The Ultimate Skirt Guide

Winter always delivers a breadth of skirt styles in luxe fabrics that are perfect for the office – and any plans you have afterwards – from neat pencil shapes to elegant A-line silhouettes. Tom Ford’s wrap-effect midi is printed with polka dots and falls in soft pleats, enhancing its suppleness; while Frame’s paneled skirt comes in butter-soft chocolate leather. Both can easily be styled for day or night with a silk shirt and heeled ankle boots. Alternatively, embrace a minimal mood with Marni’s sharply pleated knee-length style – it looks ultra-chic paired with a black cashmere sweater and knee-high boots.

Weekends are the perfect time to lean into tactile textures, such as denim and suede. The Row’s ‘Danas’ skirt is cut from supple beige suede with wraparound ties and looks super-sophisticated teamed with a turtleneck and loafers. Meanwhile, Frame’s indigo denim midi is just as versatile as your favorite jeans. Wear it with a shirt in the same wash or a long-sleeved tee. Elsewhere, Alaïa’s softly pleated cashmere-blend midi promises warmth, comfort and elegance – a must on chilly winter days.

Dinner parties tend to be quite intimate and relaxed, especially those thrown by your closest friends – but that’s not to say you can’t wear something fabulous. The trick is to opt for effortlessly elegant pieces that can easily be pared back with a cashmere sweater, such as Chloé’s maxi style from our NET SUSTAIN edit. It’s cut from organic silk-mousseline and detailed with tiered ruffles at the waist. Or there’s Sharon Wauchob’s ‘Jay’ style in filmy silk-voile that can be underpinned with lace-trimmed shorts or a tonal slip.

While a gown may be your first port of call for special occasions, a maxi skirt can be just as impactful – and there are plenty of standout styles in our edit to prove it. Valentino Garavani’s version comes in turquoise silk-satin that ripples like water as it falls, while Galvan’s ‘Beating Heart’ style delivers a dose of high-octane glamour with all-over sequins. Channel Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and designer Carolina Herrera by teaming yours with a crisp white shirt, or try it with a sleek bodysuit. If you’re petite, simply balance the longer style with a heel – or have a tailor alter it to your desired length.

The beauty of wearing a skirt on vacation lies in its versatility. Whether you’re throwing it on over beachwear or styling with a linen shirt and flats for trips into town, it looks chic and put together every time. The definition of jet-set glamour, Pucci’s vibrantly printed silk-twill skirt is the perfect choice for pool parties and sunset drinks. Style it with a slinky top in a clashing print and barely-there heels. If you’re less into prints or are seeking a style you can wear post-vacation, too, then look no further than Heirlome’s ‘Estefania’ style. Crafted from Italian tussah silk, it has a flattering cinched waist and an elegant tulip-shaped skirt that would move beautifully as it caught the sea breeze.