Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

What are these tube skirts that are mentioned on here all the time?

48 replies

movingmovingmoving · 27/02/2014 22:47

I honestly don't think I have ever seen one in the shops, but am intrigued - are they short or long? I wear skater style skirts a lot but am getting bored of them so these could be an alternative...any chance someone could post a couple of examples?

OP posts:
RiojaHaze · 27/02/2014 22:52

www.riverisland.com/women/skirts/tube--pencil-skirts/Black-geometric-stripe-knitted-tube-skirt-649033

I'm pear shaped and wear skater dresses too but I find tube skirts easy to wear and flattering.

VelvetDuvet · 27/02/2014 23:46

The one that comes highly recommended is from whistles. I bought a cheapo one from matalan for £9 not expecting much of it, and honestly it's great. Really flattering & I didn't expect it to look good.
I tried the whistles one on at the weekend thinking a better quality one would last longer but it didn't fit me as well as the matalan one did so I didn't bother as it was £55 I think.

cloudskitchen · 27/02/2014 23:55

I have the hush ruched skirt. That's been mentioned quite alot. At least once by me Grin

LaTrucha · 28/02/2014 08:08

Do you have to wear bear legs underneath them? Do they ride up with tights?

WholeNutt · 28/02/2014 09:07

Can an apple wear this type of skirt?

MelanieCheeks · 28/02/2014 10:03

I would worry it would be too long on my wee short legs, and just make me look dumpy.

Flangeofmingetown · 28/02/2014 10:07

I wear maxi tube skirts and I'm an apple. They're really flattering because there is no extra material around the waistband but I recommend that you ignore the size label and get it big enough so it doesn't stick to the stomach.
They are incredibly versatile- great for layering all year around and comfortable too.

Arf at bear legs- now that was an image and because I'm tired it took me a while with thoughts of ugg type boots or some leg wear I hadn't come across. Damn autocorrect.

They don't ride up with tights in my experience.

WhereIsMyHat · 28/02/2014 10:23

I wear short ones as longer ones just accentuate my thunder calf look. Asos have loads, I have the basic jersey mini that's nice and thick and not too mini. I wear it with thick black tights and something bum covering on top. I wear ankle boots or brogues on my feet.

WhereIsMyHat · 28/02/2014 10:23

ASOS

Floisme · 28/02/2014 11:26

I've lived in them all winter. I'm quite short and I like them just below the knee - I just wear them high on my waist to get the length I want. I started off with a £20 Top Shop one (sorry, can't do links at the moment) which looked great at first but is now very bobbly and saggy. I also bought the £55 Whistles one, mentioned above which has been worn to death and still looks good. I would say, if you're not sure, try a cheaper one first, as long as it's double layered (unless you're super thin - the single layer ones are pitiless). But if you're going to wear it a lot, I think it's worth spending more.

OuterFromOutersville · 28/02/2014 11:33

Can anyone link to any nice maxi tube skirts? No splits, maybe grey or black?

bunnymother · 28/02/2014 12:05

The Whistles one is double thickness, which is necessary for my wobbly bits, I think. Me+Em do one, as do Hush, but Whistles do both long and short ones.

Goodness, good luck with the bear legs - must be hard to style Grin

Mrs4561 · 28/02/2014 12:05

Sorry just to jump in with no answers, but how do you wear them? What with I mean? I want to try wear something different from the skinnies I live in.

bunnymother · 28/02/2014 12:07

To be more helpful, the Me+Em ruched dress I have does ride up a little with tights, and I imagine the only way to avoid that is to wear a slip? Which I doubt anyone would do, so maybe don't start w one that is as short as you can go, as it will ride up, and you will need to pull it down? Thats been my experience w the skirt part of the Me+Em dress, which I wore w opaques, anyway.

bunnymother · 28/02/2014 12:08

Given that a tube skirt tends to be tight / fitted, would't you wear it w a roomy top or shirt? Or a shirt w a round jumper over the top, with opaques and ankle boots? I just think that the proportions that would work best are a roomy / loose top to counter balance the tight bottom?

bunnymother · 28/02/2014 12:09

Here's a thought - how about you wear the same stuff on top that you would wear w black skinnies?

WhereIsMyHat · 28/02/2014 12:13

Yes, I agree with bunny other about wearing a looser top to even it out a little.

Today I am wearing high denier black tights, a grey skirt, black top with a slouchy and bum covering cardigan. I think shoes need to be kept casual if you're wanting to achieve a casual look as these skirts can easily look very 'night out'. I'm wearing ankle boots, desert boot type ones.

Mrs4561 · 28/02/2014 12:14

That's a good idea. I seem to recall seeing some at H&M, think il start cheap to see if I actually wear it.

Mrs4561 · 28/02/2014 12:15

How about a slouchy knitted jumper? And yy to keeping it casual, I think that's why I always wear jeans, the safe option for not looking overdressed!

RiojaHaze · 28/02/2014 12:27

Today I'm at work so I've got a just under knee length plain one with ballet pumps, a loose collarless shirt and a big scarf.

Out of work I'd wear a long sleeved t-shirt with it - not fitted but not overly loose or a casual vest and cardigan with ankle boots.

Also wear them with my converse.

Floisme · 28/02/2014 13:09

How did I manage to leave out the Me&Em one! I know it's expensive but, whenever I wear it, I feel fabulous.

I normally wear them with a slouchy, V-neck jumper but other times, it might be with something more fitted e.g. a buttoned up cardigan. I do keep the shoes fairly relaxed e.g. biker or ankle boots - always flat but I don't wear heels anyway.

I find them much easier to wear than skinnies because, although they're so fitted, they're easier on my thighs for some reason. (The shorter ones probably wouldn't be but I only wear them below the knee.) In fact they have made me realise how bad I look in skinnies but that's another thread entirely.

Doodleoinkquack · 28/02/2014 13:23

I am intrigued, I've only just got my head around the fact that skinnies can look ok on me (5'2, size 6-8 top, size 10 arse, wide hips), are these really flattering?

I'm looking for some new skirts/trousers that are not skinnies. If I'm confronted with a view of a backside the size of China in the changing room mirror, I'm blaming MN for the trauma caused. Surely they showcase every bulge and produce an arse overhang?

Floisme · 28/02/2014 13:40

Doodleoinkquack, make sure you try one that's double thickness. The single layer ones show off bulges you didn't even know you had but the double ones just suck you in somehow. The Whistles and Me&Em ones are particularly good for that (although so they should be, for the price). Also longer looks better on me than short - but not calf length, I just hoik it up till it's just below the knee.

I'm a similar size to you: 5'3, 8-10, pear-shape-but-not-far-off-hourglass and I swear they look way better on me than skinnies. Of course I may be deluding myself but, right now, I don't care Grin

bettykt · 28/02/2014 14:45

Not normally a big fan of cheap clothing but I bought this one to test it out and it's great, I ruch (sp) it up a bit, mid thigh, wear leggings underneath and a jumper on top and with a pair of black Ask Jalouse boots. It looks great, think i'm going to go back for a black one.