The fashion circle

This weekend I came across something that made my heart flutter and then skip a beat. It had everything: the length, the colour- oh, the colour!- and the new wide shape. As soon as I saw it I could see myself swooshing around in it, twirling like a ballerina, before falling down no doubt. But still, it will look fabulous, my new cobalt circle skirt.

The one that stole my heart: Asos's scuba circle skirt, £38

Image courtesy of asos.com

Circle skirts. They never really go out of fashion, they just sort of mutate to adhere to the latest trends. This season they've done it again and emerged in the new midi length and on-trend bold colours. The spring/summer catwalks were awash with hems swinging freely around calves. However, this is no revival of the granny-chic look that dominated all those seasons ago (four, to be precise). The midi length circle skirts for this season have been reworked in stiff, structured fabrics that hold their shape.

Over in Cannes this week La Croisette has proved, once again, to be quite the catwalk and we have seen an abundance of swirly, swooshy skirts. Nicole Kidman looked particularly stunning, and utterly graceful, in a dainty floral creation by Dior Haute Couture, while Bollywood actress, Sonam Kapoor, opted for full-on drama with mega volume and, I suspect, mega underskirtage! My favourite look from Cannes so far has to be Julianne Moore's effortless classic-yet-modern Dior gown, which she wore to the premiere of The Great Gatsby. Complete with a small train, it is a lesson in the art of making a statement without trying to hard.

Julianne Moore attends the premiere of The Great Gatsby at 

Cannes Film Festival this week

Isn't she lovely?

Nicole Kidman at this week's Cannes Film Festival

How many underskirts do you have under there?

Sonam Kapoor at the Cannes Film Festival

All images courtesy of fashion.telegraph.co.uk

My beautiful blue version from Asos has been made from scuba material, which is fitted and holds its A-line shape well, while still feeling extremely light and ultra-feminine. Speaking of light and feminine, Raf Simons' revival of the 1950's New Look during his debut spring/summer collection for Dior was spectacular. His were the circle skirts I'd put my fashion big bucks on. Light-as-air iridescent organza, decorated with delicate rose prints, was sculpted into a dramatic yet elegant form. Simply stunning.

Stunning simplicity: Dior spring/summer 2013

Image courtesy of fashion.telegraph.co.uk

I think the thing I love so much about the new-season skirts is that they are so easy to wear; they are not intricate or complicated garments, yet they still look and feel glamorous, like you've made an effort. And they are ultra-feminine; there's just something about this circle skirt that makes you want to swoosh around. Perhaps it's the longer midi length, so demure and a refreshing change from the leggy to-the-knee circle skirts we've seen of late.

Whatever the reason, the circle skirt formula is just right for now. So invest in a good quality material in a structured A-line shape and bold colour- bright yellow and monochrome are also stylish options- and wear with your highest, brightest white courts.