Bias cut satin slip skirts defined summer style way back in 2018 — Réalisation Par was largely responsible for the high street’s preoccupation with the slip skirt, as retailers clambered to replicate the success of the Instagram brand’s silky leopard print midi. Topshop’s now shuttered Oxford Circus store was a sea of elasticated slip skirts, as it pumped out its best-selling skirt in around 20 different colours. And now, this year, slip skirts have taken London by siege once again. In 2025, however, the look has evolved to be a little less cookie-cutter than the 2018 offering.
Underwear-as-outerwear might be a regular theme on the runways, but for spring/summer 2025 it’s more about the sort of romantic, vintage underwear you’d find in a French flea market or Portobello Road Market – undergarments that your Marks & Spencers-loving nan would approve of. Think frilly briefs, white cotton nighties and embroidered tights that would once have been concealed beneath a floral tea dress and homespun cardi, but are now being exposed in daylight hours. Instead of clickbait naked party dressing, this is a softer and more whimsical approach, with a sweet simplicity to it. And the easiest way to tap into this aesthetic is via a silk slip with delicate, lace detailing.
In the late-2010s, one silhouette reigned supreme, featuring an elasticated high waistband, a draped bias cut and a hem just on or below the knee. However in 2025, hemlines vary and so does the construction, with flowing, high-low hems as seen at Dries van Noten or more fitted ’90s minis that might remind you of the Friends episode “The One With Rachel’s New Dress”, where Rachel accidentally meets Joshua’s parents in a nightie. The common theme, however, is the use of delicate lace which adds a vintage quality – either in a tonal colour or a contrasting shade. For those who have neglected their slip skirt collection, you can easily give it a 2025 update by adding a lace trim to the hem.
One of the key styling references for summer comes courtesy of The Row, where a white lace slip skirt with a cascading hemline was worn over puddled jeans, with a grey oversized jumper and black flip-flops. It’s a clever way of adding unexpected texture and movement to an otherwise bland everyday outfit, and you don’t need a The Row-size budget to recreate this ensemble yourself.