The bloomer is the shape Patou returns to every season: a gathered mini
skirt with volume at the hip that collapses back in at the hem, worn short. It also exists as a
dress. It is the most photographed thing the house makes and the one that divides people.
What it is
A mini skirt cut full and gathered, usually with an elasticated waist, sometimes a drawstring, in a
fabric stiff enough to hold the bubble. The house makes it in:
- Recycled faille (100 percent recycled polyester), the structured one.
Around 490 to 590 euros at source. Made in Poland and Madagascar. - Organic cotton, softer, more summer. Around 490 euros.
- Blended lyocell and silk in the Eden Roc summer capsule, which drapes
rather than holds.
There is also a bloomer dress, a halterneck and bustier mini in the same logic.
How to wear it without looking costumed
The bloomer does the work, so everything else stays flat.
- Keep the top close. A fine knit, a tucked tank, a slim long sleeve.
Volume on volume reads as fancy dress. - Keep the shoe flat. A loafer, a ballet flat, a low heel. A stiletto tips
the whole thing into evening. - Cover the leg in winter. Opaque tights and a boot, with a long wool coat
over the top, is how it works from October. - One ornament. The skirt is the ornament. Keep the jewellery to a pair of
the coin earrings.
Sizing
True to size. The volume is in the cut, not in the grading. FR 34 is UK 6 through to FR 44
at UK 16. Full table.
Care
The recycled faille versions are hand wash only. The organic cotton ones machine wash at
30C with similar colours.
Shop designer skirts and designer dresses. See how the rest of the house fits together.
More Patou guides
- Patou Dresses: Every Silhouette, Ranked by Occasion
- Is Patou Sustainable? The Numbers the House Publishes
- Who Owns Patou? LVMH, Designer Parfums and the 2018 Split
- Patou Review: Quality, Sizing and Whether It Is Worth It
- Patou Size Guide: French Sizing to UK, Explained
- La Patou Blouse: How to Wear the House Blouse
Frequently asked questions
What is a bloomer skirt?
A gathered mini skirt cut with volume at the hip that draws back in at the hem, giving a bubble shape. Patou makes it every season in recycled faille, organic cotton and, in the summer capsule, blended lyocell and silk.
How do you style a Patou bloomer skirt?
Keep the top close and the shoe flat. A fine knit, a tucked tank, a loafer, a ballet flat, and in winter opaque tights with a long coat.
How much is the Patou bloomer skirt?
About 490 to 590 euros at source depending on fabric.
Does the bloomer skirt run true to size?
Yes. The volume is cut in rather than graded in, so take your usual size.
Sources
- Patou product pages, compositions and care instructions, patou.com
Written and fact-checked by Gemma Deeks, Fashion Editor at Coveti. Last reviewed September 2026.
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