So, you’re wondering how to style a maxi skirt and join the masses of chic women on Instagram embracing this longer-length style? It can be tricky to figure out how to avoid being swallowed whole by such a large swath of fabric, particularly for petite frames, but I’m here to tell you it’s perhaps not as difficult as you might think. There are few tips and tricks to figuring out the basics—your choice of shoes is incredibly important—but once you have those mastered you can simply sit back and have fun. After all, sporting a skirt reminiscent of a ball gown (at least in length) should be fun, no? Read on for all my best advice on how to make this growing 2025 fashion trend work for your wardrobe.
How to Style a Maxi Skirt in 2025: The Dos and Don’ts of Pulling Off the Trendy Silhouette
It’s all about the shoes
PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and some items may be gifted to us. Additionally, PureWow may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. All prices are accurate upon date of publish. You can learn more about the affiliate process here.
How to Style a Maxi Skirt
What Tops to Wear with a Maxi Skirt
There are any number of easy fashion “rules” you can follow—The Rule of Thirds; The CST Rule; The Big/Slim/Skin Principle—to determine what top works best with your maxi skirt of choice. But generally speaking, I recommend choosing something that will help to balance out a voluminous bottom. This could mean opting for a piece that fits close to the body, like a bodysuit or snug sweater. Or it could mean a top in a lightweight fabric, like lace, gauzy cotton or silk. When in doubt, reach for the top you’d wear with your favorite wide-leg trousers, as it’s very likely it will work just as well with a maxi as it does with such voluminous pants.
What Shoes to Wear with a Maxi Skirt
To avoid having your feet be swallowed whole by your maxi skirt, you’re going to want to choose a shoe that stands out. This is especially important for petite folks. If your feet disappear under your skirt or blend in because your shoes and maxi are the same color, it drags your outfit down and throws your proportions out of whack. So how can you avoid this fate? A pointed toe is a great option, whether you prefer heels or flats or even boots, because the exaggerated shape will peek out from under your hem. If you’re a sneakers or loafers kind of gal, be sure to choose a shoe in a contrasting color, rather than going matchy-matchy.
What Accessories to Wear with a Maxi Skirt
Other than footwear, there are really no right or wrong accessories when it comes to how to style a maxi skirt. Feel free to just do you, reader! If you want to go all in on boho vibes with a low-slung belt, beaded necklace and slouchy tote with your cotton tiered maxi, go for it. If you’d rather go for an opposites attract approach, try adding pearl earrings and a ‘90s baguette bag instead. Let the occasion (brunch, work, errand running, etc.) guide your accessory choices more than the skirt itself.
9 Maxi Skirt Outfit Ideas
1. White Skirt + Dark Top and Shoes
One of the easiest outfit hacks I learned in the past few years is The Sandwich Rule. It dictates that the secret to pulling together a fabulous outfit is all in creating a “sandwich” with your pieces, either with proportions, color or fabrics. In this case, we’ve got a classic color sandwich featuring a light-hued maxi skirt layered between a darker top and coordinating shoes. It’s a great way to look put together and to highlight your beloved new maxi.
Shop Similar Styles
2. Plaid Maxi Skirt + Chunky Boots
Hoping to rock a plaid maxi but don’t want to look like you’ve run off course of the Saint Paddy’s Day parade? Lean into ‘90s grunge with chunky boots or loafers instead. Even if you choose a minimalist top, or even something a little preppy like a polo-collar sweater, the bold footwear lends more than enough edge to your outfit to keep you looking fresh and not costumey.
Shop Similar Styles
3. Leather Maxi Skirt + Sheer Blouse
A leather or faux-leather maxi skirt runs the risk of looking (and feeling) very heavy on your frame—it’s a lot of sturdy material to work with—so to balance that out, I recommend choosing minimalist shoes and a lightweight top. This sheer blouse is a stunning twist on a classic tuxedo shirt (and very on trend), but you could just as easily opt for a lightweight cotton tee and flats for a more casual afternoon look.
Shop Similar Styles
4. A-Line Maxi Skirt + Sporty Top
I adore pairing contrasting aesthetics with one another. Sometimes it ends up looking wrong, but so often it ends up looking oh-so cool and very Fashion with a capital F. Case in point, this chic ‘fit that combines an A-line denim maxi skirt with a sporty half-zip sweatshirt. The silhouette of the skirt feels quite formal, despite the jeans material, almost like a denim ball gown. But by wearing it with a casual pullover and easy, striped tee, it tones down all that fanciness to just feel cool and breezy. And of course, she’s got those pointy-toe shoes to keep her frame looking nice and long.
Shop Similar Styles
5. Denim Maxi Skirt + T-Shirt + Retro Sneakers
Ideal for weekend hangs and casual weekdays, this outfit combo is comfy, chic and impossible to mess up. The key is all in the retro-inspired sneakers. Opting for a sleeker shoe silhouette (in a contrasting color, remember) helps prevent the bottom half of your outfit from feeling too heavy and dragging the eye downward.
Shop Similar Styles
6. Slim Maxi Skirt + Polished Jacket
Now this is how you style a maxi skirt for work! First, start with a skirt in a fabric that has a decent amount of structure to it—wool crepe, heavy cotton, etc.—and a silhouette that’s neither too snug nor too flowy. Then layer it under a sleek jacket or cardigan sweater and finish with simple accessories. If you want to wear a blazer, opt for one that’s slightly cropped and that hits right at or above your hips. An oversize blazer will likely look too bulky on top of an already large block of fabric (i.e. your skirt).
Shop Similar Styles
7. Leopard Maxi Skirt + Colorful Sweater
Leopard is having a big return to the spotlight in 2025, and while it may be tempting to pair the bold print with something more demure, like a black turtleneck or simple denim jacket, I say why not lean into the attention-grabbing nature of animal print? Try matching the energy of your leopard maxi with a brightly-colored, or even patterned, sweater instead. The final result is head-to-toe fun rather than simply giving all the attention to just one piece.
Shop Similar Styles
8. Slim Maxi Skirt + Slim Knit Top
Lots of fashion hacks would advise you not to pair two items with the same fit or proportions together, as it’s often more interesting to play around with a variety of shapes in one look. But in the case of a long, lean maxi skirt, it can actually look very elegant when worn with a slim-fitting top as well. As with the look pictured here, the combo helps elongate her frame, as does that plunge V neckline although if it were buttoned all the way up it would still have the same effect.
Shop Similar Styles
9. Cotton Maxi Skirt + Cotton Top
Another super easy styling hack for any skirt, not just maxi lengths, is to choose a top that is an almost exact match to create the illusion of a dress nipped at the waist instead of two separate pieces. They don’t need to be exactly the same fabric or color either, just close enough to give the illusion of a monochrome outfit.
Shop Similar Styles
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Maxi Skirts in Style Right Now?
For the first time in years, maxi skirts are back en vogue! In fact, they’re actually one of the top trends for 2025. I first started to see their return to the spotlight with the rise of denim maxis at the end of 2023 and heading into spring 2024. That was followed by white cotton maxis for summer, and the boho vibes continued through to the end of last year. Both denim and tiered boho designs will carry through the next few seasons, but I also expect to see more silk, leather and cargo maxis, too.
Can You Wear a Maxi Skirt to a Wedding?
If the wedding dress code is listed as cocktail attire, semi-formal or possibly even formal, you can absolutely wear a maxi skirt—provided the skirt is made of an elevated material like silk or tulle. This is an instance in which styling is paramount. While it can be cute to tuck a white tee into a silk maxi for dinner out with friends, you’ll definitely want to opt for a much more formal top for a wedding. Try a silk camisole, tuxedo jacket or one-shoulder blouse in a satin-finish. My rule of thumb when wearing separates to a wedding is to go really fancy with the accessories to elevate those pieces so they feel appropriate for such a special occasion.
Can You Wear a Maxi Skirt to Work?
This depends a bit on your office dress code expectations, but generally speaking many offices these days would deem some maxi skirts totally acceptable. For work I’d recommend sticking with more substantial materials, like dark-wash denim, wool crepe or heavier cotton. I’d also avoid super-boho or relaxed silhouettes and instead opt for styles with more structure.