How to Wear a Printed, Knee-Length Skirt:

A printed, pleated, knee-length skirt can sound a little ‘schoolmarm-ish,’ I get it, but that term could not apply any less when it comes to how to wear this little number from Asos.

I had to Google ‘schoolmarm,’ because I borrowed the term from my mother, and if you knew my mother, you’d know that I’d say a good twenty percent of her vocab cannot be found in Webster’s dictionary.

I can’t begin to tell you how many times I said things like, “oh that silhouette is totally gorpy,” or, “I think we should go with a more streamlined, less shlubby, skinny cargo pant,” only to get the response of eight colleagues collectively staring at me as if I had suddenly sprouted eight Cabbage Patch Kids heads.

Lesson learned. Here’s the look:

1. Rebecca Beeson Navy Baby Rib Long Sleeve T-shirt- $44 (www.bluefly.com), 2. Whistles Gaby Print Skirt- $175.42 (www.asos.com), 3. L.A.M.B. Cahoot Pump- $177 from $295 (www.couture.zappos.com), 4. Tila March Manon Mini Bag- $524 (www.shopbop.com), 5. House of Harlow 1960 14KT Gold Medallion Locket Pendant- $79 (www.shopthetrendboutique.com), 6. Adia Kibur Crystal Cluster Ring- $48 (www.shopbop.com)

Simple, sweet, sophisticated, done. The polishing-off pieces bring it into focus in subtle, but detailed ways, from the Tila March mini-bag, to the jewelry served up in the form of a pendent necklace and statement ring. The nude platform pumps and long-sleeve tee are basics, but classics that can and should be worn with a few other items in the closet. And there you have it, a look built on a printed knee-length skirt.

That’s just one skirt I adore at the moment. There are plenty of other edited picks in the land of skirts, shorts, pants, and all pieces that cover the bottom half of the fashion equation. See more of my favorites and how to wear them.