Jacquard Skirts: What They Are, How to Choose and 10 to Buy

A jacquard skirt is a skirt cut from fabric whose pattern is woven into the cloth on a jacquard loom, which gives it body and a slight relief that a printed skirt does not have. Our designer skirts edit holds the range, the Mary Katrantzou brand page carries the Gianna and Vargas jacquard skirts from Resort 2027, and our explainer on what jacquard fabric is covers the weave itself.

Key facts

• A jacquard skirt is cut from fabric whose pattern is woven in on a jacquard loom, not printed on.
• The Mary Katrantzou Gianna Skirt is a high-waisted, structured, slightly flared jacquard mini with side pockets.
• Mary Katrantzou makes the Vargas pencil skirt for Resort 2027 in both a claret jacquard and a printed claret polyester.
• The Mary Katrantzou Resort 2027 jacquards are 90% polyester, 6% silk and 4% polyamide.

This guide explains what makes a skirt a jacquard skirt, which shapes suit the cloth, and how to wear one from day to evening. The picks lead with Mary Katrantzou, then widen to jacquard and brocade skirts from other houses at Coveti.

What is a jacquard skirt?

Jacquard is a weaving method, not a fibre. Joseph Marie Jacquard patented a loom in 1804 that used punched cards to raise individual warp threads, so a weaver could build a complex pattern straight into the cloth. Any fibre can be woven this way: silk, cotton, wool, polyester and blends. The pattern shows on both sides, usually reversed on the back.

A woven pattern gives the fabric weight and structure. That suits skirts that need to hold a shape on their own, such as a flared mini that stands away from the leg and a pencil skirt that keeps a clean line. Brocade, a jacquard with a raised supplementary weft, is the heavier, more ornate relation.

Jacquard versus a printed skirt

A print is applied to the surface of a finished cloth, so the back is plain and the fabric can be very fluid. A jacquard pattern is built into the weave, so it has texture and a firmer hand. Mary Katrantzou makes the same Vargas pencil skirt both ways this season, which makes the difference easy to see: the Vargas Skirt Mizutama Marble Claret is a printed 100% polyester, while the Vargas Skirt Mizutama Marble Claret Jacquard is woven from 90% polyester, 6% silk and 4% polyamide. The Uni Skirt Ame Marble is another contrast; it is a printed pleated skirt in recycled polyester twill, not a jacquard.

How to choose a jacquard skirt

• Shape. Jacquard holds structure, so flared minis, A-lines and pencil skirts work well. Very soft gathered shapes suit a lighter cloth.
• Length. A mini in jacquard reads as party dressing; a midi pencil is easier for dinners and the office.
• Composition. Check the label. Silk content adds sheen, but most jacquards are blends; the Mary Katrantzou jacquard is mostly polyester with 6% silk.
• Waist. A high waist sets off a structured skirt. Both the Gianna and the Vargas sit high.
• Matching pieces. A jacquard skirt with a jacket in the same cloth makes a skirt suit. The Gianna has matching Hudson jackets in claret and emerald.

The jacquard skirts to buy

1. Gianna Skirt Mizutama Marble Claret Jacquard

The Gianna Skirt Mizutama Marble Claret Jacquard sits high on the waist in a structured, slightly flared mini shape with discreet side pockets. The jacquard is 90% polyester, 6% silk and 4% polyamide, with a deep claret ground lit with gold in the Mizutama Marble pattern.

2. Gianna Skirt Mizutama Marble Emerald Jacquard

The Gianna Skirt Mizutama Marble Emerald Jacquard is the same flared mini on a deep emerald ground. With the emerald Hudson jacket in the same jacquard it becomes a skirt suit.

3. Vargas Skirt Mizutama Marble Claret Jacquard

The Vargas Skirt Mizutama Marble Claret Jacquard follows the body in a midi pencil line with a small back slit for movement. It is the longer, quieter jacquard skirt of the two shapes, woven in the same claret Mizutama Marble cloth.

4. Vargas Skirt Mizutama Marble Claret

The Vargas Skirt Mizutama Marble Claret is the non-jacquard contrast: the same midi pencil shape in a printed 100% polyester. It is lighter and more fluid than the jacquard version and matches the claret Ines bow blouse.

5. Uni Skirt Ame Marble

The Uni Skirt Ame Marble is a printed pleated midi in recycled polyester twill, not a jacquard. It is here as a softer counterpoint, with deep navy raindrops pooling into flowering marble at the hem.

6. Bodie Jacquard Skirt

The Alemais Bodie Jacquard Skirt is a multicoloured jacquard skirt from a second house, for range beside the Gianna.

7. Long jacquard skirt in Rust

The Dries Van Noten Long jacquard skirt in Rust is the long route, in a warm rust jacquard.

8. Athena Jacquard Skirt in Chamomile

The Ulla Johnson Athena Jacquard Skirt in Chamomile is a pale jacquard option for daytime.

9. Monogram Jacquard Skirt

The Elie Saab Monogram Jacquard Skirt weaves a monogram into the cloth, by its name.

10. Floral jacquard skirt

The Dolce and Gabbana Floral jacquard skirt is the black floral jacquard on our list; our floral jacquard dresses guide carries the same motif in dresses.

Mary Katrantzou skirts compared

Source: Mary Katrantzou product pages and size chart, and the Coveti catalogue, read by Coveti Editorial on 8 November 2026.

How to wear a jacquard skirt

A jacquard skirt has a lot to say, so let one piece lead. Match it exactly and keep the top plain.

• As a skirt suit. The Gianna emerald with the Hudson jacket in the same emerald jacquard. The peplum flares over the flared skirt; our jacquard jackets guide covers the jacket.
• With a plain knit. Wear the Gianna with a fine black rollneck and opaque tights for winter evenings.
• With a bow blouse. Tuck the claret Ines blouse into the claret Vargas jacquard for one colour story, neck to calf. See our bow blouses guide.
• For a wedding. A midi pencil jacquard with a matching top reads formal enough for a winter wedding; our winter wedding guest dresses guide has more.
• Shoes. A structured mini wants a simple pump and a block heel; a pencil midi takes a slim heel that does not compete with the back slit.

Jacquard skirts around the world

In the US, a jacquard skirt suit is a practical alternative to a cocktail dress for winter parties. In the UK, a woven skirt with tights is a sensible choice through the colder months, from office to dinner. Across Europe, jacquard minis and pencil skirts suit city evenings, and the heavier cloth sits well through northern winters.

In the Gulf, a jacquard midi pencil with long sleeves on top suits formal evenings, and the gold in the Mizutama Marble pattern fits celebration dressing. In Asia, a jacquard skirt works for formal dinners in Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong and Singapore, where the structured cloth holds its shape in air-conditioned rooms.

Sizing a jacquard skirt

Mary Katrantzou sizes in UK, so a UK 8 is a US 4, an IT 40 and a FR 36. Letter-sized styles run XS to XL, and on the house chart XS sits at a UK 6. The house gives no advice on sizing up and down for most pieces, so take your usual size; the one exception this season is the Kira kaftan, which the house says runs big by one to two sizes. The models are 178 cm tall and wear a UK 8. Full charts are in our Mary Katrantzou size guide. A jacquard has very little stretch, so take your waist measurement against the chart, especially for a high-waisted shape like the Gianna.

For more from the house, read our Mary Katrantzou Resort 2027 edit, our guide to Mary Katrantzou prints and pleated midi skirts.

Frequently asked questions

What is a jacquard skirt?

It is a skirt made from fabric with a pattern woven in on a jacquard loom. The pattern is part of the cloth and shows on both sides.

Is jacquard the same as brocade?

Not quite. Brocade is a jacquard with a raised supplementary weft on the surface, so every brocade is a jacquard but not every jacquard is a brocade.

Is a jacquard skirt formal?

It can be. A jacquard has structure and sheen, so a matching jacquard skirt and jacket works for evening events and winter weddings.

What do you wear with a jacquard skirt?

Wear a plain knit, a fluid blouse and a matching jacket in the same cloth. Keep the top simple so the woven pattern leads.

Is the Mary Katrantzou Gianna skirt silk?

It contains some silk. The jacquard is 90% polyester, 6% silk and 4% polyamide.

Is the Vargas skirt a jacquard?

Mary Katrantzou makes the Vargas both ways for Resort 2027: a claret jacquard and a printed claret version in 100% polyester.

Read next: What is jacquard fabric?, Floral jacquard dresses, Jacquard jackets.

By Coveti Editorial. Updated 8 November 2026.