Types of Skirts: Every Style and How Celebs Wear Them

Here’s a confession. For years I thought there were maybe four kinds of skirt. Short, long, the tight one for work, and the floaty one for holidays.

Then you start actually shopping and it’s tulip this, trumpet that, bias-cut, bubble, godet. Half the names sound made up. A couple of them basically are.

So let’s sort it out. Below are the main types of skirts, what each one actually looks like, which celebrities wear them best and what to put on your feet with them. Bookmark it for the next time a product page tells you something is a “tulip silhouette” and you just nod along.

Skirt Lengths First

Before we get into shapes, length. It changes the whole vibe of a skirt more than anything else.

Micro Mini

Shorter than short. Miu Miu’s tiny low-rise version from Spring 2022 was everywhere for about a year, and it’s still the one fashion people bring up when they talk about the micro mini comeback. Fun, but you’ll want shorts underneath.

Mini Skirt

Mid-thigh or so. Mary Quant and the ’60s made it famous, and it’s never really left. Easy with flats, a little bit dangerous with heels (in a good way).

Knee-Length

The safe middle. Works for the office, a wedding, a lunch with your mother-in-law. Not exciting on its own, but it’s the length most pencil and A-line skirts come in.

Midi Skirt

Falls somewhere between the knee and mid-calf. Honestly the most wearable length out there right now. It looks polished with boots in winter and sandals in summer, and it doesn’t ride up when you sit down.

Maxi Skirt

Ankle or floor length. Very relaxed, very ’70s, and back in a big way thanks to the denim maxi trend. If you’re short, a slit or a platform shoe stops it from swallowing you.

Types of Skirts by Shape

This is where the names get confusing. Here’s what each one actually means.

A-Line Skirt

Fitted at the waist, then it gently flares out, like a capital A. It’s the most forgiving shape on this list and suits pretty much every body type. It’s also the backbone of 1950s fashion, when nipped waists and fuller skirts were the whole point.

Pencil Skirt

Slim, straight and usually knee-length. The classic office skirt. Think Joan Holloway in Mad Men, or Victoria Beckham, who has basically turned the sleek pencil skirt into a personal uniform over the years. Pair it with a tucked-in blouse or a fitted knit and you look like you have your life together, even if you don’t.

Pleated Skirt

Folds of fabric pressed into the skirt, from tiny knife pleats to wide box pleats. Short and plaid, it’s Cher Horowitz in Clueless. Long and silky, it’s a much more grown-up look. Pleated minis are also a big part of preppy style, usually with a sweater vest or a crisp shirt.

Tennis Skirt

A short pleated or flared mini, originally made for the court. It went full mainstream in the early 2020s and now gets worn with oversized sweatshirts and sneakers by people who have never held a racket. No judgment, I’m one of them.

Circle Skirt

Cut from a full circle of fabric, so it twirls. This is the shape of the ’50s poodle skirt. It’s very feminine and very fun, but it adds volume at the hips, so keep the top fitted.

Skater Skirt

Basically a shorter, stretchier circle skirt. High-waisted, flared and usually above the knee. Super easy for every day, especially with a tucked-in tee.

Slip Skirt

A bias-cut satin or silk skirt that skims the body and usually hits mid-calf. It’s the ’90s minimalist look Kate Moss made iconic, and it still looks great with a chunky knit and boots for a bit of contrast.

Wrap Skirt

It wraps around the body and ties or buttons at the side. Diane von Furstenberg made the wrap dress famous in the ’70s, and the skirt version works on the same idea. It’s flattering because you can adjust the fit, and the overlap gives you a little leg peek when you walk.

Tiered Skirt

Layers of fabric stacked one on top of another, getting wider toward the hem. Very boho. Sienna Miller’s mid-2000s festival look made tiered skirts a must-have, and they show up all over the fairycore aesthetic too, usually in floaty, washed-out fabrics.

Tulle Skirt

Layers of sheer netting, from a short tutu to a full ballerina midi. You can’t mention it without Carrie Bradshaw’s tutu in the Sex and the City opening credits. Wear it with a plain tee or a denim jacket so it doesn’t feel like a costume.

Bubble Skirt

The hem is gathered and tucked under, so it puffs out like a balloon. It was huge in the ’80s, then made a surprise comeback on the runways recently. Not the easiest shape to wear, but it looks very fashion-y with a simple top.

Tulip Skirt

Wider at the hips and tapered at the hem, with overlapping panels at the front that look like petals. It’s a nice option if you like the pencil skirt idea but want something a bit softer.

Mermaid Skirt

Fitted through the hips and thighs, then it flares out at the bottom like a fish tail. You’ll see this a lot on the red carpet as part of evening gowns. A midi version works for daytime too.

Cargo Skirt

Utility-style skirt with big patch pockets, usually in cotton twill. A very Y2K piece that’s come right back. Great with a fitted tank and chunky sneakers.

Types of Skirts by Fabric

Same shape, different fabric, totally different look. These are the ones worth knowing.

Denim Skirt

The denim mini never really goes away, but the long denim maxi has been the big one lately, with a split up the front or back. Wear it with a white tank and flip-flops in summer, or a tight knit and knee boots when it’s cold.

Leather Skirt

Real or faux, a leather skirt instantly makes an outfit feel a bit cooler. A leather pencil or A-line midi with a cashmere sweater is one of those combos that just works, every single fall.

Satin Skirt

Shiny, slinky and usually cut as a slip skirt. It dresses up easily for a night out, but it’s honestly just as nice with a gray sweatshirt and sneakers for a lazy weekend look.

Sequin Skirt

Party season’s best friend. A sequin midi with a simple black turtleneck looks expensive and pulled together without trying too hard.

Knit Skirt

Soft, stretchy and cozy. Knit midi skirts, often sold as a matching set with a sweater, are basically pajamas you can wear to the office. I’m not complaining.

Plaid and Tweed Skirts

Think school uniforms, Chanel-style tweed and the whole dark academia vibe. A short plaid pleated skirt with knee socks is very Clueless. A tweed mini with a matching jacket is very ladies who lunch. If you love mixing looks like these, our guide to types of aesthetics covers where each one comes from.

How to Pick the Right Skirt

For Your Shape

There are no real rules here, just a few things that tend to help.

If you want to show off your waist, go for anything high-waisted: A-line, skater, circle. They all cinch you in at the narrowest point.

Curvier through the hips? Pencil, wrap and mermaid skirts follow your shape and look really elegant. A-line is great too if you’d rather skim over things.

On the petite side, minis and knee-length skirts are the easiest. Midis and maxis can totally work, but a slit or a bit of a heel helps a lot.

Tall? Lucky. Maxis and big tiered skirts were basically made for you.

What Shoes to Wear With Skirts

This is where a lot of skirt outfits go right or wrong.

Minis look fresh with loafers, ballet flats, sneakers or knee boots. Heels make them a lot dressier.

Pencil skirts want a pump or a slingback. Something with a bit of a point lengthens the leg.

Midi skirts are the trickiest. Knee-high boots that disappear under the hem are the easy win in winter. In summer, go for strappy sandals or a kitten heel, because chunky flats can cut you off at the ankle.

Maxi skirts are best with flat sandals, sneakers or a platform if you want some height.

Not sure what a kitten heel or a slingback actually is? Our breakdown of the types of heels explains every style.

Final Thoughts

Once you know the names, skirt shopping gets a lot less confusing. And honestly, a lot more fun.

If you only own a couple, I’d start with a midi slip skirt and a denim one. Between them, they cover most of your week. Then add the fun stuff, like a pleated mini, a tulle skirt or a sequin midi for parties, whenever something catches your eye.