Maxi Skirts

Maxi Skirts

Ankle-length skirt or 'maxi,' a term introduced in the late 1960s.

A skirt is a tube or cone-shaped garment that hangs from the waist or hips and covers all or part of the legs. A maxi skirt is a skirt that drapes to ankle length.  Maxi skirts can be either flowing or curve-hugging.  Either way, they are a timeless garment that is so classic that it most likely will never become outdated.

Maxi skirts are a wardrobe staple for most of women during the spring and summer months of the year or in warm climate locations.  They can also be worn during the fall and winter as well.  This makes them versatile and appropriate for most wardrobes.  In addition to be versatile in regard to the time of year, they are easy to style with many other fashion products and they are generally a very comfortable skirt style.

The hemline of skirts can vary from micro (very short) to floor-length and can vary according to cultural conceptions of modesty and aesthetics as well as the wearer's personal taste, which can be influenced by such factors as fashion, sense of personal style and social context.  Apparel Search truly believes that the maxi length skirt has an important role in every woman's closet.  By the way, this type of skirt looks good no matter the women’s height.

The maxi skirt style comes in many different textile fibers, fabric construction, colors, and sizes.  If you are looking for a classic skirt, you will find many options with the maxi style. 

Learn about maxi dresses.

Learn about short skirts & denim skirts.

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Silhouettes and Fabrics

The two families named in the guide above behave very differently on the body. Flowing maxi skirts — A-line, gathered, tiered and pleated cuts in light fabrics — move as the wearer walks and read as relaxed or romantic depending on the print. Curve-hugging maxi skirts in knit jersey or other stretch fabrics follow the leg's line, are usually simpler in surface detail, and dress up or down with a change of top. Both families hang from the waist or the hips, and where the waistband sits changes the proportions: a high waist lengthens the leg line, while a hip-sitting skirt lengthens the torso.

Fabric weight sets the season more than length does. Cotton, linen, rayon and chiffon maxis are the spring and summer versions, chosen for airflow. The same ankle length in knit ponte, denim, corduroy or a wool blend, worn with boots and a sweater, is a fall and winter garment, which is the practical basis for the year-round claim: the hemline stays, the textile changes. Prints scale with the canvas — a maxi skirt carries large florals and bold geometrics that would overwhelm a shorter skirt — while solid black, navy and earth tones make the most mixable wardrobe versions.

Styling the Long Skirt

Because the skirt supplies length and coverage, tops usually supply the contrast: a fitted or tucked-in top defines the waist against a flowing skirt, while a cropped or tied top keeps the proportions clear of the long hem. Flat sandals and sneakers keep the look casual, ankle boots extend it into cold weather, and a heel changes the same skirt into evening wear. The guide's companion piece, the maxi dress, achieves the same long line in one garment; the skirt's advantage is that the top half can change completely from one wearing to the next, which is why one well-chosen maxi skirt can anchor a week of outfits.