Skirt suits are back – but this time, instead of prim they’re decidedly edgy.
Just look at who’s wearing them, and how: ethereal actress Anya Taylor-Joy in sharp monochrome Celine with a flash of bare midriff, rebellious pop star Dua Lipa in all-black Chanel tweed.
The tailored skirt suit was created by Dior in 1947 but became iconic when Coco Chanel launched her tweed version.
And it keeps being reinvented, generation after generation, because it’s such a wearable look. Smart yet never boring; feminine without being fussy.
They starred on the Erdem catwalk at London Fashion Week this week, while on the high street there’s an abundance of skirt suits for every taste.
Try a bold colour for an instant update: Next’s bright green and LK Bennett’s daffodil yellow hit the spot for spring.
Monochrome is perennially chic and would get Coco’s seal of approval – I like Me+Em’s collarless boxy jacket (now £227.50, meandem.com).
New Look’s classic boucle twinset (£52, newlook.com) is among the store’s most coveted items, with sales soaring by 57 per cent last week.
Jacket, £227.50, and skirt, £157.50, meandem.com; shoes, £325, terrydehavilland.com; earrings, £190, pinkpigletcollection.com; necklace, £45, hobbs.com
Jacket, £235, and skirt, £185, thefoldlondon.com; shoes, £120, boden.com; bag, £435, kaai.eu.com; necklace, £22, accessorise.com
Jacket, £349, and skirt, £149, lkbennett.com; blouse, £78, jovonnalondon.com; shoes, £229, prettyballerinas.co.uK
Skirts come in almost every length this season, making the trend even easier to wear.
If you want to show off toned legs in a miniskirt, look to best actress Oscar favourite Mikey Madison. Her pale blue vintage Mugler suit hit just above the knee – perfect for a post-BAFTAs television appearance.
Pamela Anderson showed this isn’t just a look for twenty-somethings in a set from Valentino’s Spring/Summer 2025 catwalk in a similar shade.
Shorter hemlines like Next’s coral mini (£34, next.co.uk) needn’t cause panic – you just need good-quality tights.
Tights from Falke (£27, falke.com) or Wolford (£35, wolford.com) may seem expensive, but they should last years without a ladder. Go for 40-denier this time of year as you’ll find it’s just the right thickness to flatter legs.
Then add a knee-high boot or kitten heels, but not court shoes – you don’t want to stray into the sexy secretary look.
For elegant options below the knee, turn to Cefinn’s pinstripe linen maxi skirt (£270, cefinn.com) with a flattering wrap style, or with Me+Em’s longer tweed (now £105, meandem.com).
Jacket, £62, and skirt, £34, next.co.uk; shoes, £38, riverisland.com; earrings, £125, pinkpigletcollection.com
Jacket, £125, and skirt, £89, nobodyschild.com; top, £219, karenmillen.com; shoes, £38, riverisland.com; socks, £3.99, sockshop.co.uk
Jacket, £380, and skirt, £270, cefinn.com; shirt, £230, withnothingunderneath.com; shoes, £279, lkbennett.com; bag, £435, kaai.eu
Jacket, £52, and skirt, £36, next.co.uk; shirt, £29.50, marksandspencer.com; loafers, £245, russellandbromley.co.uk
Fashion legend Anya Hindmarch opted for navy Emilia Wickstead tailoring when she was made a dame last week.
Her A-line, full-length skirt was both striking and flattering – just add a skinny belt to nip in the waist (Reiss always has the best selection on the high street).
For something a bit different, this pencil skirt by the Fold (£185, thefoldlondon.com) works really well with a peplum pleated jacket (£235) to create balance around the hips.
The Princess of Wales loves this tried-and-tested formula, so it’s got to be good.
