If you’re after a skirt that will take you from beach to bar with no more than a change of shoes and popping on a vest over your bikini, then River Island have got it sorted.

This Stripe Button Skirt in cream has cute nautical stripes and big gold buttons and is made of cotton, so perfect for keeping cool. During the day team it with a bikini or vest top, and flats or gladiator sandals. Then at night, simply add some heels and tuck in a simple top, and you’re away. It’s also got pocket detailing and a nipped in elasticated waistband. Gold accessories would match perfectly, highlighting the buttons.

So how much will this versatile number set you back? Only a mere £14.99, so snap it up quick sharp!

This summer will see hemlines go to extremes – we’re talking floor length or short enough to be a belt. We’ve already looked at maxi dresses – so here’s the other end of the scale – the mini skirt.

If you’re looking for a real statement skirt then look no further than Topshop. This Monochrome Sequin Mini Skirt is made up of individual black and white big sequin discs that’ll ripple when you walk, and have a great shiny, lacquered finish. This is definitely not a skirt for day time wearing though – team it with a simple black or white vest top to keep the monochrome theme, and some patent heels would look brilliant too to keep the shiny theme.

At £65 it’s a bit of an investment piece, but monochrome is a classic timeless look, and when hemlines change again next summer you’ll still be able to whip this one out of the wardrobe.

It’s available from the Topshop website now.

I absolutely love this demi-sheer sequin mini skirt by Isaac Mizrahi. It’s pretty pastel pink shade is ultra girly and it is perfect for sunny summer parties.

The skirt features a net underlay and fuchsia grosgrain waistband and to nail the runway look just team with a fluoro vest.

For a twist on an edgy wedding look, team with a tucked in scoop neck vest and white blazer with cool, sharp lines and some thin and dainty sky-high gold heels.

At £1620 it will have to just sit pretty on my wish list, but if you’ve got the cash to splash then you can pick one up over at Net-a-porter.

I am such a fan of Reiss’s Spring / Summer 09 collection and adore this origami ribbon detailing mini skirt.

From the ruffles to the muted colour tones, it’s trend-ticking and totally gorgeous.

What’s more, it also comes in an eye catching ‘deep sky blue’ which to me, looks like a really intense cornflower blue – which would look seriously stunning set off against some tanned legs.

This season features some major feminine dressing – from the swathes of dresses strutting down the catwalks one after another, to the ruffles and make-up tones, and this is a great piece to embrace the trend with.

Available from Reiss is costs £110.

I really like this sweet little baby blue bubble-skirt from River Island. Prefect for lazy summer days or quirking up with coloured tights for spring it’s a piece that can offer a lot of wear over the coming months.

I’m also a fan of the items River Island have suggested you team with this piece: just tuck in a simple lemon vest and throw on some plain white plimsoll style shoes for an easy going summer look.

Great for creating an hour-glass silhouette, these type of skirts sit on the narrowest part of the waist and is also very forgiving of pear shape figures.

Available for £24.99 from River Island, it’s a great reasonably priced piece.

We’ve had bodycon dresses, and now get ready for the bodycon skirt, slightly kinder to the figure, and a welcome change from all those billowy, floral numbers.

A simple, understated piece, this skirt is great for wearing with an interesting top to balance it out, and can be worn with flats and thick tights or leggings for a daytime look, or team it with bare legs or sheer tights and heels for the evening.

New Look have got the perfect one – the Plain Stretch Skirt is made of stretchy jersey material, sits above the knee, and has a waistband to give it a finished look. It’s available in three different colours – grey, a deep pink, and blue costing a minuscule £8 each. If you’re feeling brave, there’s also a black and white striped or red and white striped version for £12 – but remember what horizontal stripes can do!

Match these skirts with an embellished top, a vest, or a shirt – it’ll work with almost anything as long as it isn’t too long.

If you’re a fan of ruffles and pleats then you may be interested in brother and sister duo Camilla and Marc. Based in Sydney their label features lots of cute, feminine pieces.

I love this tulip layered pleat skirt. The stripes give it a very definite nautical feel yet the gathered front facing pleat and layering give a fresh twist to and old trend and familiar shape.

I would team with subtle timeless pieces such as a scoop neck tank casually tucked in, a fine unfussy thin gold anklet or necklace and flat sandals.

You can pick this up for £295 from Net-a-porter.

One of my top favourite Spring / Summer 09 catwalk shows has to be Marc Jacobs, and fresh off the catwalk is this stunning black twill leaf brocade pencil skirt.

I love the way the item which looks pretty formal, yet has been styled with casual and clashing pieces such as plaid.

As we know all things to do with nature will be a key trend this spring / summer and I think this is a great key piece to indulge in. Use to smarten up a party look and just mix it up with random pieces to achieve a fresh and modern feel,

You can pick this skirt up from Net-a-porter for £575.

Tulip skirts are back with a vengeance and for anyone that benefits from a little ‘waist definition’ – they are fabulous.

With fluro colours and floral prints two of this season’s top trends, this skirt ticks several boxes in one fell swoop.

Team with a figure hugging top tucked in, or better still this is the one of only situations I can accept the need to don a ‘body’. Guaranteeing no tucked-in-lumps-and-bumps a ‘body’ is the neatest way to create a smooth silhouette – very effective in this case.

Over the top of the said body, throw a skinny cropped cardy (nothing long otherwise your nipped in waist will be out of sight), tights and towering heels.

In the summer loose everything bar the skirt and simply add a scoop neck white vest and flip flops for an effortless look.

You can pick this skirt up from Topshop for £32.

So if the 80s revival isn’t for you, and you fancy something a little more refined from Spring, then get your hands on a classic floral skirt. As always for Spring, floral prints are everywhere, particularly in Luella’s S/S 09 shows.

Short is the only length to go with, as longer skirts with a busy can look a bit full on, and after all, skirts are for showing off your legs! You can always cover up with tights though if the weather lets you down!

Topshop have got a great selection of Spring skirts to choose from, including this Floral Tulip Skirt. The navy blue colour means you can easily team it with a pair of k tights or leggings at the moment, but the floral print is perfect for Spring. The tulip shape is also really popular right now, and is excellent for wearing things tucked in to create a nipped in waist.

It costs £32 and some sizes are already sold out but should be back in stock soon. You can buy it from the Topshop website or in stores.