Spring Maxi Skirt

Yesterday morning while perusing Pinterest, I saw a really cute maxi dress tutorial pin and got all inspired to drag out some cotton crinkle gauze I've had stashed FOREVER.  (literally...since 2003? 2004?)  I didn't want a tank dress (I didn't have any tanks I could sacrifice), so I decided to make a skirt.

No pattern or tutorial followed (although the tank dress tutorial above, is pretty thorough, if you need one!)  I just cut lengths of gauze, size determined by holding the gauze at my waist and eyeballing how long I wanted it (adding about 6" for mistakes, casing and hem).  The panel width is double my hip measurement.  (At first, I had even more, since the gauze is very floaty, but that just added unnecessary inches so I hacked off about 10" per side!)

I did a very small "paperbag" waist casing, since I knew I wanted an elastic waist, but one that would still be cute if visible, but the ruffle should still sort of anchor a belt if I wear one:

The crinkle gauze will probably shrink up in the wash (I prewashed it eons ago, but that's how gauze is.  It is a shrinky-dink in fabric form).  I have about 1/2 a yard left though, so my plan is to just add a wide ruffle hem at the bottom if it shrinks up too much in length.

It's windy today and this sucker floated all over the place...but is surprisingly still fairly flattering:

In the top photo on the right, you can see the hem is about 3" deep.  I thought the extra "weight" might pull the skirt down so it didn't puff out as much around my hips.  Ha.  Wishful thinking.

I wore this outfit yesterday about 5 minutes after finishing the hem.  I wish I had a statement necklace...Are bib necklaces still "in"??  That would be perfect.  Or one of those fabric bead necklaces??  Help a girl out!

I did get some interesting double-looks and stares while out and about.  I started to worry I had black panties on, but Lu assured me I didn't.  And judging from these photos, it's not particularly sheer either.  It *might* have been because I was in Atwoods Farm and Home. 

I also busted out the summer shoes...my favorite sandals, from Modcloth.  I even painted my toenails.

Super easy and quick project.  Took about an hour start to finish.  I have big plans for a couple more!

Spring Break Day #1:  Successful. 

maxi-mizing summer.

So I'm a little bit enamored of maxi dresses right now. Some lovely vintage versions from etsy:

Modcloth just sent out a "How Low Can You GO" email touting maxi-skirts & dresses too.  Maxi's are hot.

Shannon & I have been talking about a maxi-dress sewalong (anyone?  anyone?)  

I remember distinctly the first time I saw a maxi in public (this time around; we'll talk about the 70s in a minute).  It was 2004 and I was at an airport, flying from Washington DC to Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Bet you didn't realize maxi's had had quite that long a shelf life, huh?  They had just been featured heavily in the fashion magazines, on a few celebrities, and were very much one of those trends I thought would never catch on, least of all with me.

Well.  Bit by bit, year by year my resistance has chipped away until now I seriously want one.  I'm especially enamored of the 70s prairie versions.  That may have something to do with this one:

That's my sister Desiree on the right, me on the left, and we're all spiffed up for some formal school function for my sister.  I remember thinking her dress was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.  I couldn't WAIT to be big enough to wear it.  I want to say my mother made it, but I can't remember for sure.  My mom made a lot of our clothes back then.  (Maybe she'll read this and chime in in the comments.  Hi mom!)

What's funny is I can't remember my dress at all. But I remember my sister's!  The tiny floral print, the pretty lace trim, the big ruffle at the hem.  Sigh.  It was like Renaissance princess meets 70s boho.

I remember girls wearing maxi's like my sister's in the mid-70s.  We lived in St. Louis until I was 6 and then we moved to Oklahoma; most of my 70s-era memories of people are from St. Louis.  You could see a LOT of culture on a public school bus, both on the bus and outside the window.  (My mother probably would have been mortified.) The dresses though...sweeping hems, florals big and small, long flowing hair, and flower chains everywhere.  Cat Stevens.  (heh.)


So after 25 years (oh ok, 30. Er, 33.) I'm ready to finally get my maxi!  I've been looking for a vintage pattern, although Burda Style has had several versions the past couple of years.  Anyone have a favorite?  My main requirements are...

**Some sort of shaping at the waist (lest I look like a walking tent).

**A biggish ruffle at the hem (this is just me.  I still want that swishy ruffle at my feet.  yes, I'm still 7.)

That's it. I don't ask for much.  Some vintage patterns I like...

These 2 are my faves:

Any of these are do-able.  Unfortunately not a single one is close to my size, so I'm still on the hunt.

What say you?  Maxi sewalong anyone?