June 16, 2011

Today's Everyday Fashion: A New Trick






































Some trends are not for me. I like maxi dresses, but for some reason maxi skirts make me feel really tall, awkward and like I'm a school teacher on a prairie. They look great on other women but I'm just not ready to commit to buying one. I recently had a lightbulb moment though - what if I just convert a maxi dress into a skirt? (Taking my own advice from this post.) So I gave it a try! I added a silky collared shirt over my new maxi dress. I tied the ends in a knot, and then tucked them up to create a shirt that was the perfect length (bonus: knotting your shirt like this is also a big trend right now). I think it's a cute look that will be perfect for wearing this maxi dress in the fall, and makes it appropriate for work! Have you ever tried this trick with your maxi dresses?

Dress: c/o The Unique Closet, $46 - Check out the product videos they recently added to their website - you might recognize the model! ;-p
Belt: Gap, $10 (recent)
Shirt (right): Gap, $10
Necklace: c/o Stella & Dot, $55
Charm: c/o Stella & Dot, $19
Shoes: Steve Madden Riddgge c/o MJR Sales, $40
Watch: Michael Kors, family gift
Bracelets: Forever 21, $8
Purse: c/o It's in the Bag, $70

32 comments:

  1. Love the shoes!  Wedges look great with maxi dresses :)

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  2. Great look.  I've added a belted jacket to a maxi dress to give it another look. 

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  3. If I could click LOVE a thousand times, I would!  The purse is so cute with that dress!  I totally know what I want for my birthday now.

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  4. I love the maxi dress look on others, but everytime I put one on I feel like I belong on a prairie too!

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  5. I think the dress itself looks great on you! Plus, you are rocking horizontal stripes. That's hard to do!

    I bought a dress that's REALLY similar to this from Old Navy (with thinner stripes). It hasn't come in the mail yet, but I like the idea of the shirt so I can wear a strapless maxi dress to work now and not just for play.

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  6. Beautiful Dress!!! love it!!!
    xx

    www.ilovenystyle.blogspot.com

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  7. So cute!!!  How funny, for some weird reason I always feel shorter when I wear maxi dresses!!!  Not quite sure why .. .  but you look gorgeous!

    http://sweetandsassy-sherry.blogspot.com/

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  8. Sherry, I've heard that from other women too, that they feel short. I guess I just feel like allllll that fabric is so long that I'm carrying around so I feel like a giant. :-)

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  9. Paula, absolutely!! Totally makes a strapless dress appropriate for work, which is a huge bonus!

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  10. Gina, it takes some getting used to. :-) I try to tell myself I'm a beach goddess instead, and that usually helps!

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  11. I love your dress and the idea of adding a buttondown to make it a skirt. I may have chosen a different color blouse though. Love that little green handbag!! Too cute!

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  12. Maxi dress: yes pwease.  Maxi skirts: no spanks.  maxi skirts + clogs: did i time travel back to the 90s?

    Anyways, you look great no matter what so another thumbs up on this post.

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  13. Clogs are another trend you will never, ever see me wear (my feet are WAY too big already)!

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  14. This is a great idea to get use out of the dress in the fall! I think the dress looks great on you!

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  15. Such a fabulous idea!  And I absolutely love that dress, the colors are great!  It looks so cute with the shirt over it, another way to wear it which makes it more versatile!  I usually wear mine to work with a cardi over, but this is a definite will try!
    xoxo
    Lia

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  16. I love the colors of your dress!!!!!!!!!!  I love the idea of using your shirt and tying it to make the dress look like a skirt as well.  I never would've thought to do that, but I really like it a lot!  You should definitely wear more maxi dresses.  You have the body for them.  I am too short.  :(

    http://chicstayathome.blogspot.com

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  17. Mr. Taylor and his LadyJune 16, 2011 at 12:50 PM

    i love what you did to this maxi dress! so cute and refreshing!
    Xo

    http://ericplustanya.blogspot.com

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  18. I havent tried that trend yet, I've been meaning to I just never get around to it. You look amazing in this outfit and I am in love with your purse very cute :)

    hope you're having a great day- http://kikiscornerfunfashionandfrivolity.blogspot.com/

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  19. Love love this!!!  I have a couple maxi dresses too and wondered how to make it work appropriate and fashionably cover my shoulders...you got the answer!  And I'm happy to hear knotting shirts are in style right now, I love that look and I can't wait to try it with my maxi dresses!!  Thanks J! :)

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  20. Totally understand that!  But you sure don't look like a giant!!! :)

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  21. I love your blog! I check it out everyday to see what you are wearing and to get ideas for myself. If you feel too tall and awkward you should try it with a pair of flat sandals instead of heels.

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  22. Thank you Kirsten, I'm so glad you like the blog! I would love to wear this dress with flats but then sadly it would drag on the floor and be too long. 

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  23. Its so funny that knotting your shirt is coming back -- I remember thinking it was so cool when I was 9! I guess its true that trends tend to circle around. I love this outfit -- I've been looking for a maxi dress that I don't look like a total frump in.

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  24. I'm not usually a big fan of maxi dresses -- but I LOVE this one on you!! 

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  25. I love that Purse.
    http://amyfashionblog52.blogspot.com/

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  26. I usually turn skirts into dresses. It's great that it  works both ways

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  27. Love this idea of tying the shirt!! And love the colors on your skin tone! :)

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  28. Beth, I would give maxi dresses a try! I think they can actually make you look taller! A couple of my petite friends swear by them.

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  29. This is a great look!!!  So funny you posted this....this past weekend I tried this "trick" with just a little easy breezy shorter summer dress.  I'm busty & even though I own/wear strapless bra I like a bit more coverage.  Anyway....going to try this again with a pretty swingy skirt & cami today :)

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  30. First, I realllly love that maxi dress! The colors are so great. Second: I love that you tied the shirt up to give the illusion of a maxi skirt - I actually did the same thing the other day and was so proud of myself for figuring out a way to make some of my maxis wearable at work! Brilliant.

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  31. I remember when knotting your shirt was considered tacky. Everything goes around the bend, I suppose. But I also knotted my button down over a maxi dress about a week ago and I loved it, except for the Florida heat.

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  32. I Love this maxi dress, so colorful, cute and stripped =P I Looooovvvvveeee stripes! I think it looks cute and bohemian with the tied button-down, too. Aww and I loooove that purse.

    J, what's your trick about getting so many clothes for free. What do you do for these companies?

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