A few years back now, the satin skirt graced every fashion lover’s insta feed, every style seeker’s Pinterest homepage and every street style enthusiast’s life. Back then, and just like with the midi floral print red or green dress white trainer combo, I thought we had had enough of the sight of it after a couple of seasons. Little did I know, this now iconic clothing piece is considered not only a timeless piece but also a capsule wardrobe staple.
It took me some time to even consider purchasing a satin midi skirt as at the time, it felt all a bit too trendy and I was not feeling very inspired by what I was seeing over socials when it came to styling this item. I can now proudly say that I own two very gorgeous, chic skirts. I had purchased a black one from Max Mara about a year and a half ago and I had also bought a cream Ralph Lauren one maybe 6 months after punching the first one. Another reason why it took me some time to actually go ahead and purchase a couple of skirts for myself, was because I wanted to make sure that I was purchasing for me and not for a trend. I wanted to make sure that if I was going to go ahead and buy this item that I felt inspired enough to intentionally style it up and to make sure it is in a way that really is a true representation of me. For the most part, I have been inspired to styling my satin skirts in a more timeless and chic way, which has always been my go to. Quite recently, I have seen a lot more people over in my Pinterest pin suggestions styling this skirt in what I would consider to be a little more eccentric. They have taken the timelessness of this style and merged it with eccentric styling such as with English heritage colours like Ox blood and racing green skirts and paired it with chunky knits and tweed blazers. This, I really like to see. It inspires me greatly as sometimes it is hard to cross the two in ways that could potentially work.
When it comes to very classy and well put together looks, I have really enjoyed seeing the styling of double satin pieces and also I have been inspired by those who choose to play around with the skirt lengths. Over the next few months, I would like to try this out myself and go on the hunt for either a lovely mini satin skirt or a floor length satin skirt. I imagine myself styling either one of these up in such fabulous ways and honestly looking forward to finding one that is right for me.
How to choose a satin skirt
1.Pick a length that works for you
The midi skirt has been the go to length for this skirt for the past few years but that does not mean that this has to be the length that you have to choose. Depending on so many aspects, the midi skirt may just not feel exactly right for you and that’s absolutely fine! There are other lengths to choose from and an array of ways to dress them too. Don’t feel disheartened if you find a skirt in a colour you like but it doesn’t quite add anything to your wardrobe, because this style skirt in both mini and long can still be dressed up very well.
2. Buy second hand
As with anything that has once been considered trendy, it usually comes with the fact that the item would have quite quickly lost value and wear in someone else’s wardrobe. Sometimes with items like this, it would of been assumed that they would have only been considered a trend for a few seasons, just like I did, and then good quality and good condition skirts would end up looking for a new home. That right there is your silver lining, as if you have ended up thinking ‘how can I insert a decent satin skirt into my wardrobe without making any big financial commitments’, all you have to do is shop in places like Depop or Vinted.
3. Silk or Satin
Silk is a fine natural material which almost always comes at a cost especially depending on the weaving technique. In my opinion, there isn’t really any huge benefit of investing in a skirt made from 100% silk unless you stumble across a good deal. Sure, silk can be made into heavy duty satin or sateen but if you plan on pursuing something that is very versatile and can sometimes be worn for more casual occasions then there may not be a need to exclusively seek out something that is 100% silk. Satin or Sateen is often made from synthetic materials and can sometimes be blended with pure silk. Consider your budget when looking for a skirt but also consider the material it is made from as this can effect durability and how to properly care for the item.
Brown mini skirt Monki, Brown Blazer Mango, Cream blouse &OtherStories, Brown Mary-Janes Russell & Bromley, Red earrings Wolf & Badger, Black satin skirt Nobody’s Child, Black blazer &OtherStories, Black boots Mango, Lace insert top &OtherStories, Red croc effect bag Aspinal of London, Pearl & gold earrings Aspinal of London
When in doubt, always go for the two satin skirt combos that you cannot go wrong with. One being doubling up on the satin by wearing a satin top with your satin skirt and the other, well, simply throw on a blazer to complete your look no matter if it is a day look or night look. If you go for classic and neutral tones for your skirt, this makes it easier to find a blazer that will go with your skirt no matter the length.
White short sleeve top Philosophy, Gold flower earring Ottoman Hands, White satin skirt Mango, Silver earrings Arket, Silver bracelet Arket, Black shoes COS, Black bag Arket, Black top M&S, Black and gold heels Jimmy Choo
A long white satin skirt can be styled in so many different ways. Even though the colour white is no longer exclusively reserved for brides or corporate poplin shirt and cigarette trouser combos, it is still sometimes seen as being somewhat of a formal colour to wear. Instead of paring white bottoms with a a tailored or sleek top, try pairing your white satin skirt with a jersey top instead. This will soften the look and allow you to find more creative ways to dress up your outfit or make it easier to dress down.
Shamar Viberg 