Seven Skirt Trends Taking Over This Spring – and How To Wear Them

Skirts have made a convert of this “strictly pants” girl. Maybe it’s the new season’s wash of statement styles fuelling my inspiration. Or maybe it’s that they require less thought than I originally assumed.

The calf-baring silhouette is actually an outfit’s focal point, particularly when it’s rendered in colour, texture and movement, and embellished with trending details like lace, fringe and pleats The rest of the look becomes a formula. Add a simple tee, merino knit or lightweight jacket, then rotate between leather flats, kitten heels and slimline sneakers, and you’re ready to go. Seven key styles stand out from the rest – here’s what we’re shopping for spring.

Sheer skirts

Sheer isn’t new – it’s sauntered down AFW runways for years running. What’s fresh is the silhouette. Where past seasons left the styling to you, this year’s sheer skirts come pre-layered and built for contrast: felt over silk, black over white, doubled up for opacity. For an outfit that counters the style’s feminine nature and leans more subversive, layer over trousers and finish with a plain white tee.

Pleated skirts

Call it fashion’s sport obsession or structure’s return to the zeitgeist – pleats are back, and they’ve grown up. Instead of micro tennis skirts, this season’s versions skim the knee or fall floor-length, and pull away from its prim reputation through embellishment, courtesy of belts, studs or eyelets. Push the preppy aesthetic further with a button-up and loafers, or give it edge with the season’s other must-have: a slogan T-shirt.

Pencil skirts

“Glamoratti” – one of Pinterest’s trend calls for 2026 – predicted a return to ’80s power dressing: sculpted shoulders, funnel necks, tailored suiting. Chanel’s creative director Matthieu Blazy led the charge, reviving the skirt-suit at the very house that made it famous.

A full suit isn’t exactly wardrobe-practical but the skirt alone, in a form-fitting pencil silhouette, absolutely is – you just need the right styling. After US TV series Love Story revived interest in Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, her ’90s paparazzi looks are the obvious reference. Slim long sleeves and leather slides for errands, a V-neck tee and knee-highs for the office, and a collarless blazer and satin mules for nights out.

Handkerchief skirts

There’s something inherently laid-back about a handkerchief hem. Even in “formal” fabrics like wool and silk, the off-kilter cut pulls the whole look back down to earth – ideal for a chronically casual wardrobe like mine. It also requires barely any styling as it does all the work alone. Add a slinky singlet and rubber thongs by day, then switch to leather sandals and an equally drapey top once evening rolls around.

Fringe skirts

Fringe, tassels and tactile detail have taken over Australian collections since we covered the boho-chic revival in Broadsheet’s summer print issue. This season pushes the new wave even further, mixing textures within the fringe itself – ribbon, beading, leather – in styles that are unapologetically maximalist. Across labels, the styling cue consistently sits in monochrome territory. Leather with leather, print with print, and texture with texture. Follow suit for a statement-making outfit.

Bubble-hem skirts

The bulbous silhouette, with roots in the ’80s and early 2000s, has cycled back before – usually in micro lengths and loud colour. This time it’s longer, fuller and calmer: neutrals dominate, with colour showing up in wine red, chocolate brown and this season’s Tiffany blue. Balance the voluminous proportions with something slim-fitting on top; a corset-inspired design dials up the whimsy, while a simple button-down keeps it from tipping into twee.

Lace-trimmed skirts

Lingerie-inspired detailing is set to be big this spring, an extension of the underwear-as-outerwear trend that shows no sign of slowing. Lace-trimmed slip skirts carry a vintage feel, mostly in undergarment-adjacent tones – ice blue, stone grey, classic black – though bolder colours exist too. For pairings, contrast the style’s soft, feminine nature with an oversized blazer and leather knee-high boots, or layer the skirt over trousers for an edgier look.