One piece, three outfits: the slit skort

A good wardrobe runs on a small number of versatile pieces; this series' job is to pull a single piece in different directions. Today's subject is the black slit skort: a hybrid piece that reads as a skirt from the front while keeping the comfort of shorts underneath. The bottom stays fixed, the top changes — and each top sends the same skort into a different kind of day.

With a knit polo: the soft gold version

A golden buttoned knit polo adds warmth to the skort's black; with leather ballet flats and a mini crossbody, the look settles into daytime, into a long Saturday. For a closer read of this pairing, see our gold-and-black outfit piece — here's the short version: a knit texture is shine without sparkle.

• Oysho — Short-sleeved button knit polo
• Stradivarius — Side split skort
• Pull&Bear — Leather ballerinas

With an asymmetric knit: a pink contrast

The second outfit takes its boldness from the top: a one-shoulder asymmetric knit top sets its pink against the black skort for a vivid contrast. Because the asymmetric neckline and the skort's slit speak the same diagonal language, the two pieces "find" each other. A thin buckled belt calms the middle ground between two strong pieces.

• Pull&Bear — Asymmetric knit top
• Stradivarius — Side split skort
• Bershka — Leather effect belt with buckle

With a stand-collar shirt: the most put-together version

The third interpretation takes the skort to its most formal edge: a hundred-percent-cotton white shirt with a stand collar. The shirt's architectural collar and clean white take the skort out of "summer piece" territory and make it work for a relaxed office day or a late-afternoon meeting. An ecru long crossbody bag and a suede belt round out the palette into three balanced tones.

• Oysho — 100% cotton stand-up collar shirt
• Stradivarius — Side split skort
• Zara — Long crossbody bag (ekru)
• Massimo Dutti — Split suede leather belt (from the editor's wardrobe)

• skort
• capsule
• formula