I bought my first maxi skirt twenty years ago. I'd booked a flight to Morocco and remembering the near outrage I caused by wearing 1960s gold Lamé hot pants on a trip to Turkey in the late Eighties (back in the days when it wasn't the major package tourist destination) decided I'd best cover up.
Until then I trotted out the same old excuse I still hear used today, "I can't wear maxi dresses, I'm too short". The lads at the boys' school called me "nice legs, shame about the face" and for years afterwards believed the only way to get attention was by wearing clothing almost criminally short - how wrong I was. Those few weeks in Morocco changed the way I dressed forever.
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They're feminine, they're sexy, you don't need tights to match, if you chose the right shape they can show off your figure without showing an inch of flesh and, best of all, you can wear massively high heels and fool everyone into thinking you're tall (go on, admit it, most of you thought I was a giant). They save you having to shave your legs & slap on the fake tan in the summer and ...
..you can wear them with thermal long Johns all winter long and no-one will ever know.
Maxis rock!
Maxis rock!
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| Rolling Stones vest (Birthday present from Jon), 1970s frilled maxi (£10, Maisie's Closet Vintage), Fun fur jacket (£7, retail clearance shop), Antique Indian collar (Inherited), a heap of bastard jewellery (India and second-hand) |
Thanks for the brilliant comments and response to yesterday's post.
I've finally decided to get my arse in gear and go Xmas shopping today, wish me luck!
I've finally decided to get my arse in gear and go Xmas shopping today, wish me luck!
My friend wears maxi skirts all the time, even on her electric bike. No one has ever seen her legs. I am wearing a midi skirt I think you call them, over the top of my trousers. Looks a bit strange but it keeps my legs toasty warm.
ReplyDeleteLove your style, you brighten everything up in this dull weather.
Maxis are the best, and that one has a lovely pattern and the colours are fab too. You look sexy even in thermals, how do you do it?
ReplyDeleteYay for Maxis!!! The do hide alot of things almost like "surprise" as to what could be hiding underneath, like your long johns. Wouldn't have guessed that one!!
ReplyDeleteLove a maxi and I've been meaning to get out my sequin version from M&S (it's really warm!). Like how you've styled yours with the fake fur jacket and the Stones vest. Very cool.
ReplyDeleteMaxi's are the best, the right maxi will always make me smile and feel sexy.
ReplyDeletePhoaarr! Them wrinkly stockin's gimme the horn Nora! (Batty) lmao! I like Maxis too, I;ve still got me winter coat on my legs! Bet you're feeling all overcome with that news! Bahahha!
ReplyDeleteSpectacular outfit!!I love your Rolling Stones vest, it's just perfect with the fur and the vintage maxi!!I think that maxi skirts make every figure more slender and taller, so they look great on everyone!I need a pair of those granny's long Jhons, here is so cold that most of the times I have to give up on wearing any kind of skirt, but keep it secret!!
ReplyDeleteGood luck for your Christmas shopping!!
Love xxxxx
You couldn't be more right, I love wearing thermals under my clothing..I often have a debate in winter as I live in dresses and skirts but tights are never quite warm enough, so out come the thermals and I am all toasty warm...I do have to admit that I am yet to find a maxi skirt that doesn't make me look too bottom heavy but I will continue my search after reading this post. You keep on rocking and being fabulous, you are an inspiration to us all xx
ReplyDeleteI've rarely found a maxi which is actually a maxi on me, though I do have a beautiful 1970's dress. My mum is a great one for skirts that are ankle length and her favourite is one I made her :) I often wear my ankle length net skirt with long janes underneath.
ReplyDeleteYes. Totally agree with the thermals under the maxi. I wore this yesterday, so warm and still stylish. :)
ReplyDeleteLove the birthday Stones vest. Good present!
xx
p.s Thanks for the comment on the blog, hopefully more will suck it up and get it done.
Like you, maxis are my thing! I just feel so mysterious in them, and they flatter every figure.
ReplyDeleteLove the long johns, which you're rocking effortlessly!
I wish I felt comfortable in maxi skirts. You look so good in them. Oh how I want that Rolling Stones shirt, and that furry jacket is just too cool
ReplyDeleteI'm loving the long johns Vix! My lot all laughed at me when I first did this, but they weren't laughing when I was toasty warm and they were freezing!
ReplyDeleteX x
Your posts always make my day better, lovely Vix! You look great in this maxi, I want one just like it to wear in Florida winter (no warm tights needed : > ) xoxoxo
ReplyDeleteI'm wearing my thermals today too!
ReplyDeleteI love your Victorian mourning jacket in your previous post! xx
Once again you've made me laugh. You are right about maxi skirts, I will have to make one - I can no longer resist. xx
ReplyDeleteAt the moment a set of thermals is a key item. I love them, so soft and warm. That shot of you in your long johns is a corker. One for the album as my ex-boyfriend used to say.
ReplyDeleteI only ever used to wear long skirts and dresses, but now I wear knee length too. I must admit I do think of you as tall, but it may just be because you are so beautifully slender. Proportions and all that. xx
p.s. did you get your India visa?
I agree with your 'maxi love.' I've been wearing them since the 60's and always have them in my closet. You're wearing another thrilling outfit to admire!
ReplyDeleteWTH was wrong with the boys at school?? Your face is gorgeous, too!!
ReplyDeleteI've fallen in love with maxi's for all of the reasons you've given (except wearing heels-no can do anymore) I've been snatching up gauzy hippie ones for next summer.
Love your outfit--the vest is really cool!! And you did a Helga and flashed us your long johns!!!
so happy to see that blue faux fur in such heavy rotation. it is gorgeous. i had the opposite comments when i was in high school. my legs were painfully thin and i got teased about them all the time. so i wore bell bottoms and maxi's to cover them up.
ReplyDeletemake the best of your christmas shopping, i know you will. xoxo
I can't imagine life without my maxi skirts!! I love the tee and furry coat, too. Little kids can say such stupid things. Clearly you're totally pretty and get plenty of attention whether showing leg or not!! (Just thinking about that coat and those thermals make me hot. Still running A/C here!)
ReplyDeleteThe other great thing about maxi skirts is that you can get away with no underwear :)
ReplyDeleteI agree, there's something about a long skirt swishing around your ankles that makes you feel feminine.
Aww, what a great present from Jon.
Stay warm! xx
As my legs are fat, I like to wear maxis. Iv'e gotten braver and now show my knees! So now it's either knee length or long. There's that weird mid-calf length( aka the widest part of a calf) I avoid like the plague.
ReplyDeleteLove the Stones shirt. I was watching them last night on the concert for Sandy victims and thought "Not bad for a bunch of 70 year olds" I got my first Rolling Stones record when I was 8. It was 12x5.
Vix your tales always fascinate me. I could just beat those school boys for the part about your face, everything about you is gorgeous! You teach me well my just yesterday I had a pair of not so flattering leggings on underneath a maxi and I was toasty all day long. Why did I ever wear jeans in the winter, they never kept me warm. I love your Stones Birthday tee from Jon! You along with my tea this morning have got me smiling.
ReplyDeleteI miss you my dear, I miss you so much!
Lotsoflove! Have fun shopping I wish I was there!
Xxxxxxxxxoooooooo
Maxi ´s are great - and i love your jacket !
ReplyDeleteYou have such great stories to tell !
Well, you are preaching to the converted with me, of course, I love my maxis! They work in any season, and I don't think height is an issue at all. In fact, I think maxis are quite lengthening, I always feel rather tall and statuesque in mine.
ReplyDeleteYou rock short lengths, there is no doubt about that, but I always think your signature look is a maxi.
Love seeing you flash your thermals, Vix, and both the skirt and the Stones t-shirt are fabulous.
Hope the shopping was successful! xxxx
You've been convincing me for ages that maxis are fabulous. However, the revelation of the thermal long-johns underneath is an absolute clincher on the subject. Forget tights, I need thermals under my maxis. Thank you Vix!
ReplyDeleteLove the long johns and the stones t-shirt. Hope you were successful at the shops today, it was bastard freezing down here but I braved the cold to finish my xmas purchases.
ReplyDeleteYOU frigging rock!
ReplyDeleteI can't think why anyone thinks they make a gal look short?! As you say, a pair of platforms and hellooo, Land of the Giants!
I adore that necklace, incidentally......yeaaaaaaaah
Gold lame hot[ants would have been QUITE the sensation in Turkey back then! I was amazed how Western the froackage was hwen we were there, I was epxecting it to be very modest. I expect you may have been the cause/start of that!!!
Love Helga xxxXXXxxx
Excellent winter layering! I've tried a couple of maxis, but I always end up coming back to short skirts, as they seem to suit me best and make it easy to get on and off buses, and don't get caught on my chair wheels at work.
ReplyDeleteLove the Rolling Stones vest!
so funny that you're showing us your tricks!, that long johns under your maxi!!, you're amazing and wise!
ReplyDeleteAnd I think all we have wasted a lot of time believing on that kind of fashion rules, like not wearing maxi-skirts if you're not tall. It's great watching you wearing fabulous maxi skirts and that pretty gorgeous faux fur jacket!!!! oohhhh!!!
besos
Awesome Post!
ReplyDeleteI love a maxi skirt, my favourite one is one I got from a high street store going cheap well over five years ago. I do wear it in the winter though never with thermals or leggings. Might give the leggings a go!
Good luck with the christmas shopping.
P x
Were th' lads BLIND? You are a stunning woman.
ReplyDeleteOkay, you've convinced me to look for a versatile maxi. I always think of them as lovely dresses for taller peeps. But maybe I haven't met the right maxi yet :)
They do a great job of showing off your figure but withyour legs you wear both well. How tall are you by the way?
ReplyDeleteYou're spot on about the thermals. I have been wearing my Kinky Melon tartan plaid dress with a t-shirt and leggings underneath, and I've been as toasty as a toasty thing.
ReplyDeleteYou maxi skirt is fab. I'm not surprised you couldn't resist that. And I love the Stones vest. xxx
I love your "confessions posts" :D
ReplyDeleteI only commented yesterday, on Curtise's blog, about how difficult I find it to come across maxi skirts, and yet I love them on you both. I definitely think a maxi skirt will feature on my New Year 'to make' list. X
ReplyDeleteDearest Vix,
ReplyDeleteyou look smashing in maxis and you certainly inspired me to wear more of them. I think it all comes down to good styling and you are extremely good at styling maxi skirts...no mumsy frumpiness whatsoever just lashings of sassy floorlength chic and alluring cool! Yup, I thought you were a giant until I met you...or at least as tall as I :)
I totally rely on Long Johns in the winter cause our flat is like a fridge. I buy my thermals from Lidl cause they are great quality for cheaps.
Hope the Xmas shopping went smoothly, I sent all my pressie parcels off today and was lucky enough to get to the PO before the queues started building up :)
Looking mighty fine my dear.
Lot's of love,
Jennie...xXx
Ha ha...I love your honesty about not having to shave your legs & wearing thermals! Great idea for us shorties to wear high heals underneath. You look beautiful!!! XXX
ReplyDeleteThey certainly have their place, these maxi skirts. I do have some, but find that they don't look good with a medium length coat. I didn't know you couldn't wear them if you're short. Good thing I never found that out. Not that it would have made much difference.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Rosemary from www.foreveronthecatwalkoflife.blogspot.com
Funnily enough I tend to wear maxis quite a bit in summer but have never really thought about them as winter wear - don't know why really just never thought of putting the thermals on under them - doh! Think the maxi's might be coming out of the closet!!
ReplyDelete"I can't wear maxi dresses, I'm too short" -- I always wind up telling people that if they could wear a long gown -- like a wedding gown for example -- they can find out a way to wear a maxi. It just has to be the right fit.
ReplyDeleteWhat? Is it those heels? No, I'm sure your'e tall and statuesque without too! And I've never seen anyone pulling off Maxi skirts better than you do!
ReplyDeleteLove
Shubhi's Revels!
Every lady needs a maxi, definite must! You're the queen of rocking a stylish maxi! xx
ReplyDeleteoh come on in....the warapping's lovely...hope the shopping went well!!x
ReplyDeleteteenage boys are my least favourite people. I would've loved to have seen people's expressions when appeared in your gold hot pants! Looking gorgeous. You and Curtise have got me back into maxis, even though I chopped that other one up!!
ReplyDeleteoh yes the thermal long johns are a good reason;) it´s so freezing cold here :( you inspired me now to wear more maxi skirts! also lovin this blue fake fur!
ReplyDeletekiss,mary
http://www.maryloucinnamon.com/
I really love maxis too, just haven't found the right ones so far. You always look ultra good in any of yours. There's just one beautiful purple wool I've had for ages in my wardrobe and haven't worn yet so will make the effort this xmas. May have been eaten to bits by the moths by now though! x
ReplyDeleteHaha, so funny about the long-johns. I had mine on yesterday. Not under a maxi though, but I sure love the idea, and the way they look on you. Too cute.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I am one that thought you were tall.
Can I just say, I love your blog. I read your posts and they truly bring a smile. I am 24 and I often get looked at as if I dress weirdly. And sometimes, just for a second, I wonder whether I should tone it down, take my nose ring out etc. but reading your blog gives me the strength to wear what I want to wear. After all, who the f*ck cares. So thank you. Luci x
ReplyDeleteI love maxis (I am tall incidently! Can't believe you're not!! I thought you were a giraffe!) alwways loved them since teen years! Yours is very cute!
ReplyDeleteHave to tell you, I was quite fooled. I told Krista I thought you were a glamazon.;) And, she said not really, she wears heals under those maxi's and now you've done the big reveal behind the the beautiful curtain.;)
ReplyDeleteAnd, I think it's very brave to tell us those hurtful words from those little asses. We've probably all had crap thrown at us in our youth...we'll you showed them-you hot mama you-looking great is the best revenge!!;)
this is the best way to wear Rolling Stones tee ever!
ReplyDeleteLyosha
Inside and Outside Blog
P.S. I'm hosting a glasses giveaway on my blog here check it out!
Haha! I wasn't expecting that! can't beat thermals, why do they make thermal vests so short though?
ReplyDeleteAmazing fur coat!! so pretty!
ReplyDeleteKisses, Lucy:)
I love that you are wearing thermals under the maxi! It looks really chic - and you know what, I think that you always have to go with what you think feels good and looks good on you, rather than listening to other's opinions. x
ReplyDeleteI found many more women in the UK wearing maxi skirts than here in Germany - though no one wears as cool ones as you do! X
ReplyDeleteYou went to school with some right ar*es....
ReplyDeleteLoving the maxi, completely agree with the magic of them - and LOVE your thermals, they're WELL sexy ;) xxx
www.mancunianvintage.com
Just come here from Patti's where I read there is some moronic rule about no maxi's after 30! Whatever! Whoever wrote that needs to visit your blog and have a rethink!
ReplyDeleteThose boys were idiots. You are beautifull. Not only your legs.
ReplyDeleteAnd I also have a few Maxi's, but I also have that I am to short excuse. Or shall I say, the dresses are to long. :) So I never wear them. Think I have to sew them a bit shorter...
Love that Rolling Stone tour shirt. And your maxi is cool!
xxxx
If we are telling tales from school about boys. One boy nick named me "Water Buffalo" (*Cracking up to myself*) It wasn't so funny in high school though. Obviously it bothered me. But I figure that's just boys, I think they say stupid things to get attention.
ReplyDeleteYou are gorgeous Vix.
And you are gorgeous in Maxi's even if you are hiding thermals underneath. ;)
*hehehe*
I like maxi's - I am also short...
I actually don't wear much heels. I would like too but my flipping feet are so sensitive it's ridiculous. Most cute heeled shoes give me blisters after an hour or so. (Maybe I just have to push my feet past the blisters and endure some pain before they toughen up) *laugh* I am on the hunt for some "Bright colored or designed high shoes that are comfortable"
As you know I am not a maxi skirt/dress persom but I have to say that one is so gorgeous and really pretty. It looks lovely on you. I wish I had half your confidence. x
ReplyDeleteWow you look amazing! And what a wonderful tale too, it’s funny how one chance outfit choice has turned into a long-term love affair. Quite simply you are the queen of the maxi. These photos look really sharp and vibrant, this new camera is certainly working a treat xxx
ReplyDeleteHey, I can totally see you rockin' those gold hot pants, Vix! :)
ReplyDeleteI got called "Frankenstein" long ago by the dumb, adolescent boys. Sorry to hear you were subjected to similar comments. Funny how things turn out, though. Your fabulous face needs to be in front of a camera more (which I see it has) and on TV as well. It would be so cool if you had your own reality show about your vintage inspired life.
Maxis forever!
XXX
Yay for maxis!! Fab outfit, love the Rolling Stones tee.
ReplyDeleteLxx
Ha ha, I love the thermals underneath!
ReplyDeleteMuch as I love maxis, I find them a bit awkward. Getting in a car and making sure every bit's in before you shut the door, going down steps without sweeping all the dirt off them as you go and generally just getting it dirty. Also going up steps especially if you've got your hands full.