The Best Red Wrap Skirts For Everyday Wear Handpicked by Claire

Red does one thing a wrap skirt can’t for the rest of the navy/black family: dress up a functional flattering shape without trying. The wrap structure is where all the effort goes. That crossover bit at the front means the skirt can be worn at your natural waist or dropped with the tie low, it can be tightened up drawing everything in or left looser to skim your curves depending on what you need that day. It’s also one of the rare skirt shapes that works on a body that fluctuates from week to week. Look for something with enough fabric density to swing rather than stick to your hips – a heavier cotton, a twill or a decent midweight crepe will usually work best. Steer clear of thin materials that will wriggle open at the tie or creep up your thighs as you walk.

Wrap skirts work best when the tie or button closure is considered as part of the design, rather than an afterthought. The tie should be long enough to wrap all the way around and tie comfortably, rather than just making a token loop. Buttons or poppers underneath indicate the maker wasn’t relying on the tie to stay up by itself. Look at where the two panels cross over at the front. If it lies flat rather than bunched up, the skirt has been cut well. Think about length too – midi hits are more versatile for day to day as they graze the widest part of your calf, rather than bunching across it.

This is where red really earns its keep. You don’t want to match it, you want to neutralise it with plain white shirt, tucked in to the waistband. Or a thin black rollneck for winter. Tan or black leather looks great too. Trainers for school runs and errands, a heel lifts it for office wear and bare legs with sandals on sunny days let the skirt speak for itself. Resist anything boxy or cropped on top that will fight the waist definition the wrap creates.
Wrap skirts are a category of clothing that feel like they were made for the kind of day where you want to look put together without wearing anything fussier than necessary. The meeting that ends up with drinks. Lunch that could turn into an afternoon. A completely average Tuesday that deserves something better than jeans. The red keeps it from feeling like A Safe Choice, but the wrap style keeps it wearable.