A skirt is a lower garment usually worn from the waist downwards and comes in different shapes and sizes. The evolution of skirts dates back to ancient Egypt where the first skirts ever worn were by men and not women. These were simple wrap-around skirts known as ‘Shendyt‘ and they were extremely comfortable and appropriate for Egypt’s humid weather.
Skirts nowadays are a favorite addition to one’s wardrobe because of the limitless styling options that they provide along with the fit and material. There is a skirt for every body type and for every occasion that one needs to attend. These aren’t expensive as well, compared to the other outfits, which makes them high in demand.
Skirts are available in all sizes, starting from XS to XXL or even more, depending upon the brand.
Skirt Measurement Guide With Size Chart
Skirt Measurement Guide:
In order to get the perfect skirt for your fitting, it is very important to know the right measurements.
There are two ways to measure a skirt. An already existing skirt can do the job perfectly well or one can even take the measurements directly from the body.
Steps to measure a skirt-
In order to measure from an already existing skirt, one must make sure that the skirt is placed on a flat table to achieve precision.
Step 1– Take a measuring tape and find out the measurement of the waist by holding the tape from one end of the skirt to the other. To ensure correct sizing, one should avoid skirts with elastic or flexible bands as they tend to fit nearly all the waist shapes.
Step 2– To measure the hips, the tape should be placed on the widest part of the skirt, a few inches below the waistline. The tape should be kept horizontally over the fabric and the measurement from one end to the other should be noted down.
Step 3– For the length measurement, the tape should be placed vertically starting from the middle of the waist till the bottom seam. If one wants to extend the length of the skirt, she might do so by adding a few inches to the length measurement.
Step 4– The measurement of the hemline is important to achieve the desired amount of flair. The measuring tape should be placed along the hemline from one end to the other to get the desired result.
Steps to measure a skirt directly from the body-
This type of measurement usually requires a helping hand as it is impossible for one to measure for a lower garment without messing up the sizes.
Step 1– To start the process, one should place the measuring tape and around the circumference of the waist carefully, to get the perfect waist measurement. The person should stand straight and not slouch to get the correct result.
Step 2– Hips are usually the widest part of the lower body. One should take the measuring tape and encircle it throughout the circumference of the waist and measure it carefully. The waist measurement should not be too tight for people who like a comfortable fit.
Step 3– For the length measurement, one should simply hold the measuring tape from the tip of the waist to the desired area where she feels the skirt should end. There are different length options to choose from, like mini, midi, knee-length, cocktail, floor-length, etc.
Skirt Sizing Chart:
| US SIZE |
HIPS INCHES |
WAIST INCHES |
| 00/0 (XS) | 32-34 | 22-24 |
| 2 (XS) | 33-34 | 24-25 |
| 4 (S) | 34-36 | 26-27 |
| 6 (S) | 36-37 | 27-28 |
| 8 (M) | 37-39 | 28-29 |
| 10 (M) | 39-41 | 29-30 |
| 12 (L) | 41-43 | 31-32 |
| 14 (L) | 43-44 | 33-34 |
| 16 (XL) | 44-45 | 34-36 |
| 18 (XL) | 45-47 | 36-38 |
| 20 (XXL) | 47-49 | 38-40 |
| 22 (XXL) | 49-51 | 40-42 |
The above chart provides an insight regarding the sizing pattern available for skirts. For example, a woman with a hip size of 44″ and a waist size of 35″ should go for the size 16(XL).
Types of Skirts:
A-line skirt-
These skirts look like the capital letter A, so the choice of name. This is the most common shape of skirt which is owned almost by every woman. A-line skirts look stunning on the pear-shaped body as they tend to accentuate the hips and fall freely, showing off the small waist.
Pencil/Tube skirt-
These are also known as fitted skirts as they fit snugly across the legs giving a body-hugging vibe. The hem of the skirt reaches just below the knee and it almost looks like a straight pencil.
A tube skirt is just like a pencil skirt with stretchable fabric. These skirts tend to adjust to the figure of the person wearing them.
Gathered skirt-
A gathered skirt is usually fitted across the waistline in a simple pleated pattern. It falls freely and can have an elastic waistband or a drawstring waistband or even a fitted plain waistband accordingly.
A bell skirt is a type of gathered skirt that is shaped like a bell. These are not heavily plated and are made from heavier fabrics that tend to hold the shape very well.
A hoop skirt is a traditional form of gathered skirt that originates from the older times. These skirts have rings or boning inside to hold the shape. Usually, women in the older times used to wear these skirts with multiple layers of petticoats.
A prairie skirt is also a type of gathered skirt that has a separate piece of ruffled fabric attached to the hem giving a unique look.
A drindle skirt is a gathered skirt with a flat and tight waistband.
Pelmet skirt-
A pelmet skirt is a skirt with a short length, usually known as a mini skirt. The length of these skirts is usually short, reaching up to the mid-thigh.
Flared skirt-
These skirts are quite fitted across the waistline and hipline, falling loosely below that. These skirts can also have a flounced hemline giving a rounded look.
Wrapped skirt-
Wrapped skirts are usually square or rectangular shaped fabrics with laces attached to the waistline, which can be wrapped and tied creating the look of a flattering skirt. These skirts come in various lengths having various printed patterns accordingly. These skirts can also be worn in the reverse pattern if the fabric is printed on either side.
Layered skirt-
In a layered skirt, multiple ruffled fabrics are placed one after the other giving an illusion of a layer. These skirts also come in various lengths and patterns. Sometimes these layers are placed haphazardly and sometimes neatly following a definite pattern.
Circle skirt-
These skirts are made from circular pieces of fabric having an opening in the center or the side. These skirts exactly look like a circle with a hole in the middle when placed flatly on the ground. Another name for this skirt is a swing skirt. A circular skirt with a black poodle applique printed on it is known as a poodle skirt.
Gored skirt-
Gored skirts are shaped like A-line skirts having separate panels of fabrics running vertically from the waistline to the hem. These fabrics are stitched together in regular intervals giving an illusion of a bigger length.
Godet skirt-
These skirts have triangular pieces of fabric inserted along the body at regular intervals to provide fullness.
Trumpet skirt-
These skirts are snugly fitted from the waistline to the hem and then flared a little along the hemline. These skirts are also known as fishtail or mermaid skirts because of their unmistakable resemblance to the objects.
Divided skirt-
These skirts have a wide flare, which is divided in the middle just like a pant. The waist part is tight, falling loosely across the thighs. These come in varying lengths and are very comfortable to wear.
Pleated skirt-
Pleated skirts usually have a single or multiple pleats arranged properly near the waistband giving a gathered look. There are various names given to a pleated skirt like~ inverted pleated skirt, knife-pleated skirt, box pleated skirt and accordion skirt. All of these look similar but different from each other based on the arrangement of pleats.
Asymmetrical hem skirt-
These skirts do not follow a specific pattern of the hemline. They can be longer on one side and shorter on the other, depending upon the styling of the fabric. A handkerchief skirt is a specific type of skirt with an asymmetrical hemline that resembles a handkerchief when pinched at the center, making the corners glide down and creating an uneven pattern.
Bubble skirt-
The hemline of a bubble skirt gets tucked and sewn inside at regular intervals creating a bubble or balloon-like structure. Bubble skirts usually have a tight hemline with buttons or zippers falling freely and then reaching the puffy hemline. These skirts are usually worn above the knee. These are also known as balloon skirts.
Yoke skirt-
These skirts have two parts, the upper part is usually tight-fitted, hugging the hips beautifully and the lower part is flared, giving a voluminous shape to the hips. The yoke or the upper part might be of different shape~ round, triangular or asymmetrical and can be decorated with buttons, bows and laces to look more flattering.
Tulip skirt-
These skirts have the shape of an inverted tulip flower. Tulip skirts usually have overlapping panels of fabrics creating the illusion of a tulip flower, with an asymmetrical hemline and a higher cut near the joining of the fabrics. These skirts have a broader mid-section compared to the hemline and waistline.
Tiered skirt-
These are a type of layered skirts that have different patches of fabrics sewn together. The layers might be similar in size and pattern or might be different altogether. These skirts are free-flowing with varying lengths and choices of fabrics.
Women Skirt Size Chart in Centimeters
| Size | XXS | XS | S | M | L | XL | 2XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bust (cm) | 72 – 76 | 76 – 80 | 80 – 84 | 84 – 88.5 | 88.5 – 93.5 | 93.5 – 98.5 | 98.5 – 103.5 |
| Leg Length (cm) | 73.5 | 74 | 74.5 | 75 | 75.5 | 76 | 76.5 |
| Hip (cm) | 82 – 86 | 86 – 90 | 90 – 94 | 94 – 98.5 | 98.5 – 103.5 | 103.5 – 108.5 | 108.5 – 113.5 |
| Waist (cm) | 60 – 64 | 64 – 68 | 68 – 72 | 72 – 76.5 | 76.5 – 81.5 | 81.5 – 86.5 | 86.5 – 91.5 |
Skirt Names According to the Length:
Micro mini skirt- These skirts usually reach an inch or two below the bottom.
Mini skirt- This length of skirt usually end at mid-thigh.
Above knee-length skirt- This skirt ends just an inch or two above the knee.
Knee-length skirt- These skirts usually end at the knee.
Cocktail length skirt- These skirts usually goes between the knee and the mid-calf.
Midi skirt- This length reaches till between the knee and the ankle.
Long or maxi skirt- For this type of skirt the length is between the mid-calf and the lower calf.
Full-length skirt– This length is approximately one inch above the floor.
Floor-length skirt- These skirts graze the floor.
Skirt Style for Each Body Type-
For slim and petite body types, the waistline should be accentuated more. A miniskirt would be perfect for these body types where the main focus would be on the legs. Usually, skirts above the knee-length with a bit of definition would look good.
For a curvy or hourglass-shaped body, the perfect skirt would be a pencil or tube skirt. This would accentuate the figure well, defining the smaller waist and broader hips. Pencil skirts are a perfect outfit for a formal or informal outing.
Tall women should go for long and flowy maxi skirts or midi skirts. This would make a perfect outfit for any casual or formal evening.
Pear-shaped or triangular shaped body type usually has a broader hip than the torso. An A-line skirt would look perfect on these body types, making the waist look slim and snatched. The flowy and loose pattern of an A-line skirt accentuates the figure of all the bulky women.
The perfect skirt for an apple-shaped body type is a high waisted midi skirt. It would look really good giving an illusion of a taller height.
Skirt Size Conversion Chart:
| UK SIZE | US SIZE | WAIST | HIPS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INCHES | CM (WAIST) | INCHES | CM | ||
| 4 | 6 | 24 | 60 | 33 | 83.5 |
| 6 | 8 | 25 | 62.5 | 34 | 86 |
| 8 | 10 | 26 | 65 | 35 | 88.5 |
| 10 | 12 | 28 | 70 | 37 | 93.5 |
| 12 | 14 | 30 | 75 | 39 | 98.5 |
| 14 | 16 | 31 | 80 | 41 | 103.5 |
| 16 | 18 | 33 | 85 | 43 | 108.5 |
| 18 | 20 | 36 | 92.5 | 46 | 116 |
Which Skirt Size Should I Buy if I Have a Waist of 28 Inches?
The skirt sizes depend upon the material of the skirt as well as the fit. A woman with a 28″ waist should usually opt for size S or M accordingly. For tight-fitted skirts made of a stretchable material, size S is perfect whereas, for a loose fit, one should opt for size M.
How to Care for Pleated Skirts?
Pleated skirts need an extra amount of care while washing and ironing as one needs to make sure that the pleats are in place and the skirt is not looking crooked at all.
- One should read the label carefully for general instructions provided by the brand. The skirt should be washed in a washing machine on a cold cycle if the label permits so.
- After washing, the skirt should be hung for air drying. Most pleated skirts naturally retain their shapes after drying.
- Many pleated skirts should not be ironed at all as the wrong technique might ruin the pleats completely. While the others might be ironed using the lowest heat, keeping in mind the directions of the pleats and the pattern that it flows into.
- Using paper clips has proven to be a useful hack while ironing certain pleated skirts that tend to have overlapping pleats. The paper clips should be fastened along the hemline to keep the pleats in place and then, after finishing, the clips should be removed and the skirt should be hung up carefully to retain the shape of the pleats.
- Certain pleated skirts cannot be ironed at all like the accordion pleats. These pleats are in the shape of an overturned V, jutting upwards. Ironing these skirts will only change the direction of the pleats and make them look a lot messier.