Women's Knit Skirts Guide

A knit skirt is a skirt made from knitted fabric, which means it almost always pulls on, stretches at the waist, and moves without the restriction of a woven skirt and zip. Knit skirts range from sleek ponte pencil skirts worn to the office to long, swaying maxi skirts in soft jersey, and they share the knit family's central bargain: comfort and ease of fit in exchange for a fabric that follows the body's contours and needs a little management to look its best.

Because there is rarely a zip or a fixed waistband to define the fit, a knit skirt succeeds or fails on three things: the weight of the knit, the waistband construction, and what is worn underneath it. A substantial knit in a well-made skirt is one of the easiest garments in a wardrobe — no fastenings, no creasing, and a shape that adjusts itself. A flimsy knit in a poor one clings, twists and shows everything, which is why the details below matter more here than in almost any other skirt category.

Pencil, A-Line and Maxi Silhouettes

The pencil knit skirt is the tailored end of the family: narrow, knee-length or below, and usually made from ponte or another firm double knit that smooths the hip and holds a straight line to the hem. It is the knit skirt that goes to work. The A-line knit skirt flares from the waist or hip, knitted or cut with extra width so the fabric swings rather than clings; it suits softer jerseys and rib knits and is the most forgiving silhouette through the hips and thighs.

The maxi knit skirt runs to the ankle or floor and relies on drape: long columns of jersey or rib knit that pool and move as you walk. Tiered, column and softly flared maxis all exist, and weight decides which works — too light and the skirt wraps around the legs in a breeze, too heavy and it pulls at the waistband. Midi knit skirts split the difference and have become the everyday default, in ribbed column shapes worn with boots through the cooler months.

Waistbands, Lining, and Managing Cling

Waistbands are usually elastic, in three forms: a simple elastic casing, comfortable but sometimes prone to rolling; a wide self-fabric or ribbed band, which lies flatter and looks more finished with tucked tops; and a structured ponte band with elastic inside, the most polished option. Whatever the type, the band should stay put when you sit and stand without constant adjustment, and it should recover its width after a day's wear rather than arriving home stretched.

Lining is the knit skirt's quiet solution to its biggest problem. An unlined thin knit shows undergarment lines and clings to the legs through static; a skirt lined in smooth tricot glides instead. Where there is no lining, a half-slip does the same job, and a slip is close to essential under light-colored or fine jersey skirts. Smooth, seamless undergarments, anti-static spray in dry winter air, and choosing a knit heavy enough to be opaque when stretched will together eliminate most of the cling and show-through that give the category an undeserved reputation.

Lengths and Styling

Choose length by proportion and occasion. Knee-length pencil skirts are the office standard and suit most heights; midi lengths land anywhere from below the knee to mid-calf and look best ending at a narrower point of the leg; maxi skirts need enough length to clear the ground in your chosen shoes, since a knit hem dragging or hovering both look accidental. Petite wearers often find a high-waisted fit lengthens the line of a longer skirt, while a hem that hits exactly at the widest part of the calf shortens almost everyone.

Styling follows the silhouette. A ponte pencil skirt takes a tucked blouse, a fine knit top or a blazer and reads as a suit alternative. An A-line knit skirt pairs with a fitted top that balances its flare, or a cropped sweater in cooler weather. A maxi knit skirt wants a shorter or tucked top to keep the waist visible under all that length. Ribbed midi skirts with matching knit tops — the co-ord set — have made the knit skirt a complete outfit in one purchase, and boots, from ankle to knee-high, remain its most reliable footwear partner.

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