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    Sarah Paulson Just Showed You How to Start Wearing Party Skirts

    The actor did the classic outfit formula of business on top and party on the bottom

    Natalie Hammond's avatar
    By Natalie Hammond
    Published 30 October 2025 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Party Skirts
    (Image credit: Getty Images)
    Jump to category:
    • With A Blazer
    • With A Knit
    • With A Leather Bomber Jacket
    • With A Cardigan
    • With A White Shirt
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    Sarah Paulson's latest turn is in Ryan Murphy's All Fair, a legal drama that centres on, wait for it, "a team of female divorce attorneys" that also includes Kim Kardashian, Naomi Watts, Niecy Nash-Betts, Teyana Taylor and Glenn Close. So it made sense that for a promo appearance yesterday, Paulson's outfit mixed a corporate dress code with something a little more, shall we say, dramatic.

    Adopting the outfit formula of business on top and party on the bottom, Paulson wore contrasting separates from Tory Burch—a double-breasted blazer with the cuffs rolled to expose her wrists and a powder-blue embellished skirt (not feathers but certainly something textured to give it wisp).

    Sarah Paulson

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    With finishing touches including curved-heel pumps, crystallised drop earrings and firetruck-red nails (plus matching lips), it was perfectly-timed ahead of party season and gave us, you, everyone the license to not just invest in a party skirt—but wear it now.

    Yes, it's not even November, but what's the point of only showing your party skirt a good time in December? Instead, make like Paulson, who by paring hers back ever-so-slightly with a "sensible" top half, made it suitably appropriate for a daytime outing. (Your embellishment of choice is really up to you, but there's already a wealth of fringe, sequins, appliqué, beads, feathers, you name it, on shop floors as we speak.)

    And there are plenty more pairings other than a blazer to wear your skirt with, by the way. From a cardigan to a leather bomber jacket, here are the five ways you can style your party skirt in the countdown to Christmas.

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    5 Ways To Wear The Embellished Skirt

    With A Blazer

    Arket Blazer

    Arket
    Slim Single-Breasted Blazer
    £199
    £199 AT ARKET

    This slim-fit blazer is subtly tailored, meaning it will give your skirt an even more elevated appearance.

    Arrange Futurist Sequin Fringe Hem Midi Skirt in Silver

    ARRANGE
    Arrange Futurist Sequin Fringe Hem Midi Skirt in Silver
    £150
    £150 AT ASOS

    The Arrange collection at Asos is our best-kept secret for party season. Case in point is this jumbo sequin skirt.

    Jude Heels

    Jude
    Fame 105 Mesh Pumps
    £390
    £390 AT HARVEY NICHOLS

    Match the mesh of your skirt with something equally translucent on your feet.

    With A Knit

    Brushed-Cashmere Crew-Neck Jumper

    COS
    Brushed-Cashmere Crew-Neck Jumper
    £189
    £189 AT COS

    Offering a chunky yet delectably soft hand-feel, Navygrey's jumper is chic as well as cosy.

    Joseph Embellished Skirt

    Joseph
    Cambo Chiffon Sequin Skirt
    £575
    £575 AT JOSEPH

    Joseph's sequinned column skirt in jewel-toned amethyst doesn't need a loud top half to steal the show.

    Leather High-Heeled Shoes With Metal Toe Cap - Women | Mango United Kingdom

    MANGO
    Leather High-Heeled Shoes With Metal Toe Cap
    £100
    £99.99 AT MANGO

    Balance out the slouchy sweater with a sharp pair of sling backs. This pair from Mango look way beyond their High St price tag.

    With A Leather Bomber Jacket

    Anine Bing Leather Jacket

    Anine Bing
    Kelanie Jacket
    £529
    £529 AT END CLOTHING

    A chocolate brown leather jacket couldn't be a better partner for a lace-embellished skirt.

    Dries Van Noten Sweater

    Dries Van Noten
    Ribbed-knit Chenille Sweater
    £535
    £535 AT NET-A-PORTER

    Tuck a cosy turtleneck sweater until your leather jacket for extra warmth.

    Velvet Lace Detail Midi Pencil Skirt

    M&S
    Velvet Lace Detail Midi Pencil Skirt
    £40
    £40 AT M&S

    The lace slip trend is still the gift that keeps on giving, especially this versatile skirt version.

    Slingback Heels With Bow

    ZARA
    Slingback Heels With Bow
    £40
    £39.99 AT ZARA

    The midi height of these slingbacks will mean you can dance all night in them (or most of the night at least!).

    With A Cardigan

    Chinti & Parker Cardigan

    Chinti & Parker UK
    Olive Wool-Cashmere Crew Neck Cardigan
    £95
    £95 AT CHINTI & PARKER

    Chinti & Parker's chartreuse knit will pep a party kilt in no time.

    Plan C Embellished Skirt

    Plan C
    Black Melange Pleated Skirt With Feather Insert
    €1200
    €1,200 AT PLAN C

    A kilt with a flourish in the form of a feathered plume? Party season or no, it feels like a once-in-a-lifetime kind of skirt.

    Anna Metallic Cracked-Leather Pumps

    CALVIN KLEIN COLLECTION
    Anna Metallic Cracked-Leather Pumps
    £1000
    £1000 AT NET-A-PORTER

    Party skirts arent just for after dark. The weighty fabric of the skirt and lower heel make this outfit choice a great day to night option.

    With A White Shirt

    The Dress Shirt Curved Bib: Poplin, White

    With Nothing Underneath
    The Dress Shirt Curved Bib
    £150
    £150 AT WITH NOTHING UNDERNEATH

    With Nothing Underneath is our go-to for well-crafted shirting that's ripe for parties (and whatever occasion you can think of).

    Albaray Embellished Skirt

    Albaray
    Sequin Fringe Pencil Skirt
    £120
    £120 AT ALBARAY

    You can easily pare back a fringed (not to mention sequinned) party skirt with an elegant white shirt.

    Peep-Toe Pump in Red, Size 9

    Tory Burch
    Peep-Toe Pump in Red
    £495
    £495 AT TORY BURCH

    Tory Burch's curve-heel, peep-toe pumps will bring edge to your party-season attire.

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
    Natalie Hammond
    Natalie Hammond
    Freelance Fashion Editor

    Natalie Hammond is a writer, editor and author who’s contributed to publications including Marie Claire, Elle, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Who What Wear, The London Standard, CNN and The Times. She was most recently senior fashion news editor at Grazia, and previously worked on the fashion desk of The Times. Her first book was published in August 2024, Bowie: His Style Principles, which is part of an ongoing series about world-famous wardrobes. She writes the Substack How Much?, a newsletter examining the culture of shopping.

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