How to wear crochet to work

And other places that aren’t the beach

Runway trends and commercial trends carry different characteristics — often it’s more difficult to extract a runway trend from its birthplace (the runway) because of the personality it develops on there. With commercial trends, there is greater leeway to imagine how you can integrate the thing into your wardrobe. Crochet, a trend reaching its own kind of fever pitch for the upcoming summer season, is a good example of this. Without any expectation to live up to from the way, the options on tap feel vast and broad.

One thing that had not occurred to me about crochet is that it’s kind of like the summer equivalent of a winter knit (looser weave): dependable, versatile, comfortable, safe.

It makes for a great contrast with more formal clothes because its casual and pairs well with heavier fabrics (like suede or wool) for the same reason. The thing I’ve been thinking about is how to take the trend and make it city- or work- appropriate. Some of the ideas I’ve come up with include:

The micro mini styled under cropped pants

Another expression of the uniform template. G. Label by Goop sweater, Jacob Lee dress, Doen pants and sandals

• Your options for mini include: this or this from mango ($130, $80 respectively, and I saw this in the window of H&M last week and physically gasped). This one’s expensive, but I love the shape. Then this (also from Bode) is less literal. This black one (Christopher Esber) feels naturally a little more formal and here’s a color that would hold up well against brown pants or something more adventurous. Like purple! Dropping this last one from Sportmax in too.

The equation is: flirty mini dress as the sandwich meat, overwhelmingly office appropriate pants and nondescript sweater (cardigan! So you can see the dress) as bread layers. If your job is such that you can include surprise elements like a pair of metallic sandals, or you have the wearwithal to use two inconvenient bags as opposed to the one practical one —

Khaite bag (I like XL this mesh one) with last season’s Soeur x Cafe Leandra pouch layered over (not the same, but current season version here)

You can give the look a bit more personality.

A longer dress the same way

The Garment blazer, Maria McManus dress, Silk Laundry navy pants, Dries van Noten sandals

• Alt options include: This black long sleeve boatneck for $149, perfect for similar pants (probably in ivory), this one (cross-back) for $430 that has really nice movement (comes in black too/is on sale), this for something more formal or for an alt from Maria McManus, there’s this, which is probably suited better for no pants.

For a more relaxed environment, or at least one where there is a premium placed on how you get dressed, I recommend a longer dress with elastic waist flare pants (probably best if they’re full length, depending on the length of your dress), with a blazer to drill into the work element of it all and a shell necklace, mostly because it reminds you that this (your job) is what you do, not WHO YOU ARE.

Mana by Ezgi shell necklace, and if you can swing an XS, this pool blue pair of the same pants is on sale (would look nice with khaki). These shoes also come in raffia — then there’s these, a different look, but so good too.

I like this formula because the outcome will look different depending on how you choose to express it.

The mini skirt with a wool coat

Bode coat (this feels like the more appropriate seasonal choice), By Liv mini skirt, Chylak shoes

• Alt options include: this from Frankie’s Bikinis (which will need full coverage underwear), this from Ganni, this for a more festive vibe (which reads more belt than it does skirt). I like her from Etsy and she’s cool too. Then here’s the Michelin and its parent.

A mini skirt is probably the most beachy expression of crochet so styling it with something heavy — in this instance a wool jacket (but could be a flannel shirt, or crew neck sweater is the most straightforward way to offset the vibe.

A more casual vibe for shoe here

You’ll also want to add a closed back shoe (and depending on the mini-ness of the skirt, this could a ballet flat or mary jane or oxford or loafer — whatever suits your legs best).

Alternatively, and to my point above re: the skirt that reads more belt:

Loulou Studios top and pants, By Liv crochet mini skirt, Balenciaga sandals (but mules like this work, or a pair of black fabric sandals like this or something silver like these. Sometimes I do still think about these).

You can just wear it as a peplum. When the skirt is this short and a-line, it makes for a good one.

If your skirt is longer and we’re talking later into the season, how about something like:

Soeur button down, Eliou crochet skirt, Manolo Blahnik slides, Gucci ‘Jackie 1961’ bag

• Alt options include: this for $76 from SSENSE, this, which has a Roberta Einer vibe about it and this as the most chic option, hands down. This is my curveball of the day (but it’s kind of Miu Miu/Prada-esque, no?)

You’ll notice the shoes aren’t closed in the back, but they are still structured and the skirt is longer, so there is a bit more leeway. Not sure what kind of office you can wear a skirt like this to, so let’s call it a 5th-season dinner idea instead?

The top

Vintage leather jacket, Chambre de Fan top, Khaite skirt, with a few more sizes here, The Row sandals (there’s a pair on TRR in a sz 6), Etsy market tote

• Alt options include: