Throughout this blog I plan on offering a mixture of advice and opinion. Of course opinion is always subjective so if you disagree with anything I have to say or would like to add a point, please do leave a comment or get in contact.

With that said, I would now like to tackle (or begin to) that key area: the hips – and how a skirt can be used to make the make the most of these area.

Some people are obsessed with whether their bum looks too big in ‘that dress’ or if the horizontal stripes on their skirt makes their hips too large. For others, and for many Trans women, the exact opposite is true. One of the biggest giveaways to a woman’s former male identity is a lack of hip to waist ratio. Some try to create this silhouette using corsets and waist-trainers – but for those that like their flesh to be free – here are three skirts I recommend investing in, and why.

The pencil skirt

ASOS Pencil Skirt with Wrap – £20

There are a couple of schools of thought and opinion on using a pencil skirt to accentuate curves. If you are extremely slender, you will be aiming to find a high-waist item, preferably with buttons on a central panel. In the absence of buttons, find a skirt with a central panel of material, of alternative colour texture or fabric, to give the illusion of an expanse between your central column and your outer hip.

A word of warning! If you have, what is usually described as an ‘apple’ shape, then this may not be the look for you. High-waist items on apple shapes draw the eye to the stomach, not the affect you want when sporting a rounded belly.

Now, the other school will argue that rather than high on the body, the pencil skirt should rest below the navel, at the top of the hip. This style works best with a stretchy material (but not skin tight), preferably featuring a pattern. You’ll often hear people say that the best pattern for widening the body is a horizontal, or diagonal, stripe. I would say that polka dots and other patterns can work, but the aim is to find decoration which increases in size towards the outer edges.

Both of these looks can serve to increase the hip and will be extremely sexy, no matter what your age. Team with a tucked in shirt for the high-waist, formal look, and with a strappy loose top in a plain colour if opting for the patterned low slung version.

The rock and roll/1950s

I love a 1950s flare, and it’s a style that can suit just about any shape, taking a slim or rounded figure and making it curvy and gorgeous.

The 50’s ‘rock and roll’ style will sit on your waist line and will feature a thick band of material that sits tight to the body for a few inches before flaring straight out. It’s the sort of skirt which makes you want to spin around, just to see the material scoop upwards like a parachute.

Here patterns or plain can work just as well as each other – the variation comes in length. For a true vintage look, choose a tea-length style ending 5 cm or so above the ankle. This is a bold look and you will need to dress the rest of you on theme to avoid looking frumpy. If you pull it off however…bellissimo!

My personal preference is for a 50s skirt ending just below the knee. This is great for a day-time look and can be smartened with a short waist jacket, or jazzed up with some eye catching heels and a chunky necklace.

The tulip skirt

Here is where someone like me gets incredibly jealous of the non-hipped person, because they can wear a tulip

Closet Floral V Neck Tulip Skirt Dress from House of Frasier

skirt and I, most certainly, cannot.

The tulip skirt, sometimes referred to under other names like balloon or lampshade, is shaped just like a flower head. It starts tight, in the centre of the waist, flares out and then tucks back in, above the knee. It is generally fitted to the body only at the top and bottom and doesn’t keep contact with the skin.

If you are going to wear this, your upper half must feature form fitting clothing or you will risk appearing to be a giant puff ball. Also, and please don’t consider me ageist, but while the pencil and 50s skirts are timeless, the tulip skirt is better suited to a younger model. That’s not to say a middle aged person can’t pull it off, but they will have to take extra care with a short skirt like this, ensuring that the outfit as a whole, remains classy.

These are my three favourite options, and combined, the styles can be adapted to suit any occasion, be it work, a party or a trip to the park. You’ll hear fashion advisors talking about their capsule wardrobes…well I would argue that two, if not three of these shapes should be made a permanent fixture in your closet.