What tops to wear with skirts

Would dresses look better on you or tops loose over trousers?

Yes mumofmadboys trousers and dresses are better. It's just that I have about 18 skirts (I know I know!!!) and just trying to make use of them before I send them to the charity shop!

Are you trying to put a loose top with a loose flowing skirt? It doesn't work. One half has to fit. Loose top/
Straight fitted skirt. Or flowy skirt/fitted top. Two fitted bits=cheap. Two loose bits=enormous. It sounds odd but if you look at other people you'll see it works!

I didn't know that I was supposed to tuck in tops (never have since I was young and probably never will).

Loose tops look better with with slim trousers, more fitted tops with skirts as Eglantine says.
Keep tonal values ie let the colour flow right through - it doesn't have to be the same but a navy and white skirt looks better with a navy top than a different coloured top.

But I'm not stylish so someone else may have better ideas.

I only occasionally wear a skirt and usually straight.

I'm not sure how describe my blouses other than they are short to the waist just covering top of skirt and some have points at hem similar to a waistcoat.

Belts over tops/blouses are for me a big No No!
However I do find that long line sleeveless jackets over my top and skirts are less bulky than a Cardigan.

Thinking as I write I have in the dim and distant past wore a short soft wool cardigan on its own. (no top)
In Pastile colours or black depending on the occasion.
Some pearls would add a touch of class

What's a skirt?

I did wear one the other day but it's disappeared back into the wardrobe for another 12 months or so.

I was the only one of my friends wearing a skirt .....

perhaps I should ask for that post to be deleted
'Woman in a Skirt' - I could be identified quite easily.

The only time I wear fitted & fitted is a pencil skirt with a fitted shirt ( from Tailor Store)

Mine would be more of a jumbo crayon skirt these days than pencil.

Still trying but despair of seeing size 12 again.

I seem to have lost the knack of wearing skirts, and dresses are an easier option if it's warm. I can spend ages trying to find a skirt/top combo that looks right, before giving up. Like Cherrytree I aim for the top to just cover the waistband, otherwise you're adding bulk, whether tucked in or loose. I might just try shortening some of my tops, before ditching the skirts.

A short blouse (just sitting on the waistband of the skirt) or boxy shaped tee shirt (again short) look best. Long tops over skirts just look wrong. I love wearing short skirts (kilt styles) with thick tights in the autumn and winter and tend to wear a short jumper over the top sometimes with a blouse or shirt underneath and a bit of hem/cuff showing.

I would wear a long blouse, open, over a top tucked in or not, and this with trousers or a skirt. I have found, however, that if the blouse (or cardigan) is too long, and you aren,t very tall, it drags you down (optically) and makes you look smaller. Maybe I should try the waist-length option suggested.

Stand up straight and everything looks much nicer. (Note to self!)

I have totally forgotten skirts and dresses I will wear jeans, leggings, jeggins, cut offs and shorts so not afraid to show my legs but skirts just don't feature they ve all gone to the charity shop
Getting back to you I love the layered look so some of the Joe Brown tops are my favourites We have a market stall here that sell Italian cloths ( cheap) and there are some lovely floaty tops there but a floaty top definitely needs a slim line skirt

Due to short legs I just can't wear trousers I so wish I could.
Skirt and top is my uniform as being apple shape dresses don't feel right either.
I totally agree with the one fitted the other flowing mantra. I also find that tops need to be quiet short. You can't wear a long top that you would wear with trousers with a skirt. Very frumpy look

Gooid quality T shirts (plain) but with a nice necklace/beads go well with skirts - try White Stuff or Monsoon.

I am also a larger lady (at present nearer size 20 than 18). Wear trousers in winter, but love the coolness of skirts in the summer. Never wear a fitted skirt, always elasticated waistband and flowing. Wear matching coloured t-shirt type tops with these, never, ever tucked in. Can't see any problem with this. Indeed, there are some outfits that actually come up as skirt with matching t-shirt type top designed to be worn outside of skirt.

Glenfinnon - I have the same kind of problem - I am a 20/22 top with a 14/16 bottom Rarely I find a dress that fits me
on the bust without making me look like a pregnant hippo from the waist down so I live in separates. I have found some really nice t-shirt type tops that fit nicely over a skirt or trousers without yards of material swamping me - I don't worry about tucking them in as they look better left out. Scarlett & Jo is a good website for nice clothes in larger sizes - my daughter in law is American and they have some gorgeous designs available over there - wish they were available here too.

I think it depends on your shape Franbern. I like flowing skirts sometimes in the summer too but don't like tucked in tops Sometimes I wear them with a camisole top(provided its at least a NE tropical 16C) with a little loose thin shrug over.

What to do with fat arms is my problem takes oragami to get my bingo wings into a sleeve................

I like a long skirt too. Trousers with long shirts feel nice but they make me look massive.

My sis is a big girl and tends to wear plain tops over skirts or trousers. Tops that fit on the hips but always with an eye catching large necklace. Very good she looks to. In the winter she drapes a coordinating soft scarf round her neck & hanging down. Looks good.

It depends on your height and body shape. I wear long glowing skirts and long swirly tops, layered with waistcoats or loose jackets. I am definitely plus-size, hourglass and 6'1. If you are shorter, try sleeveless fitted vest with flowy skirt and wear a shrug/cardigan/shirt-as-jacket. I wear what is comfortable and am not bothered what others think, so really, wear what you like and enjoy yourself.

Not glowing skirts, flowing skirts. Autocorrect is trying my patience today

No..... don't throw them away! Trial and error...just because you are size 22 doesn't mean that you cant wear a skirt and blouse stylishly! Look at Kirsty Allsop..she is not small and wears those 50's style dresses....I have adopted some of her style but with skirts and blouses. It was trial and error at fist as not all blouses look right with skirts. I find using thin belts around the waist with some the blouses, on the outside of the skirt works well. Check out Boden and Simply B for styles on line. I hope it goes well.