This Piece Of Clothing Is My Secret Weapon For Dressing Comfortably But Also Youthful + Chic In My 40s.
Hint: Not mini but…
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by Audie Metcalf
Fine I’ll just tell you.
It’s the maxi skirt.
And I know you’re sort of furrowing your brow like this is the most obvious thing in the world, but I want you to really think about how many true maxi skirts you own. Like truly long, gorgeously flattering skirts. I would bet not a lot. Why? Because they’re actually very hard to find. Most brands don’t even have a category for skirts in their drop down menus. Honestly. Start to look out for this. It’s bizarre.
But true maxi skirts are the unicorn of the comfy/chic/young trifecta that I’m always on the hunt for. The CCY if you will. Should I trademark this? I’m going to.
Ok here are the skirts. I hope they’re still available because a handful of mine I’ve had for a while.
1. The Poplin
WHAT: Velvet by Graham & Spencer Filla Skirt*
A true maxi. Cotton poplin (the ultimate CCY fabric). An elastic waist (CCY again!). And, but of course, pockets. I should have put my hands in the pockets but as you can see, I use a tripod now with a clicker to take the photo, and I was too focused on that. But rest assured. Pockets. This color is also a DREAM and seems to go with everything I own. I wore it in blazing hot temps with sandals and a tube top and now I’m wearing it with boots and jackets and it’s perfection. Compliments galore when I’m out. If you invest in only one thing on this list, make it this. I’m wearing a size small, so it runs slightly large.
SHOP THE LOOK
2. The Smocked Denim
WHAT: Madewell Smocked-Waist Denim Midi Skirt*
This skirt is like the sweatpants of skirts. The smocking is soooo gloriously stretchy, so if I’m feeling blah and gross but still want to look semi-presentable, I reach for this skirt. That sweatshirt* is also a dream for the blah/presentable goal. In real life, I’d be wearing sneakers or some kind of flip but these* sandals are new and gorgeous so I wanted them to have their day in the sun. Also, I sort of wish I’d gotten this skirt in this* denim color because it’s cuter.
SHOP THE LOOK
3. The Striped Poplin
WHAT: Rowing Blazers Women's Cotton Poplin Pinstripe Skirt Red Stripe
This might be the best skirt I own. And if you’re a stripes person (like me), it could be yours, too. The shape is supremely flattering if you’re curvy on the bottom. It also comes in blue*, and both colors match a wild amount of clothes we have in our closet, while also elevating everything.
SHOP THE LOOK
* Gifted products included
4. The Minimalist Staple
WHAT: Jenni Kayne Lauren Skirt*
Another true maxi! Don’t I look like I should be strolling through a botanical garden on a Sunday afternoon? Perhaps I will very soon. But in the meantime, I will be wearing this perfect skirt to everything. It’s wildly flattering and the kind of quality you know will last you forever.
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5. the Silk
WHAT: The Great Canary Silk Maxi Skirt*
This skirt is so stunning and special, it sells out in about 3 seconds every time The Great releases a new print. It’s light and silky and luxurious, but more importantly, the smocking at the top is long enough to not dig in to the flsh around your waistline, which means it’s perfect and smooth on a belly pooch.
SHOP THE LOOK
6. The Fitted Column
WHAT: The Colette Linen Blend Maxi Skirt by Maeve*
At last, the column skirt - a shape that’s highly underrated in terms of being supremely wearable and very flattering on a belly pooch and bootie. Plus, it gives you endless length, so you look longer and more lythe. It’s hard to completely see in the black, though God the lighting in Anthro dressing rooms is good, isn’t it? That said, I actually prefer it in white with black on top (the chicest of all color combinations). The exact black top I’m wearing is out of stock, but THIS one* is very similar.
SHOP THE LOOK
Audie Metcalf is the Editor-in-chief of The Candidly, and lives in LA with her family. You can find more of her articles here.
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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