Maxi Skirts: A Rumination

Posted on | May 27, 2009 | 24 Comments

This morning I am beginning the several-day-long process of vacuuming out my basement. Just imagine a very pregnant woman in shorts, a maternity top, sneakers, and a head scarf and you have my outfit for the day.

But since this week we have been trying to help our colleagues in the sciences find creative, stylish ways to dress that still meet their lab dress-code, I present to you a brief rumination on an item of clothing that I am still uncertain about: the maxi skirt. Now, I know that some labs ban skirts altogether, but a few dress codes that I’ve read also say that skirts are a-okay as long as they reach the ankle. Now, I am only a fairly recent convert to the maxi dress and while I love their cool, flowy nature I definitely feel like I need to find my inner hippie every time I don one. I don’t think that I would ever wear one when teaching or attending an important meeting.

And I’m not sure about maxi skirts, either. For me, floor length skirts in general conjure up competing images of hippies, Little House on the Prairie specials, a really bad broomstick skirt I owned in 8th grade, and bridesmaid separates. Quite a mix, huh? But this past year Lucky Magazine included a floor length skirt as one of their items in their always-impressive “A Month of Outfits” feature and, I have to admit, I’m being forced to do some reconsidering. Behold:

These looks are obviously more on the bohemian and very casual side, but I do love the pattern mixing in the look on the left and the chunky belt on the right. For more polished looks, Lucky offered up these:

And this one:

They all look lovely on the model, but I’m just not completely sold on the idea. So what do you all think? Can maxi skirts be polished enough for a day at an office (albeit a casual one)? Do you, like me, have strange misgivings and associations with floor length skirts that make this look difficult to embrace?

- E.

Comments

24 Responses to “Maxi Skirts: A Rumination”

angie
May 27th, 2009 @ 6:08 am

After 17 years of experience in the fashion industry (or “rag trade” as I prefer to call it), there are only three worldwide trends that I am vehemently opposed too and casual maxi dresses and skirts is one of them. It’s just too much fabric for day time. There is something about an ankle length dress or skirt that screams “fancy evening event”. In my opinion, a maxi dress or skirt must be dressy. I talk about this every season and recently took an informal poll. The responses were interesting:

http://www.youlookfab.com/2009/05/14/opinion-maxi-dresses-must-be-dressy/
Anna
May 27th, 2009 @ 6:22 am

Long skirts for me conjure up images of the teachers at my elementary school: kind older women who were unbelievably dowdy. As a teacher myself, I feel that I could never embrace a look that I could associate with something so decidedly unfashionable. And, to be honest, I completely disagree with Angie’s comment; a maxi skirt should be casual. Long, dressy skirts look like bridesmaids’ separates or, worse, a mother-of-the-bride/groom outfit. Especially the dressier ones with a blazer…yikes!
Sher
May 27th, 2009 @ 6:33 am

My sister is a biochemist. The last two labs she’s worked in let her wear maxi skirts and dresses. But for her own comfort, she hemmed them at ankle length and not dragging like the ones shown here. And since she was pregnant, her maxi dress ended up being more like a mumu in the end :D

Fashionafterforty.blogspot.com
Sal
May 27th, 2009 @ 6:36 am

Those last three images (from a fall Lucky) prompted me to buy a black jersey maxi skirt. And it is the comfiest thing I own and I ADORE it. But I agree that it must be styled very cautiously, lest the outfit veer into dowdy or hippie territory.
Carey
May 27th, 2009 @ 7:18 am

I’m with you – the maxi dress/skirt is a casual look – rarely to be successfully pulled off at work. It’s more of a weekend wear item to me. I like the look with the white top and belt – casual, but not sloppy.
marta
May 27th, 2009 @ 7:46 am

I would not want to drag my skirt (that would probably be a little pricey on the floor with chemicals in it. I dont know about any other scientists but I dress up as much casual and cheap I can. After all I sometimes find myself or rather my clothes with holes that are caused by acids. As much as I like fashion clothes and looking feminine I prefer jeans and a tshirt since I know this things can be relpaced easily.
Jess
May 27th, 2009 @ 7:47 am

No. No no no. Nooooooooooooooooooooo!

I really, really don’t like any of those looks. I am sure that a casual maxi skirt is comfy, and it can be worn casually, but it’s just so much fabric!

A formal maxi skirt is extremely formal so not something most of us need all that often. A casual maxi skirt to me looks too bohemian for the average soul. I jsut don’t see a maxi skirt fitting into that all important nice-casual or business-casual look we all spend 90% of our time in.

Oddly enough, the maxi dress has grown on me a little, but just the skirt does not work for me. I think it’s the continuity of a brightly colored maxi with a flattering cut that I like. Adding in patterns and too many different pieces makes it just too much look for me.
Kaylyn
May 27th, 2009 @ 8:33 am

I have never really liked the floor length look unless for a formal event but after seeing those last 3 looks from Lucky (and a number of friends and fave celebs) I have to say, I am really coming around to the idea. Let’s be realistic though, the look is not going to look great on everyone. For instance, I think I am a little too big, and a little too odd shaped to pull off this kind of a look. It’s a good look, but one that’s not created for equal opportunity wear. Such is the breaks I suppose. :)
Lucy
May 27th, 2009 @ 8:37 am

To me, there’s a real distinction between maxi skirts and dresses. While I own several of the former, I have a hard time embracing the latter. Like most others who commented here, I tend to associate maxi dresses with a bohemian look, which I love in small doses, but need to temper (on me) with more urban pieces. This is where maxi skirts come in for me, which can be paired with tailored or edgier tops for a less flower-child inspired look (of the images above, the two middle ones come closest to the look I try to achieve, though the black skirt and jacket together seem a little too costumey to me).

I can’t speak to the lab-appropriateness of maxi skirts, but I do find them to be extremely practical pieces for academic wear in the humanities (and, yes, I’ve worn mine to conferences before). This is especially true in fall/winter, when a long skirt confers me instant polish on the surface, while underneath I can wear my warmest and comfiest underwear (or anything, really) with no one being the wiser.
Sadie
May 27th, 2009 @ 8:57 am

I wouldn’t wear floor-length skirts like the ones in the picture, but skirts that come to ankle length or a couple of inches above are a Spring/Summer essential in the UK. I prefer the look of knee-length skirts, but when it’s too warm for tights and too chilly to walk around with bare calves the choice is really between long skirts or trousers, and I don’t want to be stuck in trousers all the time!
Madeline
May 27th, 2009 @ 9:04 am

Long dresses and skirts just scream my Mother-in-Laws name. There was I time when I was 13 and it was the late 90′s that I wore full length skirts and dresses…. but that time is not one I look back at fondly. I like knee length fitted skirts, and truthfully, I don’t often wear dresses. (I do prefer maxi dresses to skirts for whatever reason… just on somebody else.)

http://uberchicforcheap.blogspot.com
Lucy
May 27th, 2009 @ 9:05 am

Wonderful website, by the way. A big distraction from my thesis, to be sure, but a great source of inspiration for my daily life (academic and non).
yolio
May 27th, 2009 @ 10:40 am

I think the look only works for the tall. And it is not really possible to escape the hippie dimension. The hippie/bohemian can be worked into a stylish look—for someone other than me. For myself, I am deeply opposed to all things hippie-style.
simply.femme
May 27th, 2009 @ 11:14 am

I think what I dislike about most maxis I see are the fullness. And I do often feel like they are the “I Give Up” dress Stacy and Clinton talk about on “What Not to Wear.” However, at 5’4″, dresses and skirts are often maxi length on me even without design. And I do like the comfort of them and have found a few that I like well enough to keep in my wardrobe — for both casual and work wear. I guess I like a dress better since the skirt I’ve worn lately has a matching blouse. See them here.
Kimberly
May 27th, 2009 @ 1:28 pm

I have a simple black maxi skirt that belonged to my grandma (she was always a hip dresser), but have never wore it. I tried it on again just last week after seeing maxi skirts highlighted in a couple of magazines lately. However, I just couldn’t pull the trigger and wear it. Still not sure what to pair it with, but I will hold on to because I love it!
Patricia Haller
May 27th, 2009 @ 2:04 pm

Well,I personally love long skirts and wear them often. In the cold Canadian winters a knee length skirt just doesnt cut it no matter how cute it is. That being said, I never wear long skirts as full as the one shown, that is a hard look to pull off, I think that for most people a long skirt that is slim over the hips and then has fullness is much more flattering. They are easier to pair tops with and still give you lots of room for walking.
Mitra
May 27th, 2009 @ 3:11 pm

I’m not fond of anything which trails the floor, as I am only 5’3″ but do find that up to ankle is fine. I like side slits too, these seem to visually break up the length.

I am fond of longer summer dresses and skirts, as these hide my veinage (concept related to muffinage, LOL but applied to less-than-sightly legs!). I love summer but wish I could bare it all with a short skirt, but alas, it is not to be.

I particularly like skirts that are fitted over the waist and hips and flare towards the bottom, and dresses that emphasize the waist at least. If a skirt flares out, it is best for it not to have a high waist, and not to have a bulky waist band either, IMO. These detract from the purpose of a full skirt, which is to make your waist, no matter its size, appear smaller.

Full skirtage is easy to walk in (as writer above pointed out), leaves zero panty lines, and is quite forgiving of every body shape, I think (perhaps not of every body height, mind you).

I always, always wear my longer, fuller skirts with a very fitted top. I think the fuller the skirt, the more fitted the top needs to be, or it really is too much fabric. I prefer a simple tee or tank, with a cardi on top if need be, though I do have a quite simple long skirt (slight A line, not that full) and it looks fine with a simple form fitting linen jacket.

Will concur that this blog is excellent reading and a distraction from my thesis as well!

Mitra
Sarah Jane
May 28th, 2009 @ 5:02 am

In college (00-04) I wore lots of floor-length skirts with boots and skinny turtlenecks and long scarves — a sort of polished bohemian look. But I was an art major, which turns out to be a convenient excuse for all kinds of weirdness. ;)

As a general rule, though, I think that really long skirts automatically tend towards really casual or really formal — or just really frumpy. It’s not a look that I would pursue at this stage in my life.
e.
May 28th, 2009 @ 5:41 am

Whew! We all found it fascinating to read everyone’s responses on this. I don’t think A. or myself will be wearing maxi skirts this summer (you’ll have to see where S. falls in all this!) — and I’m not even sure I’ll incorporate my two maxi dresses into my post-preggers wardrobe — but I loved hearing about everyone’s different approaches to the matter.

I also continue to marvel at how strongly we associate certain items of clothing with certain people or images. It makes me feel a little less neurotic about my many clothing foibles!
28 May 2009 - Maxi Skirt : academichic
May 28th, 2009 @ 7:56 am

[...] Yesterday’s discussion on the Maxi Skirt prompted me to pull out the one maxi skirt in my closet. Like many of you, I have my doubts about the figure flattering capabilities of a long flowey skirt, but this jersey one won me over with its softness and lovely color. Additionally, this maxi skirt works for me because it has a straight cut and creates a nice long lean line: [...]
milly
May 28th, 2009 @ 8:50 am

unfortunately, its a look i can’t do…no maxi dresses nor skirts for me..dont have the body or height :(
Someone
May 28th, 2009 @ 4:54 pm

Maxi length skirts may surprise you.

I am barely 5’2″ and curvy (usually wear from a 4 to an 8 depending, but have umm…F cups…) and I have been wearing a couple of black microfiber maxis that fall straight, for a few years now.

There is nothing hippie about these; they are much more urban and go with EVERYTHING, not to mention the sheer comfort. They work in the summer, and in cooler times with thick tights and boots. Doc Martens work great, so do bootie heels, sandals, and so on.

I also have some tiered skirts that are about ankle length for other looks, but one of my very faves is a black stretch skirt with one side slit and a diagonally panelled Asian print in the colors of fire. Great with tights and boots!

Not that this has anything to do with lab wear…
Kate
June 1st, 2009 @ 2:33 pm

The three latter looks, if you made sure to button up all the way, look like great candidates for hijabi professional wear.

I tend to think long skirts can look polished because so many Muslim women on my campus, if they cover up, also wear full skirts like these. They tend to be much more structured and accessorized than the two very boho looks here.

I like that there are mainstream trends that are accessible to women who have particular dress code requirements.
Tabeez
July 27th, 2009 @ 7:19 am

Those are pretty. Yea I think they would look good on me! :)