How to Wear and Tie a Silk Wrap Skirt: Styling Ideas
Iris NguyenQuick answer: To tie a silk wrap skirt, hold it open behind you with the waistband at your natural waist, cross one panel over the front, lay the other panel over it, then wrap the long tie around your waist and knot it at the side. Wear it with a fitted or tucked-in top, flat sandals or a low heel, and let the print be the one pattern in the outfit.
In a hotel room before dinner, the red silk goes around once, the tie crosses at the back, and a knot settles on the right hip. When you walk to the door, the hem swings longer behind you than in front, and the print catches the lamp light in small flashes of blue and gold.
How does a silk wrap skirt work?
A wrap skirt is a length of fabric that circles the body and overlaps itself at the front, held closed by ties instead of a zip or buttons. Because you set the overlap each time you dress, the same skirt adjusts to your waist on any given day. In silk the overlap lies flat and moves with you, and the knot gives a soft point of interest at the hip.
Our silk midi wrap skirt in red Dragon of Grace has no zip and no fixed waistband. An 86.6 inch (220 cm) tie wraps and knots wherever you choose, which is why it fits US sizes 4 through 18 as one size. It is cut from the same hand screen-printed mulberry silk as our scarves and sewn in our Hanoi atelier, and at $289 it does the work of two garments, as the next sections show.
How to tie a silk wrap skirt, step by step
- Hold the skirt behind you with the inside of the fabric facing your body and the top edge level with your natural waist.
- Bring one panel across the front to the opposite hip and hold it there with one hand.
- Lay the other panel over it, so the opening sits where you want it, usually toward one side of the front.
- Take the tie around your waist. If it is long enough, cross it at the back and bring both ends forward again.
- Knot it at the side hip with a square knot, or tie a bow, and let the tails hang.
- Check in a mirror while you take a long step and sit on the edge of a chair. Move the overlap if the opening shows more than you want.
Keeping the wrap closed when you walk and sit
The worry with any wrap skirt is the moment the opening parts on a step, a staircase or a breezy terrace. Three habits settle it. Overlap the panels generously, so the top layer reaches well past the center of your body. Turn the opening toward the side instead of the dead center. On a windy day, a small safety pin on the inside of the overlap, at thigh height, holds it without showing.
Where to place the knot
A knot at the side hip is the classic choice: it draws a soft diagonal across the front and lets the tails fall along the leg. A bow at the front center reads more playful and suits a daytime outfit. A knot at the back keeps the front clean under a jacket, though it can press into a chair back during a long dinner.
Making the knot hold in silk
Silk is smooth, so a single loop can slide loose over an evening. A square knot, right over left and then left over right, holds well and still lies flat. Leave the tails long or tuck them into the wrap at the waist for a tidier line.
Two ways to wear one skirt
Wrapped at the waist, our skirt becomes a high-low midi: shorter at the front opening and longer at the back. Wrapped high and tied behind the neck, it becomes a halter dress, and a thin belt at the waist gives it shape if you like. That is two outfits from one soft piece of silk, which matters on a trip where the suitcase is small.
What size is a silk wrap skirt?
Many wrap skirts come in few sizes, because the tie takes up the difference between waists. Ours is one size and fits US 4 through 18, so the number to compare is the length against your height.
| Your height | Where the hem falls |
|---|---|
| 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) | Mid-calf |
| 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) | Below the calf |
| 5 ft 2 in (157 cm) | Just above the ankle |
The skirt measures 35.4 inches (90 cm) long, laid flat, and the waist tie is 86.6 inches (220 cm) end to end. If you want it longer or shorter, we cut it to your length in our Hanoi atelier for an extra 10% of the listed price, which adds 3 to 5 business days of tailoring. A custom length is made to measure, so it sits outside our 30 day return policy and includes one complimentary alteration instead.
What to wear with a silk wrap skirt
Tops
The skirt carries volume and movement below the waist, so keep the top close to the body or tucked in. A white or camel shirt with the sleeves pushed up looks considered and calm. A plain tee or tank in black or ivory is the easy daytime version. For dinner, a silk tank or blouse in one color taken from the print keeps the outfit to a single pattern; our silk blouses include plain-ground options that sit well with it. In cooler months, a fine knit tucked at the waist works the same way.
Jewelry
Every photo on this page shows the same finish: a long strand of beads worn over a plain shirt. A rope-length necklace draws a vertical line from collar to waist that balances the swing of the hem, and in a matching color it ties the top to the print. Our guide on how to wear a silk wrapped bead necklace shows the doubled and knotted versions.
Shoes
Flat sandals suit the skirt at noon, and a low heel suits it after dark. A pointed low heel or a strappy flat lengthens the leg beneath a midi hem without fighting the print. In autumn, a slim ankle boot keeps the line clean.
A scarf with a printed skirt
A second print can work if it shares the skirt's colors and the shirt between them stays plain. A small square tied over the hair or a larger one laid over the shoulders frames the face and leaves the skirt as the main event. For more on pairing, see what to wear with a silk scarf and our guide on how to wear a silk scarf.
| Occasion | Top | Shoes | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekend lunch | Black or white tee, tucked | Flat sandals | Knot at the side hip |
| Office or gallery | White or camel shirt, sleeves pushed up | Pointed low heel | Long beaded necklace |
| Dinner or wedding guest | Silk tank in a color from the print | Low heel | Small silk square in the hair |
| Travel | Fitted tank, plus a shirt for evening | Flat sandals | Wear it as a halter dress after dark |
Can a silk scarf be worn as a wrap skirt?
Yes, for a short sarong. A 44 inch (110 cm) square folded into a triangle and knotted at the hip makes a beach wrap over swimwear, and our 44 inch silk shawls are large enough for it. A square is too small to make a full midi skirt, though, and for a belt over a skirt a 36 inch (90 cm) square folded on the bias gives a band of about 51 inches. Our guide to wearing a silk scarf as a belt or top shows the folds, and turning square scarves into wearable art shows how far a square can go.
How to care for a silk wrap skirt
Dry cleaning is preferred for silk clothing; tell the cleaner it is silk. If you wash it yourself, hand wash it in cold water, never in a machine, and dry it out of direct sun. Long exposure to light yellows and weakens silk, so a skirt left drying on a sunny balcony or hung by a bright window can fade where the light falls. Dry it in the shade and store it away from sun. Hang the skirt by its waistband or fold it loosely over a padded hanger so the tie does not crease.
Frequently asked questions
How do you tie a silk wrap skirt?
Hold it behind you at your natural waist, cross one panel over the front, lay the other panel over it, then wrap the tie around your waist and knot it at the side hip.
What top goes with a silk wrap skirt?
A fitted or tucked-in top in a plain color: a white or camel shirt, a black tee, or a silk tank in one color from the print.
What shoes go with a midi wrap skirt?
Flat sandals for daytime and a low heel for the evening. A pointed toe lengthens the leg beneath a midi hem.
Is a silk wrap skirt one size?
Many are, because the tie adjusts to the waist. Ours is one size and fits US 4 through 18, with a custom length available for an extra 10%.
Can you wear a wrap skirt as a dress?
Ours can be wrapped high and tied behind the neck as a halter dress. Add a thin belt at the waist for shape.
How do you keep a wrap skirt from opening?
Overlap the panels generously, turn the opening toward the side, and knot the tie with a square knot. On a windy day, a small safety pin inside the overlap holds it.
How do you wash a silk wrap skirt?
Dry cleaning is preferred. If you wash it at home, hand wash in cold water, never in a machine, and dry it out of direct sun.
What size scarf can you tie around your waist?
A 36 inch (90 cm) square folded on the bias gives a band of about 51 inches, long enough to knot at most waists.
Browse every guide in our silk scarf and tie guides.
