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
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 —
You can give the look a bit more personality.
A longer dress the same way
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.
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
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.
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:
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:
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
Again, nude bottom, so maybe this is more like “How to wear crochet in a city,” literalized with the use of a leather jacket as the sandwich meat between beach artifact a (the straw bag) and b (the top).
If your crochet top was more like a button down, or featured a collar or whatever, I’d recommend a pair of tailored dark trousers — something like the Emi Mess ‘Avit’ style.
The pants
Alt options include: hello! Hey, hi. These feel like they could be an alt to the above Eliou skirt too — envisioning them with a light blue button down and flip flops like-a-these or these.
But if you’re wearing crochet pants, take the opposite approach with a streamlined, structured jacket like the above, which I’m wearing as a top. The key here is really to keep it simple (so nothing too bright) and straightforward (the less embellishment, the better).
It also gives you more leeway to play around with your “going out for lunch, does anyone want anything?” accessories (see: sunglasses).
Lastly, the shorts
Not for work! This is footage from right before I took my kids to the park on a recent 68-degree day. Works in a city because of the loafers, which add weight to the bottom of the look. Good for a weekend, or to walk your dog too. Do you have a dog? Such a good excuse to get dressed.
This is where I leave you. Have a great week,
Leandra
As someone in the fiber arts, one thing to note! Many of these are knit not crochet. Crochet can only be done by hand because of the specific technique (machines cannot replicate). Anything that states to be crochet, make sure to look at the price point and understand that a human had to do that all by hand. A crochet dress would take approx 50-60 hours depending on the complexity and size.
Had to do a triple take of the outfit with the clear The Row sandals. Barefoot, in the city?! Has she gone mad?! Nope, just The Row 😅