How to make midi skirts work for you

Midi skirts are a comfortable skirt choice: Not as daring as a mini, but far more practical than a maxi skirt! Technically, the name covers all skirts that hit you at calf length. However, some parts of the calf are more flattering than others! As a general rule, you'll want to avoid any that land halfway between your knee and ankle. This is a surefire way to make you look stumpy, even in a pair of heels. For a better choice, go higher or lower. That means choosing a skirt that either finishes right under the knee or just above the ankle. The former is probably a bit more practical for an everyday wardrobe.

The short woman's guide to rocking midi skirts

If you're on the short side, then you might think that midi skirts are not for you – but you're wrong! The key here is to choose ones that sit just below your knee. If it's too long you'll end up drowning in fabric. The best shoes to wear are sandals or anything with an open front. Boots or trainers will just make you appear even shorter. One of the best styles of midi skirt for a shorter woman is one with a button-down front. It won't button all the way to the bottom, so as you move you'll show your legs a little, which means they'll look longer. Choosing those with high-low hems will have the same lengthening effect.

Styling midi skirts for everyday fashion

In summer, midi skirts look great with sandals. Go for espadrilles or wedges to keep it casual, and opt for flowing, floaty skirts for a look that's pure romance. In winter, you can try a look with a harder edge: Take a sweet, floral midi and pair it with chunky trainers or, if you really want to play with hard and soft, leather ankle boots. This will generally look better if you're taller. You could add a denim or leather jacket on your top half, too. Most women’s midi skirts are floaty, so it's a good idea to keep your top fitted. If you wear a voluminous top with a big skirt, you'll be edging dangerously close to 1960s flower child style, so avoid that!