I Tried All the Under-$150 Cotton-Poplin Maxi Skirts

Banana Republic’s skirts arrived neatly folded and so crisp they were almost starchy — a stark contrast from the wrinkly shipment of skirts I received from Banana Republic’s sister brand Gap. I debuted the skirt during an hourlong omakase meal and was thankful for its functional drawstring afterward. After an evening of sitting and walking, the skirt barely appeared wrinkled, but I still gave it a proper steam before I wore it again. While I can’t speak for the opacity of the white version of the skirt, the brown one hides any evidence of undergarment colors and panty lines. It’s full length, so it pairs nicely with strappy summer heels and a tank top.

This skirt’s country-inspired plaid disguises wrinkles, so I can actually get away with throwing it on and running out of the house without steaming it. (During the course of working on this story, I’ve had long steam times to blame for my tardiness more times than I can count.) Like the skirt above, this one is similarly effective at resisting wrinkles, and any that do appear somehow feel like they match the spirit of the plaid. I got complimented on it when I wore it to the office. This skirt also has a functional drawstring, and I like that it almost looks like the rope you’d find on a sailboat.

On a sticky summer day, this skirt’s generous split hem allows for much-needed airflow, but that hem is simultaneously the weak point of the piece. While killing time at Penn Station, I had a bona fide Marilyn Monroe moment at the corner of Eighth Avenue and 31st Street thanks to some gusty sidewalk grates and my slow instincts. Not to mention that I almost pantsed myself while walking down stairs on multiple occasions by accidentally stepping on the skirt when I wasn’t holding both the front and back pieces. This problem would likely be solved if I tried the petite version, but I think I’d go for Banana Republic’s newly releasedside-tie skirtinstead. I wasn’t able to try it before this story was published, but I imagine the rather cute ties in the slits would prevent the skirt from getting in my way. Otherwise, the option checks the rest of my boxes: Functional pockets, wrinkle-resistant, and a hidden adjustable drawstring.

I usually appreciate it when a skirt has a lining — especially when it’s made of 100 percent cotton like this one — but I found the extra layer of fabric made the skirt trap heat and feel cumbersome as I walked throughout the city. Still, the added fabric ensured it didn’t show any panty lines or bright-colored underwear, which meant I had one less thing to worry about when I wore it (and could instead focus on much-needed steaming). Compared to the Banana Republic skirts, this one was less starchy and more soft, almost like a worn-in set ofpercale sheets, which also meant it wrinkled more easily. Luckily, similar to the plaid one, the striped version conceals some of the wrinkles. Given the skirt’s extra weight, I’d wear it on cooler summer days when an extra layer would prevent me from shivering during a patio happy hour. There’s no drawstring at the waist, but the elastic waistband is secure enough to prevent the skirt from falling when I stuff the pockets with my phone and keys.

I’m usually against drop waists, but this one is short enough (at about four inches) that it accentuates my curves without lengthening my hips or torso. Thanks to the adjustable waistband, I can wear the skirt both higher on my waist and sitting on my hips. I used the deep pockets at the bottom of the smocked waist to hold my phone and wallet, and when I needed to carry more, the drawstring at the waist gave more reinforcement. Similar to the striped number above, this one has a 100 percent cotton lining, but the whole skirt feels more lightweight and breathable in comparison. Perhaps it’s the texture of the cotton, which is closer to that of the crisp Banana Republic skirts, but the one wrinkles less easily, too.

While not exactly a dupe for the Aritzia skirt above, this one from Quince is quite similar: It has a smocked three-inch drop-waist, generous pockets, and an all-cotton lining. However, unlike the Aritzia skirt, Quince’s has a layered, tiered construction that made it the most difficult skirt to steam. At the bottom of each tier, the skirt has half-inch pintucks that somehowalsoget wrinkly and are difficult to wrangle. Despite the extra fabric, the skirt was also slightly see-through when I wore bright underwear. In terms of smocking, I preferred Aritzia’s, which is finished with a neat, flat hem at the waist. Quince’s smocking is exposed at the waist, which prevents the skirt from sitting flush against my skin, making it less sleek. These aren’t deal-breakers by any means, but they’re design flaws to be expected in a skirt that’s half the price.

This skirt, conversely, was one of my favorites by far. It’s one of the most affordable skirts I tried, but it has thoughtful design details, like a dainty eyelet hem and deep pockets, that I’d expect to see on a piece double the price. Whenever I wore it, I could count on getting at least a few compliments, and when I paired it with a blackbodysuit, a few people even mistook it for a dress. The material itself was more crisp than soft, and while I needed to steam it before each wear, I didn’t return home with a dreadfully wrinkled skirt at the end of the night. In black, the skirt concealed all panty lines and undergarment colors, but I found it picked up stray threads and lint.

At just $50, Quince’s take on the no-frills cotton-poplin skirt has everything you’d want in the basic closet staple — ample pockets, an all-cotton lining (so not see-through), and a forgiving elastic waistband — and nothing more. It was the longest of all the skirts I tried and wrinkled more easily than the other skirts I tested from Quince as a result of all the extra fabric that bunched around my legs as I walked. (If you’re in between petite and regular sizes, I’d recommend going for the petite.) Still, it’s hard to do better than this skirt for the price. It’s versatile enough to be styled with a World Cup jersey or a halter top, and since it’s so affordable I don’t have to be too precious when I wear it to dinner and drinks.

This Old Navy skirt is truly the best skirt for the price. It’s the thinnest one on this list and unlined, but during some recent heatwaves, that feather-light weight and breathability were just what I needed. I wish it came in more colors — like the classic poplin white and a nice black — but the deep maroon I tested it in reminds me of stone fruit in a pleasantly summery way. I also appreciate that, for the low price, it still has a couple thoughtful details, like deep pockets and a just-stretchy-enough waistband.

Gap is constantly releasing and promptly selling out of poplin skirts, so this is the only one I was able to try that’s still in stock. (I have my sights set on the newly releasedPoplin Pintuck Maxi SkirtandPoplin Easy Cargo Maxi Skirtfor the future.) In general, I found Gap’s cotton poplin to be crisper and cooler to the touch than what you’d find at Quince. My favorite skirt I tried, the currently-sold-outno-frills maxi skirt, was a slight upgrade from Quince’s version, which was just slightly too long and heavy in comparison. I wish I liked this handkerchief style as much as the simple skirt since it’s still in stock, but the shape looked awkward on me. From the front, it almost resembled a triangle, and from the side, the fabric overlapped too much, making it look frumpy.

Like Quince’s drop-waist skirt, the weak point here is the waist band, which sat bunched against my waist rather than flat. If you’re looking to add texture to an otherwise simple look, the cinched waist will do just that, but I found the waist made the skirt difficult to pair with many of my tops since it protruded from my frame awkwardly. After trying it with many shirts in my wardrobe, I landed on a white bodysuit, which made me feel like a ballerina wearing a stiff tutu. It would also look nice with a French-tuckedwhite T-shirt. Still, I love how many colors and patterns the skirt is available in, from the floral-and-stripes one I tried to your classic solid white. Like all good skirts, this one has pockets and doesn’t wrinkle easily.

Compared to the other skirts, all of which have an elastic waistband that stretches the whole circumference of the waist, the waistband of this one is the least forgiving, with just two small swaths of elastic on the sides that provide a little give. This makes the skirt look especially sleek on the body, but it also means you should double check the size chart before you check out. (I chose a size small, which is a size bigger than I usually go for at Madewell.) Otherwise, the skirt, with its deep pockets and lack of lining, feels similar to the J.Crew version above. It has a “casual coastal vibe,” according to beauty writer Krista Bennet DeMaio, who bought it for herselflast month, and it’s made from coarser cotton that also feels like linen.

This was one of the only pink under-$150 poplin skirts I could find. The cotton itself feels similar to the other skirt I tried from Madewell — rougher and more linenlike than crisp and cool — but this one wrinkled more easily in comparison, especially when I sat down. It doesn’t have a liner, but I didn’t have any problems with opacity, and the skirt itself was more lightweight and breathable as a result. It’s one of the few true midi skirts I could find, too, so I recommend it for anyone who’s petite or runs hot.