I once had this roommate who felt uncomfortable in anything trousers because she had tiny legs. She never wore tight bottoms. This my roommate mostly wore flared skirt or long dresses because, according to her, people hardly noticed her tiny legs whenever she wore them. She knew she had an apple body type and wore only the types of skirts and dresses that flattered her body.
That was wise of her, I’d say. Not everyone considers the shape of their body when dressing up, forgetting that it’s a very important part. So you don’t wear just any skirt, below are the different types of skirts you can always select from. You can wear them to any occasion and ensure it flatters your body.
What is a Skirt?
A skirt is an article of clothing that hangs from the waist and covers the lower part of the body. It is usually worn by women and girls although in some cultures, men wear skirts. They are very versatile and are capable of enhancing the wearer’s femininity, making her look more sophisticated and stylish.
Types of Skirts for Ladies
1. A-Line Skirt
These types of skirts have a slight flare. They are called ‘A-line’ because they widen at the bottom thereby resembling the letter A. It is wider at the hem and narrow at the top of the hips to the waistline. It suits any shape but looks better on pear and hourglass body types and can be worn to any occasion depending on its style.
2. Flared Skirt
This is quite similar to A-line although it flares out more than A-line skirts. These types of skirts have a wide hem. They look great when paired with a fitted top.
3. Pencil Skirt
Pencil skirts have become popular among women. They are a great choice for working class ladies. These types of skirts are basically cut straight down to any length and taper inwards at the knee. They look rectangular when laid flat. If not made with stretchy fabrics, a zip is fixed at the side or back to ease wearing.
4. Peplum Skirt
Peplum is basically an over-the-skirt dress that is attached to another garment around the waist area to help minimize the waist by accentuating the hips. It is simply a pencil skirt with a flare added at the waist. It is suitable for hiding belly fat.
5. Mini Skirt
This is a very short skirt with about 10 to 17 inches length. It flaunts your thighs and legs. It also suits slender ladies better. Designer, Mary Quant popularised this design. Mini skirts usually don’t consume much fabrics.
6. Layered Skirt
Ruffled fabrics or ruches are arranged on top of each other to create these types of skirts. They are suitable for layering your lower body and as such fit apple and rectangular body types. They are otherwise known as tiered skirts.
7. Skort
This is a skirt that has shorts underneath. Basically, it is a pair of shorts designed to look like a skirt through the addition of a panel of fabric. They are usually of short length. For occasions where you want to look on-the-go but crave the modesty of shorts underneath, wear these. They can be worn to parties, beach or any casual occasion.
8. Tulip Skirt
This type resembles an inverted tulip flower. It has an irregular hem with panels that overlap at the front.
9. Midi Skirt
A midi skirt could be flared, pencil or any design. It just has to stop at the mid-calf.
10. Maxi Skirt
These types of skirts are below mid-calf length. It could be floor-length or ankle-length. They suit tall ladies more as they have the best carriage for it.
11. Pleated Skirt
These ones, as the name implies, have pleats. Pleats are folds that take up excess fabric. They also add controlled fullness and freedom of movement to the garment. There are many types of pleats that differ in their construction and appearance. Most pleated skirts have permanent pleats that don’t require you to iron whenever you wash.
12. Denim Skirt
These types of skirts are made with denim. Denim skirts can be midi or mini or simply knee-length. They can as well be layered or pencil, depending on the cut and design.
13. High-rise Skirt
This can come in any form, length or design. However, its distinctive feature is the high waistband which sits above your belly button. They look great when paired with a shirt making them suitable for formal occasions.
14. Wrap Skirt
This type usually has a fastener or a rope to tie at the waist. They come in varying lengths and are suitable for any occasion. You just have to wrap them around your body and tie at one side.
15. High-Low Skirt
This one has varying hemlines. That is, the hemline is usually high at the front and low at the back. It is otherwise known as a mullet or waterfall skirt. It suits any body type and can pass for informal or formal occasions depending on its length.
16. Asymmetrical Skirt
An asymmetrical skirt has an unbalanced hemline. It has varying lengths for both sides. For instance, the left side could be longer than the right side. It is suitable for all body types and is a great choice for casual occasions.
17. Divided Skirt
Also known as culottes, these types of skirts aren’t exactly skirts. They have wide flares often divided into two like shorts.
The aforementioned types of skirts are great choices to enhance your style. If you’re apple-shaped, A-line, midi, maxi, wrap and pleated skirts will look great on you. If you’re pear-shaped, go for midi, high-waisted, A-line, pencil, and denim skirts. Hourglass figure ladies may want to wear pencil skirts to flaunt your shape. If you’re straight, go for flared or layered bottoms to create a curvy illusion around your lower body. This doesn’t mean you can’t wear anyone you choose; these ones specified will look better on you.
