With summer on its way it’s time to forego the tights and break out the skirts you can wear on their own…just throw on a pair of sandals and go!

When you’re choosing a skirt, it’s important to note which kinds look best on your body. Do you prefer loose and long and flowing? Short and smooth?  Which lengths are flattering and which make you look shorter or stouter?

A long skirt like this is great for average-height or taller women. It works in the winter or fall with tall boots, but in spring and summer, some great strappy sandals are ideal.

Another idea for women of all heights is this knee-length skirt. In gray or white this can be a mix-and-match piece, but a ton of other colors add some fun, too. This plus-size skirt works with either flat or heeled sandals or wedges.

And this piece, called a riding skirt, is slightly shorter than the previous two. It’s loose-fitting with an elastic-back waist. A skirt of this length should work for women of most heights, and looks great with heeled sandals.

Even though it’s getting colder, long skirts can still work as part of your winter wardrobe, provided you pair them with tights and boots or other practical shoes. It’s fun to wear skirts, so I hate to give them up just because it’s chilly.

Here are some of my favorite kinds of skirts to wear in the winter:

Ballet skirt: This long, flowing skirt is a classic piece to wear to work on a cold day. It’s elegant and feminine and fun.

Stretch skirt: A pretty piece that’s long (but not as long as the ballet skirt) and looks fabulous with tall boots. The swing style is one of my favorites.

Tweed riding skirt: Tweed is very trendy right now and this skirt is the perfect vehicle to show it off. So classic and perfect for fall and winter days—and as usual, great with the boots.

For more plus-size skirts to wear during the winter or the summer, go here.