What to wear with a maxi skirt: tops that balance it

Tops by skirt shape

Full, tiered or gathered skirt. Choose a close or short top: a tucked tee or shirt, a fine knit ending at the waistband, a short kurti or a peplum. Volume above and below hides the outline of the body entirely, which some people want. If you do, keep the top in a soft fabric so the outfit drapes instead of ballooning.

A-line skirt. The most flexible. Tucked, half tucked or a hip-length top worn out all work.

Straight or column skirt. This one can take length on top: a hip-length shirt, a long cardigan, even a tunic to mid-thigh with side slits. Keep the top straight, not flared.

Our article on peplum tops and short kurtis has more on short tops, and the fusion guide touches on kurtas with skirts.

To tuck or not

How the top meets the waistband changes the whole outline.

• Full tuck: the cleanest waistline, and it suits a flat waistband.
• Front tuck: only the front few centimetres go in and the back hangs loose. It covers the seat while marking the waist.
• Knot or tie: a shirt knotted at the waist does the same job without tucking.
• Short top, no tuck: a top that ends at the waistband needs no adjusting through the day.
• Belt over a longer top: defines the waist without shortening the layer.

Hijab-friendly outfits

A maxi skirt is one of the easiest bases for a covered outfit. With an elasticated waistband a tucked top can look bunchy, so a top that ends just over the band is often neater. Combinations to try:

• A long-sleeved, hip-length shirt worn out over a straight or A-line skirt, with the hijab in a colour picked from the skirt.
• A fine long-sleeved top tucked into a full skirt, with a longer open layer such as a cardigan over it, which covers the hips without hiding the waist.
• A tunic to mid-thigh over a straight skirt in the same colour family, for a long, column-like line.
• A plain skirt with a printed top, or the reverse. One print at a time is easier to wear.

Through the year

Spring and summer. Cotton or linen tops, flat sandals or trainers, and a denim jacket for the evening.

Autumn. A fine jumper tucked or half tucked, ankle boots that disappear under the hem, and a jacket that ends at the waist.

Winter. A heavier skirt fabric, a chunky knit worn over the waistband, boots, and warm leggings or thick tights underneath where nobody sees them. For coats, go either short, ending at the waist or hip, or long, reaching nearly to the skirt hem. A coat that ends mid-thigh over a long, full skirt tends to look cut off.

For sleeves and necklines that work together across seasons, see modest dressing: sleeves, necklines and lengths.

Having the pieces made to go together

If the tops you own never sit right with long skirts, the usual culprit is length: too long to wear out, too short to stay tucked. A top made to end exactly at your waistband, or a skirt whose band sits where your tops end, solves it. Skirts and tops are among the Western pieces we make to measure. Send photos of both through the quote form and note where each should end; the Send Your Design page explains how photos are turned into a written description for you to approve.