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Finding the perfect skirt

By Julie Gordon | jgordon@am-ny.com

March 31, 2008

Rebecca Taylor (Handout)

It's time to make a springtime resolution: Incorporate a few skirts into the dress routine we've become so used to. And with this season's looks, it's hard not to want to shake things up a bit.

Focus on the waist

"Anything goes for skirts this season, as long as the waist is emphasized: knee-length pencil, pleated and ladylike, long and flow-y, super-mini," says Elisa Miller, design director for Calypso.

One way to show off that tiny waist (or create the illusion of one) is to don a slightly A-line skirt that sits gently on the hips with a tucked-in-top, says designer Rebecca Taylor. Or, if you want to leave a shirt out, make sure there's no fullness around the stomach.

Adding a belt is also a natural go-to for creating an hourglass look, Miller says.

(Skirt by Lux, $58, Urban Outfitters, www.urbanoutfitters.com for locations)

Don't go under

"You don't want to drown in a skirt," Taylor says. "If a skirt's too long, it looks really dowdy."

Her pieces this spring just brush the tops of the knees -- a flattering length for most ladies. But if you want to show off those toned legs, go a bit shorter.

For an extra leg-flattering kick, Taylor adds stitched-down pockets to many of her pieces. Unlike some other bottoms with pockets, Taylor's thankfully don't have extra fabric around the thighs.

(Cream skirt by Rebecca Taylor, $228, Bergdorf Goodman, 754 Fifth Ave., 800-558-1855; Grey skirt by Rebecca Taylor, $228, Saks Fifth Avenue, 611 Fifth Ave., 212-753-4000)

It's all about proportion

Forget about the hippie or harlot look and think about proportion.

"If you are wearing a looser skirt, it's important to pair it with a structured or fitted top; whereas, if you are wearing a tight skirt, a looser top is the way to go," says Stacey Bendet, designer and owner of alice + olivia.

(Skirt by alice + olivia, $242, Saks Fifth Avenue, 611 Fifth Ave., 212-753-4000)

Go wide

Get inspired by 1950s-style full skirts, but be wary of looking like a soda shop regular.

Pair a wider skirt with a tight tee or shrunken, three-quarter sleeves sweater, suggests Finola Hughes, host of The Style Network's "How Do I Look?"

"And keep it modern with sexy sandals and platforms," Hughes says. "It works with ballet flats, too, if you're on the taller side."

(Skirt by Only Hearts, $132, Only Hearts boutique, 230 Mott St., 212-431-3694)

Add pop

Eye-popping hues are key this spring. Pair a bright skirt with a neutral top, or mix offbeat prints (florals, geometric and the like) with similar color schemes.

"After so many neutrals, bright colors are really refreshing: shocking greens, electric pink, marigold and shades of turquoise," says Miller.

(Skirt by Aqua, $78, Bloomingdale's, 1000 Third Ave., 212-705-2000)