Being long-legged, there are numerous clothing items that do not fit me the way they are meant to or in a way that is flattering. Dresses are perpetually too short on me and I’m always needing to get creative with how to wear them. This skirt, which is actually sold as a dress, is the perfect example. There is no way I could get away with wearing it as it was meant to be worn. But I loved the watercolor-like pattern and was sure there was something I could do about that. I opted, at least this time, to wear it as a skirt.
At first I went with a coral drapped top, but it was too much flow and not enough shape. Opting for this blue shirt instead was the perfect combination. Throw on the coral heels that are a summer staple right now and I was ready to go.
Tip: If you really like a pattern or clothing item, try to envision different ways of wearing the piece in order to get more use out of it and in order to flatter your personal figure more.
Skirt: Forever21
Top: Express (got it at a swap)
Heels: Bakers
Earrings: Mimi’s Boutique
Bracelet: Forever21
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{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
I totally agree- I dislike ‘spaghetti straps’ and strapless – or rather the underweaf faff associated with with them- intensely . So I tend to wear such dresses as pinafores over things or as skirts.
We are alike in that. I’m always trying to come up with new ways to wear those things that I don’t like to wear in the way they were intended.
Exactly! I may not always like everything about an item, but if I love the pattern; I’ll try to make it work somehow. I love that I’m realizing more and more that there are just no rules. Wear what you love!! ~Serene
Love the print of the skirt, it looks great!
Lissy
I love this skirt from F21 we are finally getting one in the city so Can’t wait to add pieces to my wardrobe like you have
Get ready to fall in love with the place. It’s my easy go-to shopping place. You’ll love it.
Skirts give your wardrobe so much depth! I love this skirt and your shoes…you can do many things with a print like this!
How tall are you? I’m just over 5’8 and have that exact same problem, especially with F21 dresses they are just to short! Overall I think they design clothing for people 5’5 and under!
Very clever idea to wear the dress as a skirt, beautiful pattern/outfit. Your summer skirt/dress challenge is going well
I’m about 5’9″ and then with the heels I am about 6 feet tall. I completely agree so many things are for more petite women. We tall girls have a hard time finding the right length in skirts, dresses and pants.
I love it as a skirt! The blue top and coral wedges are the perfect pops to pull out the colors of the skirt. You look beautiful!
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Dresses are so hard for me too! I like my hem to reach at least my knee and so many dresses these days do not. I usually opt for a skirt because of that. Lovely outfit!
I too have this problem! At 5’9″ I always have to get dresses and skirts altered. You look so cute in your dress as a skirt by the way!!
Good use of dress-as-skirt! I’m not sure how anyone could wear that as a dress, or does it have one of those tube tops?
I’m pretty tall, too. I love Boden because they have most dresses available in tall and regular sizes, so if I see something I like but the length is “hits above knee”, I can order it in a long and get the perfect length. I know I could just “show off” my quite OK legs but at work, I have to keep it toned down some and outside work, I’m too active to wear something that short — I’d be flashing the world constantly. If I wear dresses that are as short as Forever 21 or Modcloth likes to make them, I just look wrong for my professional setting.
I have heard about Boden but never tried it. I might need to look into that. And yes, this skirt is a tube top.
I love this outfit the bold blue and the colours in the skirt are wonderful. The shoes are really pretty and finish the outfit off nicely.
Katy, I love those shoes. They look great with your dress turned skirt.
very nice and chic, professional summer wear. i have a few maxi dresses that my hubby shrank in the dryer which made them shorter than i liked, so i wear them as long skirts. the somali and other east african teens i work with absolutely love when i do this as it mimics their dress attire.
You know if you re-wash your maxi dresses and then stretch them and let them hang to air dry you can stretch them back closer to the original length. I do that all the time to lengthen mine.
I’m tickled pink! I did it all wrong I tried stretching the dresses right after they came out of the dryer. Thanks so much for this tip! I really liked them at floor length. I will re-wash, stretch, and air dry.
yes, I do know your issues with the skirt lengths so well. I am really tall and all those short dresses out there are more like wide belts that anything that could be compared to a skirt. This is such a great idea. I will definitely have to try this with a couple of my almost too short dresses and maybe, just maybe some shorty short ones will come home with me in the future!
Anja – Give it a try. Sometimes you need to get creative about the top and how to make it work as a skirt. But I’ve found with a little strategic tucking and a belt you can work wonders.
Hahaha. I wish I had your problem! Mine is quite the opposite…super short legs, so shirts that are meant for tall people will sometimes work for me! >_<