WIW: straight column maxi skirt - YouLookFab Forum

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WIW: straight column maxi skirt

Diana

Veteran

Angie's post today reminded me that I haven't worn my maxi skirt in a while. And yes, mine is the dreaded uni-leg straight column type but that doesn't bother me and I think they can look rather elegant. I prefer my maxis to be columnar rather than flared.

I paired it with my white peplum tank and a wrap front cropped handknit sweater. I echoed the color of the sweater with my teal flat sandals and topped the whole thing off with my cropped swing coat. (It was a lot warmer feeling than the weather forecast led me to believe, though, so the coat ended up being unnecessary, but oh well. I like the look.)

(handknit sweater, Anthro tank, Express maxi skirt, Naot sandals, Tulle coat)

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20 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

Sara L.

Veteran

I have no problem with the uni-leg look either. I like this maxi skirt - the stripes are interesting. I think the cropped sweater over the white top looks very unusual and flattering.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

I must say Diana I love how you can take the Inspiration topic of the day and run with it. You can pull something fashion wise together and make it your own. I am enjoying this fit because the top and "shrug" echos the skirt pattern. I think I love the play with proportions You do this very well. and I like the different lengths working together in harmony.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Actually, Diana, that skirt looks really good on you! The diagonal stripe pattern is what probably does the trick. The fact that the skirt is columnar but has a bit of drape to it also helps.

I've wondered about columnar maxi skirts in terms of whether or not they lengthen the overall appearance of the body. In theory, they should, because full-length straight pants do. I think they might. Certainly if you wear a similar colour from head to toe, it can make you appear longer. Also, I find that lengthening silhouettes tend to be elegant, so you would think that columnar maxi skirts would be a slam-dunk. The fact that they are not -- that they can appear dowdy -- leads me to question what elements of such skirts makes them dowdy. Or possibly, is it that I have associations with maxi skirts that make me read them as dowdy?

In any case, you definitely do NOT look dowdy here! Perhaps the diagonal pattern gives "movement" to the skirt, so the eye moves up and down, which is amplified by the drape. Or perhaps it's that the print makes it look more modern. Whatever it is, rock on.

Thistle

Veteran

Fabulous!! I love the full length maxi with the sandals peeking out. I like it with the stripes, and I think it would work plain. Statuesque, as you said.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Diana, this is gorgeous! I love the maxi skirt on you. Why it doesn't have the uni-leg effect is beyond me. (I really wasn't crazy about the plain black maxi on the model that Angie used as an illustration of uni-leg.) But whatever the reason, it's just fabulous on you. And of course the handknit sweater is stunning.

Diana

Veteran

Hmm, I like my maxis to taper slightly at the knee, just because I think it gives a narrower line. But honestly most jersey column skirts do this on me anyway because they stretch slightly over my hips and then shrink back down below them. So maybe my pear shape actually helps here, I'm not sure.

Also, I think waist definition helps. Although I do like a draped grecian style top over a maxi too (but it has to be short, so I guess would still have a bit of waist definition.)

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

The diagonal lines of the maxi skirt temper the uni-leg look - so there you go. You look fab as always, sweet Diana. I'm digging the peplum effect of the blouse.

Still prefer you in your front side slit Bobeaux maxi skirt though. My relationship with maxis will alas - always be complicated. But love that you showed us this fun look.

Diana

Veteran

Angie, I don't have a Bobeau maxi? The one today is the only maxi skirt I own at the moment unless you count my ball skirt. Unless you are thinking about this one which is definitely a midi (if that.)

See, to me a maxi is like bootcuts vs. a midi which would be like cropped pants? I style them entirely differently.

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Bobeau Asymmetrical Solid Wrap Midi Skirt

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Diana

Veteran

To elaborate: the midi makes me feel very hippy, so I like to wear longer, looser things over it. The maxi minimizes my hips and creates a long vertical line, which I find very slimming. So I wear more fitted things with it, shorter and with more waist definition.

ETA: In thinking about it some more, one of the things I like about a column maxi is that it makes me appear more rectangular in the hip/thigh region. I could see that people that are actually rectangles without the small waist might find that blocky or widening.

Sal

Veteran

I think this is a very flattering look on you Diana. It is a very pretty maxi too and I love your handknit!!

I am a maxi fan especially when they veer to the sporty or the elegant, which this one does!!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Oopsie. Your bobeau skirt is knee length. The brain is getting old, Diana. Grey cells are disintegrating each day. *sigh*

jackiec

Veteran

I don't have a problem with the unileg look. This is great. I like the peplum effect with the blouse and the little crop vest over top. Super cute outfit. Very creative too, to my eye

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Such a fantastic look! I love that top/sweater combo on you, and it looks super great with the skirt.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

The diagonal stripes definitely offset the uni-leg. Any way, you look fab!

Angie wisdom comes from less brain clutter (that is what I tell myself when I can't remember what I was about to do halfway to doing it).

lyn67

Veteran

Yes, this is NOT our dreaded Uni-leg look, Diana! I think because of the diagonal stripes AND the ingeniously styled top part. You are not showing any skin there BUT you are faking that sooo well with the layers:-). WOW! It's a look I never thought of, thanks for posting this!

dakotacheryl

Veteran

Your knitting blows me away...so jealous.

Love today's interpretation of the blog post !!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Diana, this looks amazing on you! I really love it. I agree with others that the diagonals offset the long blocky look, and with you, that your own body type helps here. With my body type, I get a long rectangle from a maxi. Or worse. Fascinating to analyze it! Your sweater is also fab, by the way.

catgirl

Veteran

I struggled with this look a while back and gave up. I think the tiered look really helps here - it's the skirt version of the Bailey 44 dress.

E

Veteran

I love this, especially the extra touch of the teal shoes!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

HAH, Jaime. Good one. I'm glad I'm not the only one who forgets why she ran upstairs to do something.