The Bubble Skirt Trend Will Be All The Rage In 2023
If you were aware of the fashion trends back in the early aughts, you definitely remember bubble skirts. Well, the bubbles are back with a bang — or should we say a pop? — and they're not going anywhere. In fact, per Elle, we expect to be seeing a lot more of this fun, flirty hemline that is poised to take over in 2023.
While this may not seem like the easiest or most versatile look, it certainly makes a statement, and who doesn't want to be more daring with their fashion in 2023? There are plenty of ways to rock this trend that are totally fashion-forward, and stars like Celine Dion and Millie Bobby Brown have been seen rocking their own versions of the trend.
Luckily, stars and trendsetters alike are proving that there are plenty of ways to make this trend your own, and while the look may have come from the past, we're excited to see plenty of it in the future.
What is the bubble skirt?
We don't need an etymologist to tell us how the bubble skirt got its name. The bubble skirt looks like a bubble. Per Fashion Terminologies, instead of a flat hem like most other skirts and dresses, the bubble skirt's hem is tucked under, giving it lots of volume, texture, and potential for movement. In the form of a short, pastel-colored minidress, the bubble skirt gives off major ballerina vibes, but this isn't the only way to wear the trend.
Some versions of this trend look more like a peplum, as the voluminous shape ends above a more form-fitting, straight hem that falls below it. Bubble skirts and dresses also come in midi-length or tea-length, which gives off a more princess-y ballgown vibe than its mini counterpart. Whether your choice of bubble skirt is short or long or you choose to dress it up or down, this style is always a statement.
Why is the bubble skirt trending?
We all know that in the fashion and beauty worlds, '90s and Y2K styles are everything right now. It's no wonder, then, that the bubble skirt is next. Per Moroccan Ladies, Princess Diana once rocked the bubble skirt as a part of a very memorable look in the late '80s, and the trend continued through the early 2000s.
According to The Zoe Report, there were plenty of examples of the bubble skirt on the New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2023 runways, which proves that the resurgence of the bubble skirt has only just begun. From a vibrant, colorful sweater dress on the Ulla Johnson runway to a voluminous, cloud-like skirt combined with a netted tank top courtesy of Proenza Schouler, NYFW's big designers proved that not only is the bubble skirt going to be all-the-rage in the upcoming season, but also that there are many ways to style this trend.
How to rock the bubble skirt trend
How do you rock this trend when walking around town and not on the runway? Per Romantique and Rebel, the most important part of making this trend work is balancing the major volume that this hem brings to the table. Pairing your bubble skirt with a sleek, form-fitting, simple top will create a silhouette that works and doesn't overwhelm your look.
As is true with many of the Y2K trends that are making a comeback, determining how to embrace the trend while still bringing it into the modern day is key. What sets the new, trendy bubble skirt apart from the bubble skirts of yore is all about length. In the '90s and early 2000s, the most popular bubble skirts seemed to be the ones that landed at or just above the knee (via InStyle). While this may have been cool back then, today it looks heavy and strangely proportioned.
For 2023, we recommend rocking your bubble skirt either as a super miniskirt, like Celine Dion recently sported, or in a midi-length, like Natalia Dyer's midi-skirt and crop top combo. Choosing a more extreme length for your bubble skirt leans into the whimsy of the trend and allows the proportions to work with you, rather than against you.