4 Skirts Layered Over a Dress and the Reasons Why You Should Try It

Layering a skirt over a dress may seem like the silliest thing ever. Yet with all of the layering we do with our sweaters and tops, why shouldn’t we experiment with the same concept for our bottoms?

Let’s go beyond the same ole, same ole and try things that you don’t normally try. Like the idea of layering a skirt over a dress. What this does is magically change your dress into a top. It’s not the first time this concept has been on the blog, but I’ll talk about more of the whys and hows.

And there's a 5th option on my blog with this exact same dress.

Other times we have tried layering a skirt over a dress

Dress 3 Ways 3 (As a Shirt)

4 Different Ways to Wear a Dress when Traveling

The Base Layer

First let’s start with the kind of dress that works best for this idea of layering a skirt over your dress.

1-It should be relatively thin.

2-The straighter the better, but don’t stop this from trying other types. It all depends on the kinds of skirts you have.

3-A shorter dress gives you more options with different skirts.


Now the million dollar question is why would you even experiment with your clothes this way?

1-Adds a ton of variety especially when travelling.

2-Great for hiding stains on the skirt part.

3-Fabulous way to “lengthen” a too short dress.

4-The top stays tucked in.

5-It creates an instant slip to your skirt.

6-Warmer in the cold weather.

7-When a dress is tight at the waist, throw on a skirt to cover it.


Myths

Now I showcased this exact example on my Instagram reels ( which you can see here). And there were many comments that I would like to disprove.

1-You don’t have to be “skinny” to do this. Most of your skirts are not skin tight, so it’s not like there is extra bulk.

2-You do not need to size up in the skirts. As long as your skirts work with a top tucked in, then they will work the same with this idea.

3-The dress will not bunch up under the skirts anymore than it does when you are wearing it alone.

Pencil Skirt

Now you might not think a pencil skirt would work for this idea of layering a skirt over a dress. Of course this depends on the shape and fit of your pencil skirt. This yellow pencil skirt is cotton and has a tad bit of stretch in it. It also has a silky lining which makes it slide over the dress easily.

One comment on Instagram stated she usually wears a belt to create a stylish outfit. Since this skirt has buttons on each side, one of the things I considered was wearing a brooch in the middle of the waistband.


See the time all three of us wore our brooch as a “belt”

Wearing Your Brooches at Your Waist

A-Line Skirt

An A-line skirt would be the perfect item for this concept since it flows away from the body. This plaid skirt was made by my mother.


You can see how I’ve styled it before on the blog.

Wearing your A-Line Skirt for a Dressy Occasion

A-Line Skirt for a Casual Day

Pleated Skirt

Pleated skirts are having their day at least in blogger land. These feminine skirts range from knee length to midi length, and are perfect for coverage and style.

At first I thought the skirt was too long; however, I have grown to love having a nice variety of lengths of skirts in my closet.

Maxi Skirt

Since your maxis are long, these skirts are fabulous for being able to layer over a dress.


THE BIGGEST TAKEAWAY: Just try it. You’ll never know if this will work for your clothes unless you put them on and see how it goes. You might be pleasantly surprised with the options that look better than you thought.

And if you need some more inspiration,  check out my video where I style a “too short” tunic with 10 different skirts over top. Yes, I said 10 different skirts!! (And if you can, please click the heart to love the video)

The author may collect a small share of sales from the links on this page.

Jodie Filogomo
Want more details about this and other fashion and style ideas? Check out more here!
Go
Comments
Join the conversation
3 of 17 comments
  • Bet ! Bet ! on Feb 19, 2022

    Why didn't I think of that !! Such a good idea ! Well done

  • Carolyn Carolyn on Feb 19, 2022

    I remember my grandmother used to do this all the time. She never had any blouses so she always put on a dress then put a skirt on over the top. She did this for as long as I can remember (1970's until she passed in the 1990's)

    • Jodie Filogomo Jodie Filogomo on Feb 19, 2022

      Your grandma was a true fashionista!

      It goes to show that we can get creative with what we have!!

      What a wonderful memory Carolyn!

Next