I wear a long skirt virtually everyday during summer and frequently in spring and autumn. I know maxi skirts have few friends here but I think they are casually elegant for summer. And I like the sun coverage. I hate having to slather my legs with sunblock.

I prefer a full or a-line skirt for summer. For 3 or 4 years now, my go to everyday skirt has been a basque waist (or drop waist) skirt in linen from Australian retailer Seed. This style of skirt works for me because it is fitted at the hips. The fullness or flare of the skirt doesn’t start until the lower hip. I find it much more flattering than the style of skirt where the fullness starts at the natural waist.

Anyhow, I have a few. They are starting to look a little tired (even with re-dyeing) and a bit worn, especially around the seams. I’ve been looking for replacements.

I found what I needed at budget retailer Target. They had some smocked bodice dresses on clearance for $30-$40 (about 20-25 USD). 100% linen. I much prefer linen to any other fabric on my bottom half in our hot and humid summer. I love the way it softens with wear. I am at peace with the creasing.

I saw the potential for the dresses to be turned into skirts. The smocking can be pushed down onto the hips to create the drop waist. I sized up a couple of sizes so that the smocking could slide easily over my hips. (It’s important with this style that it doesn’t cut into the hips.) I cut off the shoulder straps and inserted an elastic waist at the top of the smocked bodice. Some I also dyed.

They came out really well! The smocking gives a nice texture and is a variation from the Seed skirts. The heathered effect of the dyed versions (see below) is pleasing. Easy to wear because of the stretchy, pull on style. They are also longer, which is my current preference, and they have pockets! For me, this has been much easier (and cheaper) than making the skirts from scratch.

Pic 1: This is the Seed skirt I’m replacing. I wear mine lower on the hips than the model.

Project #1 (pics 2-4). New batik print skirt. This was my first attempt at the new version. Worn in pic 4 with Frankie4 sandals (thanks for the recommendation Angie).

Project #2-4 (pics 5-10). Dyed versions. I started with a wine coloured dress. The dress has a wine coloured thread interwoven with a white thread. When dyed, the 2 threads take up the colour differently. That leads to a lovely 2 tone, heathered effect. I made 3 different versions: dusty wine, deep aubergine (not shown) and dusty purple. The dusty purple version is my favourite. I’m thinking of making another one in copper brown.

Project #5 (pics 11-16). Blue version. I hadn’t planned on adding a blue skirt to my wardrobe but the others worked out so well I decided to give it a try. It’s a change for me. Worn in pic 14 with a silk shibori scarf from the V&A Museum in London.

Project #6 (pics 17-21). Teal skirt. I wanted a new teal skirt but couldn’t find one in a suitable style. I was so pleased with the other skirts I tried another approach. This time I converted a linen sack dress (again, on clearance) into a skirt. I dyed it teal. It’s a different style from the others. Not a drop waist, not as full. I am pleased with how it turned out, even though the style is not as versatile for me. It is light and breezy. It has side slits which, on the original dress, were from the knee to mid calf. Because I turned it into a skirt, they now go from the mid calf to ankle. Good for walking.

Pics 22-25: Some of the new skirts getting the Siena treatment. She is hard on my clothes but I wouldn’t have it any other way. She is having her second TPLO surgery next week. Wish us luck