Wrap Skirt Guide: 4 Styles and How to Wear Each One

A wrap skirt is a skirt that crosses over itself at the front, one panel folding across the other and fastening at the waist with a tie, buttons and sometimes a hidden zip. The overlap makes a soft diagonal line and leaves ease through the leg, which is why it sits between the movement in our guide to pleated skirts and the polish of a pencil. ME+EM has a new tailored wrap midi skirt in Claret Red arriving on Coveti.

This guide covers the main wrap skirt shapes, what to check before you buy one, how the new ME+EM skirt is made and how to wear a wrap skirt from the office to a winter party.

The four wrap skirt shapes

The true wrap. A single length of fabric wraps around the body and ties at the side. It adjusts to the waist on the day and suits fluid fabrics such as silk and viscose, though the front can open when you walk in a strong breeze.

The faux wrap. The overlap is sewn in place and the skirt closes with a zip, so it has the diagonal line of a wrap with none of the risk. Most tailored wrap skirts are built this way.

The wrap midi. The length most people search for, it falls below the knee and works with boots, loafers and heels. Wrap midi skirt is a search in its own right in both the US and the UK.

The wrap mini and maxi. A short wrap reads playful in summer, while a long wrap behaves like a sarong. For floor-length shapes in general, see our maxi skirts guide.

What makes a good wrap skirt

A generous overlap. The front panel should cross far enough that the underlayer stays hidden when you sit and walk. A shallow overlap is the first thing that lets a wrap skirt down.

A secure fastening. Buttons at the waist, a tie and a concealed zip each hold the wrap in a different way. In tailoring, a zip with buttons on top gives the cleanest line.

Fabric with some body. A wool blend keeps the diagonal edge crisp, while a fluid crepe lets it ripple. A little elastane helps the skirt recover after a day of sitting.

Lining. A lining stops a wool skirt catching on tights and helps it hang straight over boots.

The new ME+EM Wrap Midi Skirt

The ME+EM Wrap Midi Skirt in Claret Red is a faux wrap built like a trouser. ME+EM, the British brand founded in London in 2009 by Clare Hornby, cuts it from a wool-blend tailoring fabric with a soft handfeel and a subtle textured surface. The main fabric is 50% Lenzing Ecovero viscose, 48% wool and 2% elastane, with a 100% recycled polyester lining.

The wrap crosses at the front and fastens with three buttons at the waist, over a centre-front zip opening. It has belt loops and functional pockets, which the house describes as bulk-free. It is sized UK 4 to 18, made in Portugal and marked dry clean only. The model on the ME+EM page is a UK size 8 wearing a UK size 8. For the colour itself, our burgundy outfits guide has the full palette.

The house also offers the ME+EM Sharp Contour Blazer in Claret Red in the same fabric blend, with a sharp shoulder, a contoured fit and darted seams at the waist. Worn together, skirt and blazer make a skirt suit in one shade. The matching ME+EM Straight Man Pant in Claret Red turns the same jacket into a trouser suit, as our straight leg trousers for women guide explains.

Other ME+EM skirts on Coveti

For a softer midi, the ME+EM A-Line Midi Skirt in Charcoal Wash and the ME+EM Luxe Pleat Midi Skirt in Pecan Brown keep the same length with a different shape. For evening, the ME+EM Satin Drop Flare Maxi Skirt in Black is cut from satin-backed crepe, with stitched-down pleats that make a drop-waist effect before the skirt flares. The house says it fits true to size. Our satin skirts guide covers that fabric in depth. The whole range is on the ME+EM brand page.

How to wear a wrap skirt

To work. Tuck a crisp shirt into the waist so the buttons stay visible. The ME+EM Impossibly Soft Shirt in White, in a cotton and Tencel lyocell blend with a silk organza tie, gives a bow at the neck that echoes the wrap line.

With boots. A wrap midi meets a knee-high boot neatly at the hem. Our guide to what to wear with knee high boots covers heel heights and leather finishes.

With knitwear. A fine roll neck tucked in keeps the waist defined. A chunky jumper worn loose hides the buttons, so half-tuck it at the front.

For a party. Swap the shirt for a satin camisole and the boots for heels. Our Christmas party outfits edit has more ideas, and our burgundy trousers for women guide shows the same shade in trouser form.

Comparison matrix: the new ME+EM skirts and suit jacket

Wrap skirts around the world

UK. Wrap skirt is searched around 4,400 times a month in Britain, and wrap midi skirt adds about 1,000. A wool wrap midi with knee boots is a practical answer to a cold commute.

US. The biggest market by far: about 12,100 monthly searches for wrap skirt, peaking at 18,100 in October, with wrap midi skirt at around 1,300. American searchers lean towards the midi for the office.

EU. In France the shape is the jupe portefeuille, named for the way it folds like a wallet. A tailored wrap in a deep red suits the city dressing of Paris and Milan through winter.

GCC. Wrap skirt draws about 210 searches a month in the UAE. A lined midi with a generous overlap gives coverage, and it pairs with a long-sleeved shirt for evenings in Dubai and Riyadh.

Frequently asked questions

What is a wrap skirt?

A skirt with a front panel that crosses over another and fastens at the waist, giving a diagonal line and room through the leg.

What is the difference between a true wrap and a faux wrap skirt?

A true wrap is one length of fabric that ties around the body. A faux wrap has the overlap sewn in place and closes with a zip, so it cannot fall open.

Does the ME+EM wrap skirt open when you walk?

It is a faux wrap with a centre-front zip under three waist buttons, so the overlap is fixed in place.

What shoes go with a wrap midi skirt?

Knee-high boots, loafers and heeled pumps all work. A boot that meets the hem gives the most polished line in winter.

Can you wear a wrap skirt to the office?

Yes. A wool-blend wrap with a tucked shirt and a matching blazer reads as a skirt suit, as our women’s pant suits guide shows for trousers.

How do you care for a wool-blend wrap skirt?

Follow the label. The ME+EM Wrap Midi Skirt is marked dry clean only.

What sizes does the ME+EM wrap skirt come in?

UK 4 to 18. The house does not state a fit note for this skirt, so check the ME+EM size guide against your waist.

How we measured: fabrics, linings, fastenings, shapes, sizes and country of manufacture come from the three ME+EM product pages; search volumes are DataForSEO Google Ads monthly averages for November 2026. We did not re-measure the garments, and nothing in the matrix is estimated. Read our editorial policy.