treasure and strictly blocked any export abroad. Between the 14th and 18th centuries, they even had laws imposing immediate death penalty on anyone caught smuggling out even a single live Merino sheep. Paradoxically, the one who unlocked the bolts of this fierce monopoly was the King of Spain himself, when he began sending sheep to other royal houses as diplomatic gifts.
That precious warmth once guarded at the cost of lives is now nestled in everyday skirts like these. I'd love to narrow the list down a bit more—which aspect should we prioritize? Shall we look at full pleats, keep it under KRW 200,000, or leave only black colors?
Final Selected Products
