Target Women's Leisure Studio Fleece Cargo Mini Skirt--Universal Thread
A wardrobe staple I have been missing for years
Long, long ago, when I was twenty-something and the future looked bright, I had a grey fleece skirt that I wore the absolute crap out of. It was a weekend staple for me; I wore it with fun graphic tees, light sweaters, the occasional tank top, and a summery shoe. It was an easy piece to love. The skirt was very soft and comfortable, and it showed off my legs, which I’ve always felt were worth showing off. The waistband was a combination elastic plus tie waist. It was a piece that just worked, and I knew I was losing an old friend when I retired it because the waistband had worn out. I have literally missed that skirt ever since.
In the meantime, I’ve had other skirts, of course, and I have a blue ruched number that I like to wear for work during the hotter months. But I think part of what really worked with that old skirt was the color. Grey is just the most wonderful blank slate. Grey is the canvas upon which I love to build outfits, so you can imagine why this grey fleece number from Target caught my eye a month or two ago.
I wasn’t sure at first. I knew I had longed for a grey fleece skirt for the better part of ten years. But this one had a lot more details to it compared to my last skirt, namely a thick elastic waistband (which—let’s be honest—screams “SWEATPANTS!”) and cargo pockets. Was this really a replacement for my old favorite?
I decided to go for it, in part because I’ve been feeling like I don’t have enough skirts for a long time. My post-pregnancy shape kinda blew a huge hole in my wardrobe that I had not yet filled. I love skirts! And yet, I have made do with just two skirts for years now, one of which I find difficult to style. I’m delighted to report to you that this skirt is a keeper.
Made of a soft, thick fleece, this is a piece with structure. Yes, it’s casual, probably too casual for any situation where you are trying to dress to impress, but it’s also not just a sack of a garment. A huge key to its structure is that waistband. Because the waistband is wide and elastic, I find that it tolerates tucked shirts really nicely, which gives an outfit a bit more polish. The width of the waistband also makes it more comfortable; a wide waistband distributes the force from the band on a larger area of your body, which helps reduce the feeling of something digging into your middle. I’ve noticed this with a lot of my favorite pieces—a wide waistband is a great feature to find if you are someone who wants less pressure around your abdomen.
It’s also a skirt with some length to it, which I appreciate. This is not a skimpy piece. It’s got structure, it’s got details, and it’s a blank slate of grey, so it’ll go with just about anything, color-wise, that you want to throw at it. On the Target website, a poster by the name @msnafashion paired her skirt with a hot pink tank top, and she looks amazing! I’m definitely going to try the same thing at home with my pink tanks.
This is a great piece to carry you from the last gasp of summer and into those beautiful fall days. I can’t wait to wear mine with my pink flannel or my striped boatneck shirt.
Product Details: Target Women’s Leisure Studio Fleece Cargo Mini Skirt—Universal Thread
Sold at Target, online or in stores
Price: $20.00
My size: S
Size range as listed on the website: XS-4X (Size availability is a bit limited as of this writing, but maybe another batch of these skirts will make it to market.)
Fit: A wide elastic waistband keeps the skirt in place without too much compression. It hangs nicely without being clingy or riding up. A fairly typical mini skirt, in my experience.
Colorway shown here: Gray