The Only Summer Trend I Care About
Bed sheets but make them fashion!
Quick housekeeping note: I’m starting my maternity leave next week, so this will be my last newsletter for a bit. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you so much for being here, and for the comments and feedback many of you have taken a moment to share over the last five months. It really has made the time it takes to put together each edition of Gumshoe feel worth it. I hope you’ll stick around until I’m back from this hiatus — I have a list on my phone with all the things I want to write about, and it only keeps getting longer. See you on the other side ❤️
These days the trends that tempt me most are those that tend to border on being so deceivingly simple it’s hard to decide if they even classify as one. I think that’s why my desire to own a pair of mesh ballet flats (perhaps the most clearcut trend to come out of 2023’s spring / summer circuit) has waxed and waned in quick succession, but I’ve spent the entirety of July harboring an increasingly passionate urge to acquire the perfect bed sheet skirt.
“Bed sheet skirt” is the term I’ve ascribed to an item I’ve seen crop up repeatedly on my social media feeds and downtown street corners over the last few months: plain white cotton poplin gathered skirts that hit at mid-calf or ankle. Skirts that evoke the relaxed appeal of a woman picking heirloom tomatoes in Sicily crossed with another shucking oysters on a porch in Maine, distinguished by the easy looseness of a sun-drenched top sheet draped across an unmade bed.
I have no broad conclusions to draw from the uptick in sightings of this particular skirt style except to say: well yeah, of course. The light cotton fabrication and easy silhouette translate to an ideal summer style staple, one that combats sweat and stickiness with a breeziness of its own making. It’s as conducive to getting dressed right now as a stick of deodorant — albeit a whole lot chicer.
If I were to subject it to my own should-I-buy-this trend rubric…
What is it about this trend that’s sucking me in?
The ease! The versatility! The way it makes me want to consume stone fruit on a park bench!
How long will this trend appeal to me?
Given how nondescript it is, I’d imagine it would be very hard to get sick of.
How practical is this trend for my lifestyle and the way I actually get dressed?
I want to say “very,” but with the caveat that it would depend on the exact version of it that I had in my hypothetical possession. Most of them look pretty comfortable and practical. I think I would get the most use out of one with an elastic waist that is only slightly gathered.
Can I recreate or approximate the trend with things I already possess?
Maybe. I have a long white cotton poplin skirt from Rosie Assoulin, but it has brown leather detailing at the top, so it’s not exactly a classic bed sheet vibe. I’m going to experiment with it a bit when it starts fitting me again, though.
Can I make this trend my own?
A bed sheet is about as close to a blank canvas as you can get, so I’d answer this question with an emphatic yes. The simplicity of these skirts makes them ripe for highly personal interpretation.
Since my body is currently in a state of acute flux I’m not buying anything new at the moment, but I feel strongly enough about this trend and its longevity that I wouldn’t be surprised if I end up purchasing an iteration of it in the near future. You might prefer to scratch the itch sooner, though, so I’ve compiled a shopping edit below.
Shop the Trend: The Best Bed Sheet Skirts I’ve Seen ‘Round the Interwebs
Cuyana Poplin Gathered Skirt, $198, sizes XS - XL. This is the skirt that Megan is wearing above.
Eight Days a Week Shirring Long Skirt, $97, sizes S - M. The description for this skirt says it’s “made with thin yet highly dense fabric that has an excellent texture.” Consider me compelled.
Modern Citizen Zadie Pleated Skirt, available on Poshmark in size XL for $76 and sizes M and L for $100.
Banana Republic Laurel Poplin Skirt, $130, sizes 0 - 20. A more tailored, A-line style.
Etsy White Cotton Skirt, $62.76, sizes 0 - 16. You can customize the length on this one at no extra cost.
Otto Dame Poplin Long Skirt, $126, sizes M -L. This one has an interior drawstring.
Staud Corey Merino Wool & Stretch Poplin Dress, $375, sizes XS - XL. This dress is actually what Caitlin is pictured wearing above, so I’m including it here even though it’s a slight deviation from theme. I thought it was a separate skirt and tank when I initially screen-shotted the photo of her, which I guess is the point! A really clever design.
At nine months pregnant my ability to create new outfit imagery has been seriously compromised, so before signing off I just want to say a big thank you to the infinitely stylish Megan, Caitlin, and Marilyn for permission to use the respective photos that art-ed this newsletter.
xo Harling
thank you for this!! been hunting for the perfect skirt just like this all summer. bed sheet skirt is the perfect name. excited to check out your recs!
Bed sheet skirt! Brilliant! I recently went down an Etsy rabbit hole looking for a white maxi reminiscent of Victorian times. Obviously, a bit different but with similar reference.