The party skirt is the only going-out piece that never lets me down

When it comes to dressing for parties, my greatest woe is the going-out top. Most of the time, the styles either don’t sit right on my chest, or the straps are too long and sliding off. If it’s a tube, it keeps slipping down, requiring a level of vigilance I simply don’t have. Fortunately, I have landed on my favourite festive-dressing loophole: the statement skirt.

How does it solve the problem of not having a festive top, you ask? Well, unlike a top, it doesn’t demand as much mental gymnastics. It doesn’t slip, gape, or make you wonder if you’re one arm movement away from a wardrobe malfunction. A great skirt just is, and the rest of your outfit can be delightfully boring. My preferred formula is throwing on a party skirt with a slouchy sweater and either kitten heels or fancy flats. Business on the top, party on the bottom.

Designers seem to agree. We’ve been seeing that same high-low logic—unfussy tops paired with skirts that do the talking—on the runway for the past few seasons. Just this September on the spring/summer 2026 runways, we spotted crisp oversized shirts, sweaters, and even T-shirts styled with fabulous skirts (often dripping in fringe, sparkle, or both) at Alaïa, Balenciaga, Chanel, and Bottega Veneta. More recently at Chanel’s Métiers d’Art show, full-sleeve turtleneck tops were paired with billowing tulip maxis featuring hand-woven leopard-print motifs and frayed hems. There was even a quarter-zip top paired with a skirt that resembled a glittering New York City skyline upside-down.

Meanwhile, independent homegrown designers have been crafting skirts where the drama comes from technique: handwork, heritage trims, and embellishment that’s meant to move. Szabo Sihag, a label based between India and London, has a mini made of kiran lace (the sparkly gold trim native to Rajasthan and Punjab). If you’re in the mood to go all out, fully embellished monochrome skirts, like the ones below from Chorus and 431-88, offer the most effortless way to dial up the drama. For something more flirty, Mirchi by Kim’s embellished midi skirt is finished with a lace trim, while Polite Society’s all-lace version from its holiday edit is both romantic and theatrical, with a slit that works perfectly if you plan on dramatically throwing yourself on a couch at some point during a party.

Below, the most fun skirts from homegrown brands to shimmy through the season.