How To Style The Perfect Long Skirt Outfit In 3 Steps
Is the fact that women and long skirts have had such a close relationship across different cultures a mere coincidence, or is there really a special bond at play? Either way, there’s no doubt that this garment is here to stay.
Women have been wearing skirts across many cultures for as long as there are records of women dressing up. Both Victoria’s Secret models and more modest dressers swear by the skirt. It’s fascinating to think that this is perhaps the oldest garment in our fashion history, and it’s still going strong. There is nothing like strolling around a fresh market, the beach, or even your office, in flowy long skirts.
Don’t take me wrong, I love my jeans, my black slacks are a staple, and I have some flowy pants that I hold dear to my heart. But skirts have served women for longer than any other garment. For centuries, if not millennia, princesses and peasants alike have worn them and projected many different vibes through their outfits.
Long skirts are a staple, and yet we can agree that not all long skirt outfits are the same. When not done well, long skirts can be extremely unflattering. Even when the skirt itself is beautiful, if not properly styled, a long skirt can make us look wider or shorter than we’d like. So, how can a long skirt outfit go from looking frumpy or swallowing our frame to looking incredibly chic? Here are a few guidelines to consider in order to achieve the perfect long skirt outfit formula:
Consider Your Body Shape
Any outfit will enhance or disguise your beauty depending on your body shape. It may look amazing on Pinterest, but take these photos as inspiration and actively adapt them to your body type. Consider where exactly do you have more volume, the top or the bottom? When styling long skirts, compare the width of your hips and shoulders. If your shoulders are wider, then add volume, texture, patterns, and/or color to the skirt. In the case that your hips are wider, consider using neutral and solid colors, and avoid adding volume through dramatic textures.
Symmetry has been long considered one of the hallmarks of beautiful design. Many studies have proven that what we consider flattering is what proportionately makes sense to our eyes and, consequently, our brains. Nonetheless, this should not be constrictive. For example, if you like the classic long black skirt, but according to your dimensions it’s preferable for you to have the dark tones on top, then consider a black skirt with volume or texture, paired with a top without texture or volume. Maybe a satin black skirt, an A-line silhouette, a brocaded fabric, etc. Have fun with it!
A good tip is to find a celebrity or influencer with a similar body shape to yours. Most celebrities have a stylist (or several) making sure they are wearing the most favorable looks for their body shape. Use their knowledge to your advantage! The internet may be filled with great ideas, but if you concentrate on the styling ideas that work on celebrities with similar body shapes, the process of finding your best fit will get a lot easier.
Don’t Ignore Your Waist
Waists are important, and while lately they’ve been more disregarded than they were in the heyday of corsets or even the ‘50s A-line dresses, the truth is embracing your waist is one of those small things that can immediately elevate a whole outfit, even when done subtly.
You can wear a belt, tie your shirt on the side, back, or front, or simply tuck your shirt in. Some more creative ways to accentuate your waist would be to think carefully about the cuts. If your top has a structured and dramatic cut around the waist, it will naturally create a contrast with your high waisted skirt. The oldest trick is to simply wear a high-waisted skirt, which creates a contrast between the top and bottom. If the combo itself doesn’t have this contrast, you could add a cropped jacket that cuts around your waist.
Kate Middleton is truly the master of making the most of her waistline. If you pay close attention to her body shape, her top and bottom are almost equal, so accentuating the waist is the one thing that gives her curves. She wears long skirts very often and, unless pregnant, she never fails to accentuate her waist. Even in the monochrome look below, you can clearly see that there is a band around her waist, which is paired with an A-line skirt (a favorite of hers.) As a result, this monochrome look is nothing short of iconic on her.
On the other hand, a contrast of colors and a non-linear cut can also add dimension to your waist by tricking the eye into adding a curve. While belts are the go-to way for many to accentuate their waist, you can truly get creative here and add some subtle curves to your body through colors, cuts, and a variation of patterns around your waist area.
Don’t Neglect the Shoes
As a rule, long skirts look their best with heels. However, they don’t have to be six-inch stilettos to create an elongated look. Mary-Janes, comfortable sandals, or kitten heels are more than enough to create a flattering visual. If you want a more casual or Gen-Z coded look, consider neutral colored flats or even tennis shoes. Neutral tones give the illusion of continuity, which is friendly to the eye. You can always consider darker colors to match the tones of the outfit, but be aware that a sharp contrast on the bottom can disrupt the symmetry of the outfit and make it a bit frumpy. This is a small detail that can make a big difference.
Another important aspect when it comes to shoes and legs is to avoid extra cuts or lines. For example, if you have a light tone skirt, your ankles and maybe a bit of leg are showing, and if you wear dark shoes with an ankle strap, the ankle strap makes a line that cuts off and shortens the leg. To play it on the visually safe side and create a flattering, elongating visual, avoid the harsh contrast. Nude shoes are the safe option, but if you’re going to add colors and texture, make sure it sufficiently matches your skirt.
These guidelines are not meant to be limitations but the base you can have fun building upon. Just like Renaissance paintings, which follow the rules of structural design, the right perspectives create depth and proportional dimensions. Simply keeping these guidelines in the back of your mind as you put together a look can ensure that your outfit projects the femininity and comfort for which we all love long skirts.