The tulip is a silhouette of a skirt or dress that rounds out with volume at the hips and tapers smoothly toward the hem, its petal-like panels overlapping like an unopened tulip flower. This cut concentrates volume at the hips, accentuating the waist by contrast and creating a soft, feminine and slightly retro, playful shape. The tulip silhouette appears in skirts, dresses and even 'tulip' trousers, adding elegant roundness to a look. Its challenge: the tapered hem slightly restricts the stride, so the right length and a fabric that holds the rounded volume — without making the silhouette too bulky — are important.
