Women's Midi Skirts

A midi is decided by exactly where the hem meets the calf, and an inch in either direction changes the whole line. Straight and pencil cuts hold a narrow column down to that point; A-line and flared shapes widen through the drop and lighten it; slip and bias skirts skim the hip and follow the leg down. Pleats do their own work, with knife and accordion pleats keeping the eye moving vertically while box pleats add breadth at the hip.

Wraps, front slits and button-through fronts break the hem so the leg still reads, and a high waist lifts the break at the top so the line from waist to hem runs long and uninterrupted. Satin and silk-feel crepe catch light and slide; denim, cotton twill and leather hold a firmer shape; knit and jersey follow every curve. Tweed and wool suiting build structure through the hip, and a lining keeps a fine fabric from clinging.