Skirts are divisive little beasts. Some women love them and have wardrobes full of sassy skirts. Other women? They strictly maintain skirt-free closets.
Knowing which skirts work with your figure means sliding one on and immediately feeling like a million bucks — especially if pants fight your shape in every way. Then again, some women feel like they've stuffed their lower halves into potato sacks with every skirt they've ever tried. These women hate skirts with whole hearts.
And that hate is legit: Clothes that make you miserable have no place in your closet.
However, it's possible a lifelong skirt-hater has missed some key pieces of skirt-related insight. Learning more about fit might help these women understand why the garment does cruel things to their silhouettes. And maybe, just maybe, it will help them select skirt styles that work with their bodies rather than against them.
That said, let's talk about how skirts are supposed to fit.
The waistband should sit flat.
Squeezing at the waistband is the enemy — no two ways about it. Depending on how you're built, a little squeezing may be inevitable, but keep it as minimal as possible, even if that means sizing up to fit your midsection and tailoring elsewhere. A skirt waistband should sit at your natural waist, where your torso is narrowest. Ideally, it should stay put without too much sliding around, but sliding is preferable to squeezing. If you've got a soft midsection, look for skirts with wide waistbands since they are less likely to dig.
Minimal pulling in front.
Unless you plan to spend the day on your feet (while remaining totally motionless), your skirt is going to get a little creased. And unless it's a full skirt style with loads of pleats, it might pull just a little across the front. But if it pulls constantly or creates giant smile lines from hip to hip, it's simply too tight. End of story.
The skirt should follow your curves.
Like dresses, skirts should caress the body's curves without pulling … but also without bubbling. A skirt that fits properly should skim your curves without creating any lumps or bumps in the fabric. (Back-zip skirts are especially prone to this problem.) Fuller skirts should sit against your lower back and glide off your backside. Pencils should fit to your bum with a bit of wiggle room.
Show a little knee.
Minis, midis and maxis all have their charms. If you're a skirt-loving gal, by all means, go ahead and experiment with every length you find. But for women who feel short skirts throw off their proportions, try this rule: Pick a length that hits somewhere between the center of your kneecap and about one inch above the top of your kneecap. Showing a little knee — even if it's just the bottom half — is an easy way to balance your figure. This trick works for women of virtually every height, weight and shape.
Comfort is queen.
Some women feel voluminous skirts swamp their figure and adore the curve-defining properties of pencils and miniskirts. Others feel exposed or unbalanced in body-conscious styles but love the look of flared, full and A-line styles. Still other women are happier living skirt-free lives … but they can and should explore the options before dismissing this garment entirely.
Sally McGraw is the author of Already Pretty, a daily blog about the intersection of style and body image.
FAQs
If you're an apple, opt for a flowy style that skims your stomach area, if you're a pear, choose an A-line style maxi, if you're a rectangle opt for a body con style maxi skirt that clings to your legs, and patterned skirts will work well for you, and if you're an inverted triangle, you have the perfect body shape for ...
What type of skirt is slimming? ›
Choosing the Type of Skirt
A pencil skirt is form-fitted and wraps around your body to flatter your natural curves. Choose an A-line skirt for a more slender figure. If you have a petite figure, an A-line skirt can be particularly flattering.
Where should a skirt sit on your body? ›
A skirt waistband should sit at your natural waist, where your torso is narrowest. Ideally, it should stay put without too much sliding around, but sliding is preferable to squeezing. If you've got a soft midsection, look for skirts with wide waistbands since they are less likely to dig.
How do you choose a skirt design suited to your height and figure? ›
If You're Tall and Lean: Wear a Maxi Skirt. If You're Curvy: Wear a Pencil Skirt. If You're Pear Shaped: Wear an A-line Skirt. If You're Slim: Wear Asymmetrical Skirts.
What skirts are flattering for a big belly? ›
Try to disguise the wider mid-section. Skirts that hit at knee length or right above the knee, or at the calf, are best. Knee-length bias cut, A-line and pencil skirts are all good. Pleated and A line skirts should start at a point below the tummy and be side fastening and flat-fronted.
What skirt is best for big hips and thighs? ›
One of the best skirt styles for pearshaped bodies is the A-line skirt. This classic silhouette gently skims over your hips and thighs, creating a balanced and flattering look. Look for A-line skirts that sit at your natural waistline and flare out towards the hem.
What skirts make your legs look thinner? ›
Try a full skirt
The general rule that we stick to, is the wider the hemline, the slimmer your legs look. So steer clear of pencil skirts and instead go for fifties style A-line skirts. They work like magic to make your calves and ankles seem narrower by contrast.
Should a skirt go above or below your belly button? ›
The waistline of your pencil skirt should sit at your natural waist, the narrowest part of your midsection, roughly 1-2 inches ABOVE your belly button. At no point should a pencil skirt ride below your belly button and it most certainly should not rest at your hips. If this is happening, it is [much] too big!!
What is the finger rule for skirts? ›
Many dress codes have something called a finger-tip rule for shorts and skirts, which basically means that any skirt or pair of shorts that's shorter than the fingertips will be considered an offending garment, and if caught wearing one, the wearer will either be sent home or forced to wear "loaner clothes" to cover up ...
What length of skirt is most flattering? ›
Tea/midi length skirts are the most flattering type for most people. As the name implies, a knee-length dress/skirt's hem ends just above or below the knee. They're a really useful wardrobe addition because they are an acceptable length for nearly every type of event.
Wear tights or leggings underneath.
Textured tights, like fishnet, lace, or ribbed, can help keep a form-fitting skirt from riding up. Play it safe with a neutral-colored tight in black, white, or nude. Or, choose neon or patterned tights to spice up a muted outfit.
What type of skirt is most slimming? ›
A-LINE. The perfect piece to try if you're nervous about bare legs - this mid-length style is the ultimate flattering skirt length. Falling just below the knee, an A-line skirt showcases the slimmest section of the leg and gives enough coverage to keep you feeling secure should the beach get breezy.
What size skirt do I get? ›
Take a flexible tape measure and measure around your waist, putting the tape measure where you are most comfortable wearing the skirt (Try to keep the tape measure snug, not tight). *Sometimes if you are getting a skirt that has an elastic waist it is better to go a size below what your actual waist size is.
What body type is cargo skirt for? ›
A cargo skirt is right for you, whether you have an apple, pear, rectangle, or hourglass body type. You can step out confidently and style by understanding your body's characteristics and choosing a skirt that flatters your natural silhouette.
How do I know my body type style? ›
To determine your body shape accurately, measure your bust, waist, and hips. Then, compare these to the typical characteristics of body shapes: Hourglass: Balanced bust and hips with a significantly narrower waist. Pear (Triangle): Hips wider than the bust with a well-defined waist.
What body type looks good in mini skirts? ›
If you're a banana (waist, hip, and shoulders are all about the same width), you look fantastic in body-conscious miniskirts. Why? A formfitting skirt will emphasize any curves, and the short hemline will show off your legs. If you're an hourglass (curvy with a well-defined waist) you look fantastic in pencil skirts.
