I’ve long had a love affair with maxi dresses but since last year, there has been a new amour in my wardrobe…
… the maxi skirt!
As a petite it can be easier finding a needle in a haystack than a decent maxi skirt and certainly one that I like enough to want to be part of my wardrobe. They are out there, but you have to hunt. Many are quite poorly made, often of flimsy material.
The one I’m wearing I bought in May on a whim, a couple of days before I went on holiday to Denmark. I was partly taking advantage of an early Summer 30% off promotion but I was drawn to how different it was from other maxi skirts I’d seen.
I was taken by its bold baroque style print.
I liked the idea of a non pastel skirt for Summer.
It had a decent weight to the fabric.
Visiting the writer Karen Blixen’s house, just outside Copenhagen, on a warm day, it proved to be a perfect holiday skirt.
I like all season pieces and in many ways the maxi skirt transcends all the seasons. At this time of year you’re not ready for woolly tights (or tights in general, if you’re me!), but bare legs aren’t practical for chilly mornings or dips in temperatures once the sun has set, making the maxi skirt ideal for Autumn and beyond.
Here’s how I maximised my maxi skirt for Autumn.
Denim jackets and shirts are pretty much common wardrobe staples for everyone and even if you’re not a shoeaholic like me, you’ll probably own a couple of pairs of different coloured ankle boots. Using a light wash denim jacket, a dark wash denim shirt and 2 pairs of suede boots, I’ve maximised the wearing potential of my Summer maxi skirt for Autumn.
LOOK ONE: LIGHT WASH DENIM & PATTERN MIXING
Highlighting light colours & pushing the boat out with a little pattern mixing.
It was my Mum’s birthday at the end of September and we took her out to a country pub for a slap up lunch and this is what I wore. I didn’t want to wear jeans or trousers, but I would’ve looked a tad over the top rocking up to a pub in a LBD!
This outfit hit that sweet spot of being laid back, without being comatose. The light wash denim jacket picks up the light blue in the skirt beautifully. Denim is by its very nature casual but the additions of a second accent colour with the orange cardigan and the pattern mixing, bring a little finesse to a relaxed look.
Even with a print as striking as this skirt, you can still mix patterns. To keep it balanced and harmonious, I chose a top that had
– similar colours to the skirt,
– a complimentary aesthetic i.e. the embroidery band on the top links to the bands on the bottom of the skirt,
– a smaller design than the skirt,
giving it almost the look of a maxi dress, rather than two separate pieces. I even fooled my Mum; she thought it was a dress at first, because the pattern of the top is so similar to the bottom border of the skirt.
I’m not a great thrift clothes buyer – tricky when you’re a petite – but I do love thrifting for bags and jewellery. My necklace and 2 of my 3 bracelets are all thrifted gems totalling a mere £6.00!
LOOK TWO: DARK WASH DENIM & GILET
From light, we travel to the dark side! And from pattern mixing, we switch to fabric mixing.
Just as dark wash denim jeans can be dressed up or down, a dark wash denim shirt has the same versatility. A western style, fitted denim shirt completely changes the feel of the maxi skirt; its deep, indigo colour adds drama to the outfit.
I upped the western vibe with a swish of suede fringing from both my boots, which have fringing around the ankles, and my bag. They’ve been seen so many times on the blog, you’re probably all bored of seeing them by now! And with the absence of pattern other than in the skirt, I added a faux fur gilet for some fabric mixing and as a completer piece to the outfit.
The shirt needed a different style of jewellery; a piece to fit snug in the neckline. I bought my three stone, chalcedony necklace about 20 years ago in Italy and style wise it’s perfect for the shirt.
Fringe, meet faux fur!
Maximised Maxi Skirt Footnote
One skirt, two contrasting looks for Autumn. And they would work equally well in the other transitional season we have; Spring.
It’s quite striking how a few tweaks, as simple as swapping a light wash denim jacket to a dark wash denim shirt, accessories and boots, can radically change the mood of an outfit.
Petite Maxi Skirt from Wallis – sold out. Wine Autumn Lace Maxi Skirt
Oasis Falls Denim Jacket with pretty embroidered detail
Dorothy Perkins Petite /zip Shearling Gilet
Dorothy Perkins Petite Chinchilla Gilet
How do you maximise your maxis? And do you have a favourite out of the two looks?
Linking with Not Dressed As Lamb / Confident Twosday / Garay Treasures / Turning Head’s Tuesday / Style Me Wednesday / ColorandGrace / Living In Colour / High Latitude Style / Happiness At Midlife / Eleganceandmommyhood / A Labour of Life / Curly Crafty Mom / Fashion Should Be Fun / A Pocketful Of Polkadots / Jeans And A Teacup / Nancy’s Fashion Style / Fine Whatever / Sheela Writes
beautifully printed maxi skirt. i love it. You look fabolous in the clay colour swaeter and the ash colour blouse. love the combination of colours there.
brendascouch.com
Thank you Brenda. It was such an unusual print, I couldn't resist buying the skirt.
I love the second look with the dark shirt. Lovely skirt looks great on you. Jacqui
http://www.mummabstylish.com
Yes, it's definitely a different mood with the dark shirt, isn't it? Thanks Jacqui.
Clever styling Jacqueline! I don't have a favourite here, as I love them both. (Although if pushed I'd have put the grey boots and grey fluffy gilet together.) The skirt is quite a find, perfect for at least three of our four seasons, so well worth the investment. Will I see it again this winter? Oh I do hope so!
Anna x
http://www.annasislandstyle.com
Well, the grey boots and fluffy gilet are certainly an option I considered and no doubt will be paired together. Yes, you absolutely will see it again this winter! Thank you Anna.
Wow to the wonderful pattern mixing, all the stylings and the great skirt too! You look terrific, and prove that petite women can rock the maxi. xox
-Patti
http://notdeadyetstyle.com
I think maxis look wonderful of petites and the skirt was such a find and is going to end up being one of the hard working pieces. Thank you Patti.
I'm a huge fan of maxis and I'm also petite.
The maxi you chose here is wonderful. I love blue and orange together.
bisous
Suzanne
I like the fact that they're slightly different and am definitely on the hunt for a couple more maxi skirts especially if I can find ones with interesting prints like this one. Yes, I love the blue and orange together. It's zesty and colourful! Thanks Suzanne.
Jacqueline!!!
What a great post!!
I always think of maxis for summer, and that's really silly. I just pulled out mom's for tomorrow's post and it's making me think about the ones I have—they just seem so summery!
I may have to get one like this, so I can wear it in the winter!!
The fur vest with it is brilliant!
jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Thanks Jodie. Same here, I always thought of them being summer items but they so work for Autumn or Winter if you find the right one. And this one is a gem!
Being elfin sized it really is difficult to find a good maxi. This one fits you so well and I absolutely love the print. You're right, it is seasonless and you'll be able to rock it all year round with the right extras.
Debbie
http://www.fashionfairydust.com
Ha, ha, Debbie, yes I'm elfin and I'm glad you appreciate the problem! I'm so glad I bought it as the print is gorgeous. It will definitely be on seasonal rotation!
You have transitioned this effortlessly to fall! I love it paired with the fur vest!
Thanks Laura, the skirt for made for transitioning. And yes, it's fun with the fur vest.
This is a great skirt! Definitely worth restyling to get maximum wears. I love both ways you styled it for cooler weather.
Amy Ann
Straight A Style
I love it when pieces really earn their keep especially when you fall in love with a particular item as I have with this one. I'll really enjoyed wearing it all year round.
These are both such fun looks! I have been grooving on winter/fall maxis for a few years now (I have a couple of leather and suede ones that are awesome).
Oooh Sheila, I'd love a leather or a suede one. Now that would be awesome!
These are definitely cute ways to style your maxi skirt for the fall, thanks for the inspiration.
Thank you for linking up to "Bloggers Who Have Inspired Me" link up
Rachel xo
http://garaytreasures.com
Thanks for hosting Rachel.
I love pieces that transcend seasons.
Now that is one versatile skirt .I'm with you and make my clothes work for as many seasons as possible. Love that fluffy vest too .Your boot collection is most impressive.
Thank you Jill. Yes, I'm with you on making clothes work across the seasons. You get more joy from them. Ha, ha, yes, I'm amassing quite a boot collection. I didn't realise until I started blogging how much a shoeaholic I am!
I know exactly what you mean about finding the right length ! You styled this beauty from Summer to Autumn perfectly x
http://www.vanityandmestyle.com
It's tricky for us petites, isn't it! Thank you for your kind words, Laurie.
I love my maxi skirts and dresses too. Love how you have styled them, perfect for Autumn 🙂 Thanks for sharing at Creative Mondays
Thanks Claire, I've really got into maxis in a big way the last couple of years.
My favorite is the look with the fur vest! You are great at layering, love the chambray top over the cardi, too!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Thanks Carrie. The fur vest is fun to wear – it's so tactile!
Thanks for linking up to Top of the World Style.
I also have a maxi skirt I plan on transitioning into fall…
Yours is a beautiful skirt! I love that you showed that even though it has a pattern it can be styled different ways and be included in some pattern mixing!
Have a great week!
Andrea
Andrea’s Wellness Notes
I thought it would be difficult to pattern mix but it turned out to be easier than I thought, Andrea. I can't wait to see how you style your maxi skirt.
Both great looks, Jacqueline! All those blues bring out your eyes and flatter your skin and hair color.
It is a challenge (for me, at least) to transition spring/summer items into fall because the colors tend to be so light and airy. But you thoughtfully picked a skirt that could transition throughout the seasons, one which also works well in a variety of situations! And not only that — you did it all as a petite! That is quite the feat, my friend. I bow at your boot-clad feet in admiration! ��
– Sherry
http://www.petiteover40.com
Blue is so my colour it's unreal, Sherry! That can be the difficulty when colours are light to move them into Autumn but I try not to just stick to light to Spring/Summer and dark to Autumn/Winter. I'm so glad I bought the skirt, even on a whim as it's turned out to be quite a buy!
Ah yes, my boot-clad feet – I do love my ankle booties!
Jacqueline, I love the two-for-one styles you created for this skirt and the side by side photos at the end are just fabulous. I remember a post from last year with a similar theme that inspired a fashion post of my own. Thanks for more of your inspirations and the adding your post to my Fine-Whatever link up.
Rena
http://www.finewhateverblog.com
Thank you Rena. It was by pure chance that I remembered to do a similar pose for the second style! Was that another blogger or was it my other maxi skirt. I know that my chunky knit and maxi skirt inspired you to try that with one of your maxis. Isn't it great when we get inspired by other bloggers. I get inspired by so many other bloggers, part of the joy of the blogging community.
Your maxi skirt is beautiful! 🙂 It will go so well with so many colours but I love it with the darker denim in the second outfit.
I'm a big fan of maxi skirts and like to try wear them as much as possible year-round too, they can be layered up quite well 🙂
Hope you're having a great week 🙂
Away From The Blue Blog
Mica, you are a maxi skirt lover after my own heart. In fact, you are the Queen of Maxi Skirts in my book! I love ALL of yours and seeing how you style them.
I've been enjoying the maxi dress SO much this year but am still a little stumped by its sister version. I can't seem to do anything with a maxi skirt, save to wear it as a dress. And that's all. GRR. I'm going to keep stalking you and be inspired by your style choices, my friend 🙂
Ha, ha, bless you, Sheela, stalk away my friend. And if you get even a drop of inspiration from how I wear my maxis then the stalking will have been worth it!
I love it with the navy blouse, the fur and the fringe.
Greetje