Kayla Young
What is a skater dress, exactly? Is it a skateboarding thing?
They’re called skater dresses because they look like the dresses worn by figure skaters – nothing to do with skateboarding.
Sometimes referred to as a ‘fit and flare’ dress, a skater dress’ main features are a fitted top that hugs the waist with a skirt that flares out and usually goes to just above the knee. Though you can find skater dresses with a longer cut below the knee or a little higher on the thigh.
Skater dresses were huge in the early to mid-2010s and they’ve made a comeback. This is great because their hourglass shape makes them flattering for any body type.
Skater dresses can be dressed up for formal occasions and dressed down for casual, everyday wear. Despite their shorter length, with the right styling, a skater dress can be worn in different seasons.
They are highly versatile, which makes them super practical and why a skater dress should be one of your closet staples.
In this article, we’ll take a close look at the skater dress, and go over how to wear it and what will go well with the dress.
Contents
What is a Skater Dress?
There are lots of different variations on the skater dress, so it’s not like you only have to have only one! A skater dress can be sexy, playful and even a bit conservative… well as conservative as a short A-line dress can be.
So you just might want to have more than one.
Here are just a few examples of different style variations, at least one of which is going to look perfect on you!
How do you Style a Skater Dress?
It’s one thing to have a skater dress, but it’s another to style it to suit the occasion.
Although black is classic and looks good on everyone (and here are some nail colors that go great with black!), we just wanted to highlight the different styles above. But you can find skater dresses available in pretty much any color or pattern you can imagine, so the sky’s the limit.
Now depending on where, when and what the occasion, you’re going to want to style your skater dress to be appropriate for the situation.
You don’t have to be a fashionista to look great, no matter what the event or non-event happens to be. Skater dresses are that versatile. It’s really just a matter of shoes and the right accessories that can take you from the boardwalk to the bridal shower to the boardroom.
You don’t have to be a fashionista to look great, no matter what the event or non-event happens to be. Skater dresses are that versatile. It’s really just a matter of shoes and the right accessories that can take you from the boardwalk to the bridal shower to the boardroom.
We are going to break it down below in terms of styling to suit the occasion, how to accessorize, and of course what shoes to wear with the newest addition to your wardrobe. You will be wondering why you hadn’t bought one (or a bunch) sooner!
Going Casual
One of the reasons we LOVE skater dresses so much is that it’s literally one thing. No matching, no worrying about whether this top looks good with these bottoms.
You just throw it on and you’re good to go.
And if you’re just going casual, you really don’t have to do anything else.
But if you want to take your style up a notch, we have a few suggestions.
Boho Casual
For a boho vibe, add a pair of gladiator flats and a crochet knit bag. And don’t forget your sunglasses. Looking equally effortless with tousled waves or a top knot, you’re good to go.
A chunky wooden bangle will complete the look.
Here’s how you can put this look together:
Cute Casual
A two-toned skater dress that has a solid top and patterned skirt gives you the look of wearing separates without the hassle. Combine that with (or without) a skinny belt, low riding sneakers, a denim jacket and a chunky handbag for a super cute, casual outfit.
Here’s how you can put this look together:
Edgy Casual
Looking to put a little edge to your style? Combat boots are a great way to add a little kick-ass to any outfit. Skater dresses look especially good when paired with a black (pl)leather jacket.
Looking to put a little edge to your style? Combat boots are a great way to add a little kick-ass to any outfit.
If the weather is a bit chilly, you can also wear black tights. You can take it one step further and pair it with some statement leggings underneath your skirt, making this a look that will not only carry you through the seasons, but will let everyone know you are a force to be reckoned with.
Here’s how you can put this look together:
Colder Weather Casual
A chic pair of ankle boots is a simple way to add an extra dose of style for that “I wasn’t even trying but still manage to look well put-together” look for casual occasions. Of course if you’re going to be wearing a short dress when it’s colder out, you need to be wearing tight or leggings.
Pro Fashion Tip: Match your leggings to your boots, not your dress.
Here’s how you can put this look together:
Just a note on Mary Janes… they too look fantastic with skater dresses, but unlike a skater dress which can look great on anyone regardless of their age, mary janes will only work if you are in your teens. Maybe you can get away with them in your early twenties.
But let’s get real, you’ll look ridiculous trying to wear those and a skater dress if you are over the age of 25.
With so many other (and much better) age-appropriate options, you don’t need to go there.
That said, if you are still a babe in the woods, you might want to consider mary janes as a pretty cute shoe option with your skater dress.
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Going More Formal or Conservative
Bridal showers, garden parties, baby showers, summer weddings or any event that requires a little more formality than your everyday street clothes, the skater dress has got you covered. All you really need to do is accessorize.
This skater dress in a large, bold floral print with a skinny belt is glammed up with a matching necklace and bracelet.
Here’s how you can put this look together:
Going to the Office
When you’re dressing for work, it’s a good idea to err on the side of conservative. Different workplaces will have different dress codes. But even for a workplace with a more casual environment, you should save your spaghetti straps, plunging necklines and off-the-shoulder skaters for the beach, and hanging out at Starbucks.
If you are looking to style a skater dress as a work outfit, choose a skater dress that has a modest neckline. And if you go sleeveless, you should pair it with a jacket or sweater.
Mind the hemline – you don’t want anything too short. Just at, or ever-so-slightly above knee should be okay in most places.
You can, of course, go for a slightly longer skater dress as well.
You can, of course, go for a slightly longer skater dress as well.
Opt for either a solid color or a pattern that is appropriate for the workplace, like a hounds tooth or a check pattern – save the florals and tie dye for the weekends.
In the warmer months, there is nothing that looks more crisp and put together like black and white. You can’t really go wrong pairing a black skater dress with a white blazer.
Here’s how you can put this look together:
As the weather starts to get colder, look for fabrics and colors that are season appropriate. Again with a short length of the skirt, you’ll want to wear tights or leggings. Boots look great with skater dresses.
Here’s how you can put this look together:
Conclusion
And there you have it! Not only do you now know what a skater dress is, you know how to style it for just about any occasion!
