I’ll Be Wearing This Bubble Skirt Every Day This Summer

Gone are the days of slinky, silky skirts. Instead, give it up for the volume, the drama and the flair of the bubble hemline. Yes, this '80s trend is back and better than ever – reimagined in all lengths: the buoyant mini, the poofy midi and the subtly flouncy maxi.

This particular black bubble maxi skirt, which is from Free People, has quickly become a staple in my wardrobe this season. It’s so fun and flirty – yet oh-so-versatile. Wear it low-rise, high-rise, or whichever way you like – the wide waistband is flattering wherever it's positioned – and the billowy silhouette is theatrically romantic.

I’ve been able to style this skirt with literally anything – from a silver going-out tank top to my granddad’s old fisherman-style jumper. I’m not exaggerating when I say this is the first thing I grab when I wake up in the morning. To complete the look, I shove on my pair of well-worn Doc Martens, or if I’m feeling funky (and it’s dry outside!), bright suede trainers for a pop of colour.

No surprise then that it’s taken the high street by storm. Monki's version has a subtler poof and hits on or just below the knee. Minimal yet contemporary, it will slot right into your pre-existing wardrobe - just chuck on your favourite pair of trainers for a guaranteed cool-girl look.

Or, brave a bit more drama with a balloon mini skirt like Weekday's. The ultimate fashion-girlie essential for spring, style it with a boat-neck top and knee-high boots for a Y2K aesthetic.

SHOP: The Best Bubble Skirts

What are bubble skirts?

A bubble skirt - also known as balloon skirts or puffball skirts, FYI - is a skirt that has a double layer of fabric to create a bubble effect at the bottom. In my experience, the shorter the skirt, the more pronounced the bubble so if you want a subtly puffed hemline instead of something more statement, opt for a midi instead of a mini.

How to wear bubble skirts?

This depends entirely on your style preferences but, as a general rule, bubble skirts work really well styled with fitted tops as they balance out the puffed bottom half to perfection. As temperatures hot up, try a vest top, letting just a sliver of stomach show between your top and your waistband. (If you're not a fan of bare arms, meanwhile, slip an unbuttoned shirt over the top.) Finally, because a bubble skirt has a certain amount of flounce, you might want to counteract that characteristic by sticking to flats, either a pair of retro trainers, chunky loafers or fisherman-style sandals.

Jo Yip is Grazia’s Fashion Cupboard Manager. Her natural habitat is the fashion cupboard, where you’ll find her sipping her fifth iced coffee with her noise cancelling headphones on, probably packing a suitcase for a shoot.