From The Straits Times    |

How should I style my high- waisted A-line skirt? Fashion It girls such as Alexa Chung and Sienna Miller have been spotted wearing the new shape of the season – the A-line skirt.

Daniel Boey, 50, creative and fashion director of creative agency Daniel Boey and style advice website www.The15thDistrict.com, says the style is “classy and infinitely versatile” and “works well with most body shapes”. However, he has a word of caution for well-endowed women with short torsos: “Tread carefully – you may end up looking stumpy in high-waisted skirts because of the proportions. Go for pieces that elongate rather than shorten your body.”

Here are his tips on how to style it.

1. Go casual with sneakers

For a super casual look for Sunday brunch, pair a denim A-line skirt with a basic tee and a pair of Keds, a la American pop singer Taylor Swift.

2. Dress it up with chains and leather

If you are going for a girls’ night out and want more of an edgy look, opt for a leather skirt and wear it with a crop top. Toughen up the look with gold chains and leather boots.

3. Make sure the top fits

Choose well-fitted tops, like a crop top or an off-the-shoulder one to avoid looking frumpy. If you are going to tuck in the top, choose a thin fabric like chiffon so that it will not bunch up underneath the skirt.

4. Choose the right length

An A-line skirt that is too long might make you look shorter than you are. Petite women should opt for a shorter hemline. If you are taller, go for a mid-length one.

Here are The Straits Times’ picks of four combinations.

Look 1: Grey stewart pique shirt, $179, from Fred Perry; and corduroy button front skirt, $59.90, from New Look

Dress down with a cotton polo shirt and burgundy corduroy skirt.

Look 2: Printed blouse, $69.95, from Esprit; and midi-length denim skirt, $44, from Pomelofashion.com

Go for a relaxed printed blouse and denim skirt combination for a casual Saturday.

Look 3: Crop top with sequins, $89.90, from Topshop; and faux leather black skirt, $59.90, from Zara

A striking look for a night out.

Look 4: White poplin shirt, $340, from Maje; and suede wrap skirt with wide belt, $209.44, from Asos

The suede material and length of this skirt make it work-appropriate.

 

A version of this story was originally published in The Straits Times on December 3, 2015. For more stories like this, head to www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle.