Today’s outfit is built around a new piece I recently added to my wardrobe after thinking about it for a while: the Gezira Knit Skirt from Kotn. I’ve been eyeing this maxi skirt since the summer.
Kotn is Canadian maker of cotton clothes like shirts, pants, and sweaters in modern silhouettes. A certified B Corp, they give back to the community in Egypt where they source their cotton. Traditionally for Black Friday, they don’t hold a sale. Instead, they donate their proceeds to build schools in the rural area where the cotton is grown. So far they’ve funded 21 schools! (This year’s campaign runs from November 29 to December 3, and if you shop during this time, Kotn will give you a $25 coupon towards your next post-December 3 purchase.)
Kotn gave me this skirt and this post contains affiliate links. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. As always, I decide what to write about and all opinions are my own.
Kotn Skirt, courtesy of // Oak & Fort Top [similar] // AllSaints Jacket [review] // Lo & Sons Bag c/o [review] // dr. Liza Shoes [review] [similar]
I paired the skirt with an oatmeal-colored cropped boxy top to maintain the long, elegant look of the skirt. This helps visually lengthen me (and since I’m short, I could use all the help I can get). And I topped it all with a cropped motorcycle jacket (reviewed here) to contrast with the feminine feel of the skirt. I like this mix in materials as well as the mix in sweet and edgy.
Different textures of black: The nylon bag from Lo & Sons has the slightest of sheens.
For accessories, I went with a dome-shaped crossbody bag from Lo & Sons reviewed here. I thought I’d keep things simple by having the skirt, jacket, and bag all in black, though all in different materials. As I wrote in another outfit post, when you’re wearing a lot of the same color, you can keep things interesting with different textures.
Yes, leopard print is a neutral. The shoes tie everything together.
The finishing touch to my outfit was my trusty leopard print flats (reviewed here), which ties in the color of the top with the rest of the black pieces.
A Mini Review of the Kotn Gezira Knit Skirt
Kotn Skirt, courtesy of // Oak & Fort Top [similar] // AllSaints Jacket [review] // Lo & Sons Bag c/o [review] // dr. Liza Shoes [review] [similar]
The Gezira Knit Skirt is at once elegant and easy to wear.
The Gezira Knit Skirt is at once elegant and easy to wear. The construction of this skirt, made out of viscose, is impressive. It somehow manages to be lightweight and breathable — if you hold it up, light comes through it — yet it also has some heft that gives it wonderful drape and fluid movement.
The vertical lines in the skirt give the appearance of pleats and makes it visually interesting. Plus, it has an elastic waistband, which makes sizing more forgivable (something that’s important to me with a changing body). The A-line shape falls nicely away from the body, leaving ample room for the stomach and hips. The only thing that this skirt doesn’t have is pockets.
The tonal vertical lines add visual interest to the Kotn skirt.
I’m a small in most brands and ordered my usual size, though that made me a bit nervous. The waist measurement, measured flat, is listed is 13″ across, which seemed too small to me. But when the Gezira arrived, I was relieved to find that there’s a decent amount of give in the elastic waist. The elastic comfortably accommodated my larger-than-26″-waist. I was also afraid it might be too long. Kotn calls this a midi skirt. But to me it’s a maxi. I’m (almost) 5’4″, but it works, falling above my ankles.
The price of $148 seems more than fair for an ethically-made garment of good quality. Style-wise, it strikes the right balance of a classic look updated with modern details. It also comes in olive, and over the summer there was a light blue version. I simply love this skirt. While this is my first Kotn item, I suspect it won’t be my last. I’m now eyeing the Leila cardigan, which looks to have petite-friendly proportions.
