Forget the tulle dress. Buy this tulle fit instead

Synonymous with ballerinas and dancers, this soft-textured material has long been a symbol of femininity. Tulle is actually named after a town in central France where it was first made and fashion designers have had a long love affair with tulle. 

It took flight in its conventional graceful form of dresses and skirts envisioned by fashion heavyweights such as Giambattista Valli and Viktor & Rolf as well as millennial designers Molly Goddard, Simone Rocha and Cecilie Bahnsen. 

But tulle also has a grunge alter ego thanks to controversial Japanese designers Yohji Yamamoto’s Red Bustle coat in 1995 and Rei Kawakubo’s “Biker + Ballerina” Spring/Summer 2005 collection.

This spring/summer 2025 season, designers continue to use tulle in a less conventional form — infusing menswear tailoring sensibilities such as the oversized green tulle double-breasted blazer at Dries van Noten and a trench coat-inspired look at Dolce & Gabbana. 

Even the mistress of coquette-core Simone Rocha’s usual parade of ultra-feminine skirts and dresses had a spot of androgyny by way of a windbreaker rendered with a layer of tulle and embellished with 3D flowers.

Ruffle-detailing sheer coat, $1,836, ACT Nº1 at Farfetch.com

Credit: Farfetch.com

1/5

Bustier-style tulle jacket, $1,481, Simone Rocha at Farfetch.com

Credit: Farfetch.com

2/5

Tulle Blazer Jacket, $732, ACT Nº1 at Italist.com

Credit: Italist.com

3/5

Ruched tulle blazer dress, $1,634, Noir Kei Ninomiya at Mytheresa.com

Credit: Mytheresa.com

4/5

Sheer Opulence silk organza shirt, $489, Dorothee Schumacher at Mytheresa.com

Credit: Mytheresa.com

5/5