Robe vs. Skirt — What's the Difference?

A garment worn for warmth and comfort at home.

Integral part of many professional outfits.

Often worn for specific professions or ceremonies.

Can be part of cultural or traditional attire.

Can be luxurious and made of rich fabrics.

A versatile fashion item worn around the waist.

Usually full-length and loose-fitting.

Comes in various styles and lengths.

Ties with a sash or belt at the waist.

Often fastened with a zipper or buttons.

A robe is a loose-fitting outer garment. Unlike garments described as capes or cloaks, robes usually have sleeves.

A skirt is the lower part of a dress or a separate outer garment that covers a person from the waist downwards.At its simplest, a skirt can be a draped garment made out of a single piece of fabric (such as pareos). However, most skirts are fitted to the body at the waist or hips and fuller below, with the fullness introduced by means of darts, gores, pleats, or panels.

A long, loose outer garment reaching to the ankles

The part of a garment, such as a dress or coat, that hangs freely from the waist down.

Short for lap robe

A garment hanging from the waist and worn especially by women and girls.

Clothe in a robe

One of the leather flaps hanging from the side of a saddle.

Often robes An official garment worn on formal occasions to show office or rank, as by a judge or high church official.

The lower outer section of a rocket vehicle.

An academic gown.

A flexible strip hanging from the base of an air-cushion vehicle.

A dressing gown or bathrobe.

A piece of fabric that extends over or beyond something to afford protection.

Robes Clothes; apparel.

A spray skirt.

A blanket or covering made of material, such as fur or cloth

An outer edge; a border or margin

To cover or dress in a robe or in something that functions like a robe

Offensive Slang A woman.

To put on a robe or robes.

To lie along or form the edge of; border

A long loose outer garment, often signifying honorary stature.

To pass around rather than across or through

(US) The skin of an animal, especially the bison, dressed with the fur on, and used as a wrap.

To pass close to; miss narrowly

A wardrobe, especially one built into a bedroom.

To evade, as by circumlocution

The largest and strongest tobacco leaves.

To lie along, move along, or be an edge or a border.

(transitive) To clothe; to dress.

An article of clothing, usually worn by women and girls, that hangs from the waist and covers the lower part of the body.

(intransitive) To put on official vestments.

The part of a dress or robe, etc., that hangs below the waist.

An outer garment; a dress of a rich, flowing, and elegant style or make; hence, a dress of state, rank, office, or the like.

A loose edging to any part of a dress.

A skin of an animal, especially, a skin of the bison, dressed with the fur on, and used as a wrap.

A petticoat.

To invest with a robe or robes; to dress; to array; as, fields robed with green.

A woman.

Any loose flowing garment

Border; edge; margin; extreme part of anything.

Outerwear consisting of a long flowing garment used for official or ceremonial occasions

The diaphragm, or midriff, in animals

Clothe formally; especially in ecclesiastical robes

To be on or form the border of.

To move around or along the border of; to avoid the center of.

To cover with a skirt; to surround.

To avoid or ignore (something); to manage to avoid (something or a problem); to skate by (something).

The lower and loose part of a coat, dress, or other like garment; the part below the waist; as, the skirt of a coat, a dress, or a mantle.

A loose edging to any part of a dress.

Border; edge; margin; extreme part of anything

A petticoat.

The diaphragm, or midriff, in animals.

To cover with a skirt; to surround.

To border; to form the border or edge of; to run along the edge of; as, the plain was skirted by rows of trees.

To be on the border; to live near the border, or extremity.

Cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist

A garment hanging from the waist; worn mainly by girls and women

Informal terms for a (young) woman

Avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues);

Pass around or about; move along the border;

Form the edge of

Extend on all sides of simultaneously; encircle;

A skirt is a garment that hangs from the waist and covers all or part of the legs.

Yes, robes can be worn outside, especially decorative or ceremonial ones like academic or judicial robes.

A robe is a loose, full-length garment often worn for comfort or during specific ceremonies.

Yes, skirts can be worn in all seasons, depending on the material and style (e.g., woolen skirts for winter, cotton for summer).

Yes, in many cultures, skirts are part of traditional female attire and can signify cultural identity.

Skirt length can vary from very short (mini) to floor-length (maxi), depending on personal style and occasion.

Robes are worn by both men and women, often at home or during specific professional or religious ceremonies.

In many cultures, men do wear garments similar to skirts, such as kilts in Scotland.

Common types include bathrobes, dressing gowns, and ceremonial robes like those worn by judges or clergy.

There are many styles, including A-line, pencil, maxi, and mini skirts.

Consider the purpose (comfort vs. ceremony), material, and fit.

Robes can be both, though they are most often casual; however, certain types like judicial robes are very formal.

Choose based on the formality of the event, the weather, and current fashion trends.

Robes can be made from materials like terry cloth, fleece, or silk.

Iconic skirts include the mini skirt popularized in the 1960s and the pencil skirt often associated with 1950s fashion.