Types of skirts

The skirt is something that covers the lower part of the body, especially for girls, women, or ladies. Skirts come in a variety of shapes and styles and they are essential items in women’s wardrobes. Skirts are more elegant and easy to wear and besides, they can be worn on all occasions. It is easier to design a skirt than any other garment.

In today’s fashion world we find a variety of types of skirts that can be categorized based on size, fabric, and design. The silhouette can be narrow, flared, or bouffant. Even straight skirts can vary from extremely tight and narrow at the hem to slightly A-lined. Here is a brief description of the variety of skirt types being used on their vast types.

Types of skirts can be broadly classified by their length and by their designs.

1. Micro mini skirt

   These skirts have a length that extends 10” from the waist above the mid-thigh.

2. Miniskirt

   The skirt whose length ends at mid-thigh level is called the mini skirt. These are very short and are usually long enough to reach between the crotch and the knees i.e. about 3”-5” below crotch). They are casual or semi-dressy. In dressy or formal settings, they can be inappropriate.

3. Ballerina skirt

   The skirt which ends at mid-calf level is called a ballerina skirt.

4. Maxi skirt

   Maxi skirts are those skirts whose length extends to the ankle or floor. These lengths vary a little based on very to fashion and customers taste.

5. Broomstick skirts

   Broomstick skirts are either knee-length or ankle-length and they have a wrinkled appearance. They are characterized by the three, or more, horizontal seams that wrap around the skirt in layers. They are either casual or semi-casual but cannot be dressy.

6. Basic skirt

   The basic skirt will have darts of equal lengths in the form of fullness at the waistline in the front and back. The pattern obtained can be used as the base for any other skirt with a hemline sweep that is equal on the front and back.

7. Pleated skirt

   A pleat is a fold in the fabric that releases fullness. These types have lots of pleats of similar size around the waistline. It helps in giving extra fullness to the skirt. Pleated skirts have vertical pleats running up and down the skirt all the way around. When there is movement, the skirt appears to open up. Pleats can be of various types and therefore have specific names for specific pleat based on their design for eg. box pleated skirt, inverted pleat skirt, sunburst pleated skirt. Knife pleated skirts and, accordion-pleated skirts. These either reach to the knee or above the knee, and they require ironing. Pleated skirts are casual or semi-dressy.

8. Skirt with least flare

   This type of skirt fits the waist tightly with only two darts and has only a 1” to 2” ease allowance on the hipline. About 2” flare is added on the side seam of the skirt for freedom of movement.

9. Circular skirt

   As the name suggests, this skirt looks like a circle when opening fully, therefore, a fabric having maximum width is required for these kinds of skirts. The fabric is cut in a circle, like a doughnut. Then the elastic is sewn on top to create a waistband. The circle hangs right at the waist and allows the fabric to drape beautifully around you. These skirts do not need any side seam.

10. A-line skirt

    “A” line skirts represent the shape of the capital letter” A” hence the name i.e. An A-line skirt is a skirt that is fitted at the hips and gradually widens towards the hem, giving the impression of the shape of a capital letter A. The waistline measurement remains the same as in a plain skirt but the fullness is added to the hem so that its circumference increases. If more fullness is added at the waistline then it becomes a flared skirt. It is also one of the easiest garments for a beginner to make. It has only three pattern pieces a front, a back, and a waistband.

11. Gored skirt

    Gore is a triangular piece of fabric. A gored skirt is one with gores that are narrow at the waistline and wider at the hemline. It can have any number of gores which can be equally or unequally spaced as ‘desired’ by the wearer. The gore can be of various types such as angled, flared, and pleated, or maybe straight from the hip level. There are two basic types of gored skirts are6-gore and 4-gore skirts. These kinds of skirts are preferred for bulky fabrics wherein one finds it difficult to gather the fabric at the waist.

12. Gathered skirt

    Gathered skirts are as the name suggests skirts that have gathers at the waistline. Usually, thin fabrics are used for making these types of skirts as they can be gathered easily and there is no difficulty in stitching at the waistline whereas Bulky fabrics can have limited fullness as there will be difficulty in stitching it to the waistline. For a well-gathered skirt, the length of fabric according to the length of the skirt +2” (for folding) and width of the skirt must be twice the amount of waste circumference for gathering.

13. High and Low waist skirt

    Low and high waisted refer to where the garment’s waistline is meant to sit relative to one’s torso. For example, low-waisted skirts are designed to sit on the hips whereas high-waisted skirts are designed to sit higher than the belly button.
    The skirt is 3½” down from the natural waistline and a high waisted skirt has an extended waistline at any desired amount. The low waisted hugs the hipline below the waistline whereas the high waisted skirt extends above the natural waistline.

14. Layered skirt /Tiered skirt

    Also called tiered skirt layered skirts are skirts that have layers of fabric attached to each other at the hemline. The length and width of each layer may be the same or may vary. Each gives a different look. The fabric used may or may not be the same. Frills can also be attached.

15. Pencil skirt

    The pencil skirt lengthens from the waist to beneath the knees or down to mid-calf. It hugs the body and is usually made from stretchable fabric. These kinds of skirts are preferred by slim-figured women or girls. They are straight cut therefore making it difficult to walk in. These are dressy or formal skirts. The hemlines are decorated by adding colored ribbons, fringes, etc.

16. Pegged skirt

    It is also known as the peg-top or inverted skirt as it has fullness introduced at the waistline and with no fullness at the hemline. The skirt may be gathered, pleated into the waistband.

17. Bubble skirt

    Create a bubble effect at the bottom of the hem which is tucked back under. The bubble skirt consists of an outer skirt that is gathered onto a lining. Bubble garments look best in rather light fabrics such as (double) gauze and lawn.

18. Skirt with peplum

    Peplum skirts are an extra overskirt flounce sewn onto, and dropping from the waistline or waistband. Peplums extend from the waist, down till the hip.

19. Godet skirt

    A godet is an extra piece of fabric in the shape of a circular sector that is set into a garment, usually a dress or skirt. The addition of a godet causes the article of clothing in question to flare, thus adding width and volume. Adding a godet to a piece of clothing also gives the wearer a wider range of motion.