It's trendy: tulle | The Press

Because the good weather has finally arrived, La Presse dissects the spring-summer fashion trends: which styles, fabrics and prints to adopt? Where do these currents come from and how to appropriate them? We tell you everything.

The trend

Transparent, light and airy, tulle is a fabric first worn by ballerinas. In 1832, for a large romantic ballet, the tulle was mounted in several petticoats; the tutu was born.

From there, it made its way until 1998, when it was brought up to date by Carrie Bradshaw, the famous heroine of the Sex and the City series. The story goes that the designer responsible for the costumes for the series, Patricia Field, bought, almost accidentally and at the very last minute before filming, the tutu for $5.

The craze for tulle, first worn as skirts or dresses, long and short, has never waned since. "It's a delicate, very fine, feminine and elegant fabric," says Frédérique Gauthier, stylist at the Folio agency. We see it season after season, with several designers. She adds in the same breath that while the popularity of tulle is nothing new, it peaks in the Spring/Summer 2020 collections.

The trend today features several garments designed in tulle: tops, sweaters, blouses and even turtlenecks and gloves.

Where do we see it?

Everywhere ! On the catwalks of designers, from Gucci to Alexander McQueen, via Roksanda, Dior, Molly Goddard, Christopher Kane, Valentino, Oscar de la Renta… “I've seen a lot! launches Lolitta Dandoy, fashion journalist behind the fashioniseverywhere.com blog. What's unique to this season is that it's very layered, with ruffles. It gives a glamorous and dramatic look at the same time. »

Fashionistas and celebrities embraced the trend, especially when designer Giambattista Valli collaborated with the H&M chain in the fall of 2019. "We saw Kendall Jenner with a pink tulle dress," says ^Ms. Dandoy, who herself has dared to follow the trend twice in recent years for appearances at fashion events in Montreal.

Alicia Keys, Nicole Kidman, Bella Hadid, Rihanna, Kim Kardashian, Dua Lipa have donned the tulle dress at chic events, not to mention Celine Dion in her famous haute couture video for Vogue.

Why now ?

Wispy and sheer, tulle does well when the temperatures soar. “We almost always see it in summer trends, notes Frédérique Gauthier, because it lends itself well to hot temperatures. I find that with tulle you can show skin and still be tasteful and elegant. »

According to this stylist, Gucci has paved the way: “He's a very influential designer, she explains, and tulle was everywhere in his last collection! Fashion journalist Lolitta Dandoy believes that the influence of the red carpets has something to do with it. “Before, VIP parties with red carpets were just parties where people dressed up, she says, but now everyone's eyes are on what the stars will be wearing. There are dreams and a lot of glamour! »

She adds that social networks have probably amplified this trend, relaying quickly and abundantly (sites, blogs, magazines, newspapers) the outfits worn by celebrities.

We try it

Do you necessarily have to be invited to a chic event to dare to wear tulle? Not necessarily, according to the two fashion experts. “You can wear a tulle skirt with a very simple t-shirt or camisole, in ribbed cotton for example, suggests ^Ms. Dandoy. I would mix a very chic piece with a more casual piece. In that sense, wearing the ensemble with white sneakers works wonders, she says. His favourites? Tulle skirts from the 1861 store in Montreal.

For her part, Frédérique Gauthier suggests wearing a fitted tulle top, for example in a dark color, with jeans or flared pants. “We put a bralette type bra underneath or nothing at all and add an oversized jacket. The stylist is falling for Sophie Cull-Candy's delicate and ultra-feminine gloves these days, "a perfect accessory", she drops.