HYDERABAD: Do not fear the midi skirt. While the mini is all about being obvious, the maxi is a Boho/lazy girl’s best bet, the poor in-between midi often gets a bad reputation as it is deemed by some as too-hard-to-wear or ugly or just pointless.
Ending anywhere from just below the knee to a few inches above the ankle, the midi skirt or tea skirt, as it is sometimes called, is this season’s biggest hero.
And lately, we’ve been particularly drawn to the midi. Why? For starters, it is versatile. You can team it with sneakers on an off-duty day or with pumps for a retro Mad Men vibe (yeah, we’re totally channelling Joan this season).
And contrary to popular opinion, it’s very flattering. It makes the waist look teeny-tiny and the legs appear miles long. What’s not to love? But we admit, as Hitchcock-ian feminine as the midi is, it’s a wee bit difficult to style. The key, of course, lies in proportions (more on that in a bit).
And petite girls needn’t stay away; all it takes is a pair of heels to work this silhouette. We’ve covered five easy midi styling options for you, and we can guarantee that at least one (if not all) will work for you. Have a look at the five options to get into the trend, turning your mid-calf into the new erogenous zone.
WITH A CLASHING PRINT
Print clashing remains a popular trend and we feel it’s time to take it to the midi skirt. Choose one monochrome element - either the top or the skirt and contrast it with a bright second, like this grey-checked skirt and the sunflower blouse. It has a bit of a preppy 50s feel, but with the minimal nude sandals and cross-body mini bag, this feels extremely cool.
WITH SNEAKERS AND A CASUAL TEE
Sporty girls rejoice! Now you can work your way to chic while wearing the same Nikes that you’ve been living in for the past few years. All you need is one flowy midi! We love this sports luxe take on the trend – with a bright red pout, a knotted tee, a fluid midi and sneakers. A perfect take on the sporty trend that’s big this summer.
WITH A CROP TOP
Ok, this one’s for the lucky few of you who can’t wait to rock your toned midriffs. We recommend going for a slightly less voluminous, structured midi skirt for this one and going tonal with the crop top. The result will be a seriously polished look that manages to elongate your frame (because of the tonal crop) and still remains the right side of modest. Carry an envelope clutch or a top handle tote and pair it with ankle strap sandals.
WITH A GRAPHIC TEE
If ladylike with a twist is your cuppa, we suggest you change the game by pairing your midi (works for both prints and solids) with a graphic tee. Retain the feminine essence of the outfit by adding a formal tote, single soled pumps and a chunky metallic necklace to it. The trick in getting this right is to not focus on matching too much. Remember the new fashion rule. Graphic tees go with everything!
WITH A BUTTON DOWN
Leather skirts are a great way to work the midi trend. The trick is to keep the skirt as the focal point of the look and pair it with a neutral hued, fluid button-down shirt (the kind that exists in every closet). Give the outfit a lady-like spin by adding a chain-strap mini- bag and pumps. The more daring ones can cop the model’s look and add lace-up sandals to the mix.
Tanvi Malik, co-founder, FabAlley