You’re probably about to pull your trusted maxi skirt out of your summer closet, or maybe you’re on the hunt for a new one.
Either way, knowing how to wear a maxi skirt in multiple ways can completely transform your wardrobe. With the right style, one skirt can create at least ten effortless and elegant outfits.
That’s exactly what I’m going to show you today.
Hello and welcome. I’m Alessia, the writer and founder behind Italy with an Italian.
In this post, you’ll discover how Italian women style a maxi skirt, along with outfit ideas you can easily recreate. I’ll also help you choose a versatile skirt that fits seamlessly into an Italian-inspired wardrobe.
We’ll use a black maxi skirt as our main example since it’s the most popular and easiest to style. That said, you can recreate the same looks with a white maxi skirt or any color you love.
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How To Wear A Maxi Skirt Like An Italian Woman (10 Ways)
Imagine being able to pack one maxi skirt and wear it on vacation 4 different ways, or investing in one you truly love and wearing it for work, date night, and the weekend.
That’s exactly what the right maxi skirt allows you to do. The best part is that if you have a versatile piece you can start wearing it in Spring and take it into Fall.
Let me show you how I would style the same black maxi skirt for 10 different occasions from Summer to Fall.
Of course, you can wear it more times than that, repeating the same outfits you love and creating many more, but 10 is a great place to start.
1. Style It With A Shirt
In this example, we are styling the black maxi skirt with a black shirt and tan accessories.
This incorporates so many Italian styling elements:
- all black outfit, especially great for early or end of Summer, when the heat is not too bad;
- tan accessories, which are the most worn during the warmer months;
- and the outfit I like to call the Italian skirt uniform, which features a midi A line skirt (in this case it’s a slightly longer maxi) and a shirt tucked in.
This can also work with a white shirt, or any color, and you can also dress it up by wearing closed pumps.
When to wear this:
In Sicily, we can start wearing this at the beginning of May, whereas for Milan it will have to wait till the end.
An Italian woman would wear this to the office, with a few buttons done up, or a Saturday morning spent shopping and having lunch.
2. Wear It With A Tank Top & A Cardigan
If you keep the cardigan on, this can be a beautiful outfit for Spring. But if you wear it on a warmer day, you can button up the cardigan and throw it on your shoulders. That instantly makes it look more Italian.
The mary jane flats are both practical for a weekend out or a day trip. Many Italian women prefer them to the classic French ballet flats because they are edgier and they make an outfit feel more modern without taking away the feminine element.
3. Pair It With A Sleeveless Blouse For The Office
Let’s say you already wore that first black maxi skirt outfit to the office in June. As the weather heats up, you can wear it again slightly differently.
This time, you’ll wear it with a sleeveless light blouse and slingback shoes. Of course, you swap the latter for a pair of heeled sandals, but this look works well for more serious work environments.
You could even make this work in Spring by adding a cropped blazer.
Italian styling elements to note:
- The pointed shoes make the outfit look more sophisticated.
- The tan leather structured bag is a favorite among Italian women.
- And so is pairing two elements within your outfit. It could be your shoe and bag leather and color, or in this case it’s the top and shoes color. It brings cohesion and adds elegance.
4. Black Maxi Skirt + Cropped Summer Shirt For The Airport
Imagine heading to the Amalfi coats for a few days. You can wear this same skirt to the airport. Styling it with a black sleeveless shirt will give you that all black classic chic travel look, but also a practical outfit for when you arrive at your destination.
How to wear this outfit like an Italian woman:
- If you do go for the crop, just make sure it’s minimal. Showing too much skin is considered tacky in many Italian women’s eyes, especially if you are nowhere around the beach.
- Style it with designer sliders instead of cheap looking flip flops. You’ll add comfort and style with just one swap.
- Keep the look minimal for the airport – minimal jewellery, minimal makeup, simple hairstyle and a practical bag.
5. Elevate Your Maxi Skirt With a Waist Scarf
I am pretty sure this is a trend from the past, as I remember women wearing scarves as belts back when I was a little girl. Either way, it looks stunning, and a great way to make use of your silk scarves in Summer. Of course, you’ll need them to be a little longer than the typical neck scarf.
Can you see how adding a simple black top and that scarf, gives you a completely new outfit that looks so perfect for a chic Summer vacation?
The rest of the accessories is something you likely already have in your closet or are thinking of getting.
Where to wear it:
- As you arrive to your destination, and want to freshen up for lunch.
- The next day for breakfast and a morning exploring the town.
- For a casual dinner.
- This can work as a Summer weekend outfit in your home town.
6. Pair It With A Dressy Summer Top
These tops are very Dolce & Gabbana style, but if you go to the Amalfi Coast you’ll find that every clothing shop sells them in different gorgeous dolce vita prints, and they are really affordable.
This could be your third vacation outfit featuring the same skirt. This time, you could dress it up with heels and a small purse.
I hope you can appreciate how there’s nothing exceptional about these styling tips. However, they are beautiful and they work. My formula is to keep it simple, add at least one unique detail, and make sure it’s classy.
7. Smarten It Up With A Vest
Having one or two nice fitting feminine vests is a must if you work in an office or like that tailored Italian style.
In this case, we are styling the same black maxi skirt with one of these vests in a cream color.
Adding the loafers makes the outfit look very old money Italian.
It’s mid Summer, and the woman is inside a shopping mall. She could be shopping on a Friday morning, or right after work. That outfit could work for either situations.
8. Take It Into Fall With A Denim Shirt
Let’s pretend that Summer has come to and end and you are still making the most of your current wardrobe. You can wear this to the office or to a coffee shop on Sunday.
Or like the woman in the picture, you have taken a Fall trip to Merano (a town in the Italian Dolomites). You can wear that same black skirt you wore all Summer long with a pair of black flats and that trusty denim shirt you had for years.
It creates a classic, feminine, pretty but in an edgy way outfit that’s also very comfortable and chic.
9. Wear It With A Wrap Style Cashmere Top
Isn’t this the perfect romantic date night outfit for Fall?
Like most of the outfits we’ve seen in this post, it’s all about pairing the same skirt with the right top, shoes, and bag. Add simple jewellery and keep your hair and makeup natural and you’re done.
In this case, the Bottega style vintage pouch bag pairs beautifully with the loafer mules, giving this outfit a very vintage ladylike look. The pearls intensify that classy aesthetic.
You could easily make a similar outfit work for the office, just by switching to more demure neckline and different shoes and bag.
10. Dress It Up With A Blazer
If Winters are mild where you wear, this could literally be your Christmas office party outfit.
If not, you could wear this to any smart casual occasions during end of Summer and Fall.
It could also be your special date night outfit, perhaps celebrating an anniversary.
How about your birthday outfit?
We don’t need to always buy an entire new outfit! Sometimes, all we need to do is style one piece we love in a new way.
All we did is pair that black maxi skirt with a silver top and blazer, and paired it with our dressy shoes and purse.
Quick tip for the petite ladies: try to choose a blazer that’s slightly cropped, and wear it buttoned up. The hourglass effect it creates helps elongating you. Just make sure you’re also wearing high heels.
How To Choose A Black Maxi Skirt That Works With All 10 Outfits
If you love the outfits I shared above it’s because that black skirt I used as an example works with all of them.
It’s easy to dress down and up. It works with both modern and more classic looks.
In few words, it’s really versatile.
You can shop this black maxi skirt here.
Below, I am going to include a collection of similar skirts, in case the one above is out of stock or you prefer a different brand. Most of these also come in other colors, including white.
SHOP VERSATILE BLACK MAXI SKIRTS
PS: This post includes affiliate links. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I have or would personally buy.
Why this skirt works?
It has a beautiful high quality fabric. It’s thick enough to hold its volume, and that alone makes it look more expensive, tailored, and dressy.
It’s A line and not a shorter maxi. This means it’s going to be flattering on most body shape and heights. If you are a petite, I have included similar shorter options you might prefer.
It has an elasticated waist that can be easily hidden. In my opinion, more elaborate waist cuts like a drop waist can be more difficult to style in many ways.
It has no drawstring or metal details. You’ll see that other styles included in my Shopmy collection have the latter. You can still make it work by hiding the drawstring inside the skirt, but not having it makes it easier to dress up.
It has no belt. Just make sure that if yours comes with one, you can remove it.
It’s well priced and comes in petite, regular and tall. This makes it very versatile and accessible.
Let me remind you that you can shop this black maxi skirt here. It also comes in white.
Bonus tip: If you prefer a different silhouette or length, just make sure you avoid a tiered light fabric if you want to also wear it for work or dress it up for the evening.
More Summer Outfit Guides
I trust you enjoyed this post, and got a few ideas on how to style your black skirts for Summer and even Fall.
Please like and share it with your friends.
You can pick your next read from here or the recommended posts below:
How To Style A Shirt Dress Like An Italian Woman
Summer Work Outfits For The Office Italian Women Love
I’d also like to invite you to join my Italian newsletter. It’s called Buona Settimana and it lands in your inbox every Sunday. Inside it, we chat about fashion, Italian recipes, travel, and life. You can sign up via one of the boxes on this page. I’d love to have you there.
Thank you so much for reading.
A presto,
Alessia
