Spring’s maxi skirts go to great lengths
WHEN John Lewis announced the ‘ death’ of the floral midi last month — with its new fashion director Queralt Ferrer declaring it was time to move on from the trend — the news was met with panic.
What on earth would we wear instead? A mini dress? Happily for those accustomed to keeping their legs under wraps, hemlines are getting longer. RIP the midi, long live the maxi! The clue is in the name — maxi skirt — and it’s set to become as beloved for its ease of wear.
Granted, the maxi skirt involves a bit more thought than the midi dress.
You can’t just chuck it on and be done with it, because you have your top half to consider. But think of this not as a daunting prospect, but as a chance to experiment: after all, it’s no more effort than you expend every time you wear jeans.
This season, the best maxi skirts are comfortable and capacious, and come in either fluid, swishy fabrics (see Reiss’s orange maxi, far left), or more structured material such as denim (see Mango’s light-wash maxi, far right).
For smarter occasions, you could try a knife-pleat style (try Leem at next.co.uk, from £85), or a skirt that’s cut on the bias, such as Mint Velvet’s oyster satin version (third from right).
Those who prefer not to swish around in a surfeit of fabric could opt for a slim-fitting maxi, such as Topshop’s floral column (£38, asos.com), although this style is not as easy to walk in, so you’ll need to factor in either a split or a material with some stretch.
Whichever style you choose, make sure it’s as long as you can muster — not quite skimming the floor, but ideally skimming the ankle or even shoe. As for what to wear it with: your only limit is your imagination. Maxi skirts look great with plimsolls or flat sandals. They also look good with a tailored jacket, which will provide some structure to your top half while your bottom half flows free. Likewise, a slim-fit jumper or T-shirt will provide a pleasing counterpoint to the maxi’s volume.
That the maxi skirt is chic, easy and a useful transitional garment during the vagaries of spring is one good thing to have emerged from the winter gloom.