'The origami skirt hits that oh-so-buyable sweet spot: it is a slightly altered item, with a name that makes it sound more daring than it really is'
OK, I'm calling it. The seasonal contest for Outstanding New Fashion Name is hereby declared over. And the winner is the origami skirt.
The origami skirt hits that oh‑so‑buyable sweet spot: it is a slightly altered but not entirely unfamiliar item, with a name that makes it sound more thrilling and daring than it really is. The origami skirt is a hybrid of two established looks, namely the pencil-skirt-with-split, and the wrap skirt. From the pencil-skirt-with-split, it borrows the form-fitting silhouette with the suggestion of extra leg (and perhaps extra licence) that the split lends. From the wrap skirt, it borrows a slightly more avant-garde, architectural silhouette.
The end result is a flatteringly shaped skirt whose split manages to seem precise, clever and rather exotic. The fun name adds the finishing touch.
What's more, origami is more than a silly name. The Preen skirt I'm wearing here really is folded, rather than snipped. Behind the split is a second layer, a snakeskin-printed thigh-veil. This is genius, because it solves the age-old practical issue with a split skirt, which is that a split that looks positively demure when viewed in the mirror of a changing room takes on a quite different character when you sit down on a train, or in a meeting room, and the glimpse of thigh turns into an eyeful.
One of my pet hates is clothes that have you constantly fidgeting with them. Those kind of clothes are distracting in the very worst way, and it is simply not possible to look chic and elegant while tugging at your hem.
The best foil for an origami skirt is a top half that is all straight lines and symmetry – a buttoned-up shirt or a simple crew-neck T-shirt. Anything floppy or floaty will kill the impact, so that the overall impression is messy rather than avant-garde. Simple flat-soled shoes are also important, rather than anything bulbously platformed or elaborately laced. Origami demands crispness, see? That's why it's not just rather a good look, but rather a good look with a very good name.
• Jess wears shirt, £470, by Roksanda Ilincic, and skirt, £868, by Preen, both matchesfashion.com. Heels, £42, asos.com.
Styling: Melanie Wilkinson. Hair and makeup: Tonee Roberio using Mac Cosmetics.