I often play it quite “safe” with my outfits.
I know what I like, what’s comfortable and what works. Trends come and go but a-line jeans and a good quality tee are here to stay in my wardrobe. When the midi skirt trend flooded our instagram feeds and high street stores – I was dubious. I wasn’t sure I could pull of something like a midi skirt for three reasons. First being that I am really tall and midi skirts are really long. I was worried I’d end up looking nothing but frumpy. Second being that I have what I call a buddha belly – I have a little tummy that’s always there. I didn’t want a midi skirt to cling to the part I dislike most about my body. And thirdly, because I had no clue how to style it.
However, I decided I wanted to find a way to make this trend work for me. I’m a fashion graduate who lives in a-line jeans and as much as that’s totally fine (you do you boo) I just thought “come on girl, venture out of your comfort zone a little”.
I’ve lost out of the amount of midi skirts I tried on. Some didn’t suit my body shape and others I couldn’t even get over my bum – not a great confidence boost. However, I tried, tested and finally cracked it. Finally, I figured out how to style a midi skirt!
Ready for some tips on how to style a midi skirt? Because I’ve got them!
If you’re opting for a straight a-line or fitted skirt, try a baggy or oversized top. If you’re opting for a more floaty or loose fitting skirt, try a tighter/more fitted top. I think that opting for tight on the top, loose on the bottom (or vice versa) really evens out the style and avoids the frumpy vibe.
A lot of models on more ‘alternative’ (eurgh, don’t @ me for the a word) websites such as Urban Outfitters often dress their model in an oversized jumper and a floaty skirt. It looks nice on some people but it doesn’t give you a silhouette. If you’re worried about the frumpy vibe, avoid baggy with oversized.
If you choose a high waisted midi skirt (I mean, is there really any other kind?) it’ll definitely show off the shape of your body. I found that cropped jumpers or tops looked really cute with high waisted midi skirts. I’m not really one to walk around with my mid-drift hanging out so cropped to me still means I can do a little tuck.
Tucking t-shirts into jeans and skirts is my favourite thing to do because it shows off my shape as my waist is my smallest part.
There are lots of different types of midi skirts but I opt for the ones that are fitted at the waist so that I can tuck without it looks silly or unnatural. A proper waistline means the tuck can be achieved. If you opt for an elasticated waistline, the tuck of a top can look a bit odd and bumpy. A proper waistline also means that my buddha belly isn’t obvious, something I found it was with elasticated skirts. They pretty much did nothing for my figure. So, be sure to find one that does something for yours. Feeling comfortable is the key to pulling off a new look.
If you feel self conscious about trying a new trend, try it in a muted tone or pattern. Ok, leopard printed isn’t exactly a quiet print but the colours were something I personally felt comfortable in. I’d absolutely recommend buying a colour you’re comfortable in because if you’re anything like me, you’ll already be worried everyones looking at your “new style”. That weird little voice in your head will make you feel more at ease knowing your in a colour that’s totally in your comfort zone. Even if the outfit itself feels totally new to you.
My final tip will knock out that worry about looking frumpy. You don’t have to look frumpy in a midi skirt that’s got a bit of something something, you know? Get a high slit, wrap style, lace pattern or even animal print. It’s also important to get a midi skirt that goes with your vibe and your wardrobe. Make sure you’ve got plenty of tops at home that you can try on to make an outfit. Feeling like yourself is important.
The featured skirt in this post is the first to make it into my wardrobe and the one that taught me how to style a midi skirt. It’s a wrap skirt that subtly shows a little bit of leg. When you’re stood still, you’ve got the total midi skirt vibe but when you’re walking or caught in a bit of wind – hello sexy. Showing a bit of leg gives me that little something something and I feel far from frumpy. This skirt has been a great addition to my wardrobe and it’s built-up my midi skirt confidence for sure.
I hope you enjoyed my tips on how to style a midi skirt!
