Dame Anya Hindmarch proves that a chic skirt suit has replaced the statement dress

Pillbox hat by Laura Cathcart Millinery

It’s fair to say that on occasions during which the moment will be captured for posterity – and no doubt end up on the mantelpiece for years to come – it’s important to consider what one wears. Your wedding day is of course one such occasion. Another, for those lucky and successful enough to attain it, is the day you are invested at Buckingham Palace.

For fashion designer Anya Hindmarch – she of the googly-eyed handbags – that day was Tuesday, when she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) at Buckingham Palace. After almost three decades of her beloved accessories brand, there’s no denying she has enthusiastically served our country on the fashion front.

For the momentous occasion, Dame Anya opted not for a statement dress, as has become the go-to, but instead an altogether chicer and suddenly more modern option – the skirt suit. “I chose to wear Emilia Wickstead, a dear friend who made me a made-to-measure skirt and jacket in navy that I will love forever as a reminder of this very special day. I carried the silver crisp packet [bag].” Hindmarch’s navy suit consisted of a belted jacket with an A-line maxi-length skirt, accessorised with low heels and a pillbox hat. Similarly, Vogue’s Anna Wintour also chose a grey skirt suit by Alexander McQueen to collect her Companion of Honour Award from King Charles last week. It’s a look that feels both timeless and of the moment, and that will surely not date – ideal for those mantelpiece memories.

It’s hard to believe now, but when the classic skirt suit silhouette was first conceived by Christian Dior back in 1947 (and dubbed his “New Look”), it was considered somewhat scandalous, mostly for the sheer amount of fabric it used after the rationing of the Second World War. Yet in the intervening years, it’s become a rich source of inspiration for contemporary designers – like Erdem, Emilia Wickstead and Jenny Packham – with many of those favoured by the Royal family and high society.

“Skirt suits do get a bad rep – dowdy, old fashioned, Rivals-esque,” shares stylist Sarah Kate Byrne. “And yet a beautifully tailored skirt suit such as Anya’s is timeless, elegant and practical. The bulk of my clients come to me for specific occasion dressing and mentally a dress seems easier for them – and for me, as there is less to think about. But a skirt suit is a fantastic choice as it’s two for the price of one in a way – a tailored jacket to pair with jeans or a fabulous skirt to pair with boots and a knit after the occasion. Worn together a skirt suit serves up elegance and practicality too, as often it does away with the need for a coat. Damehoods demand hats and a skirt suit lends itself so well to that quintessential Dior look.”

One serial skirt suit-wearer is the jewellery designer and socialite Sabine Getty. In 2018, she wore a pale pink skirt suit by Emilia Wickstead for the wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, while in 2019, she chose a powder blue design by Dior for the nuptials of Jean-Christophe Napoléon and Countess Olympia von und zu Arco-Zinneberg. The latter was inspired by a look previously worn by the late Diana, Princess of Wales.

“I never get to wear a skirt suit in my everyday life, it can be perceived as contrived and definitely very formal,” she says. “But the truth is, it’s the easiest outfit to wear. Done in less than five minutes. The ensemble is perfectly matching and one looks very done up and elegant with minimal effort. You can then have fun with colours because the structure of it can be replicated endlessly once you find the right fit. I’m all for the return of the skirt suit to the zeitgeist!”

Of course, the Royal family have long been adherents to the skirt suit’s charms, with the Princess of Wales and Duchess of Edinburgh in particular choosing cuts and colours that make them look modern. Case in point was this fabulous Erdem design worn by Kate for the Commonwealth Service in 2023: a navy blue jacquard-print with a pleated peplum and flared skirt.

And it’s not just high society turning to the skirt suit when the occasion calls for it. Kendall Jenner swapped her off-duty model uniform of jeans and a t-shirt for an Alberta Ferretti skirt suit in Paris back in January; Hailey Bieber rocked vintage Thierry Mugler pinstripes during a visit to New York a few weeks later; and the actresses Demi Moore and Sarah Jessica Parker have worn updates on the look by Erdem and Vivienne Westwood respectively during recent press tours. On the runway, there were versions at Stella McCartney, Prada and Bottega Veneta for AW25, proving the working girl look is here to stay for occasion wear and beyond.

While Erdem has some beautiful designer options, the high street also has some great takes, including Cefinn’s pinstripe version, perfect for summer events, and Aligne’s collarless waisted bouclé set, which wouldn’t look out of place in the office or at a wedding. In terms of the complete look, Byrne advises sticking to minimal accessories and modern footwear. “Shy away from statement jewellery or scarves with a skirt suit as it could look more cabin crew than classically chic,” she says. “And opt for a heeled boot or pointed flat to keep the look modern.”

Three skirt suits to buy

The steal

Boucle blazer, £175 and cotton skirt, £99, Aligne

Mid-price chic

Pinstripe blazer, £380 and skirt, £270, Cefinn

The investment

Wool blazer, £2,495 and skirt, £1,195, Erdem