How to Wear the Car Wash Skirt Trend

Celebs like Lupita Nyong'o and Julianne Moore love the streamer skirt trend!

Published on May 25, 2016 01:00 PM

Streamer skirts are everywhere on the red carpet! Stylist Micaela Erlanger, who dressed Lupita Nyong’o for the Los Angeles Jungle Book premiere in April in a custom one by J.Crew Collection, says they’re are having a moment for a reason.

“I think this is a natural extension of the fringe trend we saw so much of last fall,” Erlanger tells PeopleStyle. “That was more ’70s boho. Now it’s more ’60s car wash skirt.” The good news is that this breezy silhouette is a veritable alternative to the standard summer mini skirt. “There is a subtle sexiness about wearing a piece like this,” she says. “You don’t have to bare all but can still flash a little skin.” Here are three tips to get you inspired to try the look:

Adhemar Sburlati/Broadimage

If you’re wearing separates like Nyong’o, try mixing textures. “We balanced the sparkly skirt and high slits with a knit sweater bodysuit,” says Erlanger. “The juxtaposition of materials kept it youthful and not overt.” A simple knit or light tee also can tone down the formality of an embellished skirt, which makes the overall effect effortless, not over-styled.

Let the skirt shine. “The look is about the movement and showing off that fabulous fringe,” says Erlanger. So make like Nyong’o, the queen of red carpet twirls, and get moving! And consider a modern, simple hair style when rocking one of these skirts — anything too intricate competes with the streamer skirt. Note that all the ladies below, who are wearing one piece, kept their accessories simple. [From left to right: Irina Shayk in Emilio Pucci, Julianne Moore in Louis Vuitton, Sarah Paulson in Tamara Mellon, and Sharon Stone in a red dress.]

FilmMagic; WireImage; ZUMA; Getty

Go sleek with your shoes. “Choose a shoe that is simple and doesn’t distract from the look, you want it to almost disappear,” says Erlanger. We spied a lot of minimalist strappy sandals on celebs, but like Emilia Clarke and Olivia Wilde below (both in Michael Kors Collection skirts and tops), neutral pointy toe pumps can work too. Clarke’s white Prada heels add to the retro vibe of her wide Peter Pan collar, and Wilde’s beige Brian Atwood platforms lengthen the leg.

Albert L. Ortega/Getty; Paul Morigi/Getty

Tell us: Would you try this trend? Who do you think pulls it off the best?

–Catherine Kast