One of my favorite fashion revelations: the magical transformation of a flowy skirt into a dress and more. I know this particular item was sold as a skirt; it hangs with my other skirts in the closet, and in the past, my mom, Lesley, and I all wore it as a skirt.
Quote of the day: “Be the boss of your clothes,” Jodie Filogomo
Does anyone remember how Paul Harvey always ended with “the rest of the story”? That’s the chapter for this tropical print maxi skirt…it can be worn with a multitude of colors as well as be “origami-ed” in so many ways.
After my crew wore the skirt with various colorways, Valerie said she had purchased it for her upcoming Tahiti tropical vacation, which made me think we had to showcase it again.
Only this time, I wanted to showcase a masterclass in creative dressing. I created 7 different short videos, which I shared with my crew, and each of them chose their favorite. (Then I put those videos together on Facebook so you can see all the options.)
We discovered that this one single maxi skirt could be transformed into many completely different looks, proving that the only limit to your wardrobe is your imagination.
And if you love this idea, make sure to see how layering can change 1 dress into many different styles.
The Art of Transformation
We often underestimate the versatility of our clothing pieces. The flowy skirt as a dress concept isn’t just a styling hack – it’s a mindset shift. When you start viewing your clothes as building blocks rather than fixed entities, your wardrobe suddenly multiplies without spending a dime.
Insider tip: Sure, I’ve had comments saying, Why not wear it the way it was intended? And I understand these ideas seem silly to some people. But being creative is not just silly, it’s helping build new brain pathways. It’s like a crossword puzzle for your clothing.
So we could say that it’s healthy.
The beauty of working with this flowy maxi skirt lies in its inherent design. The generous fabric, the elastic waist, and the flowing silhouette all contribute to its transformative potential.
However, it’s important to note that not all maxi skirts are created equal for this purpose. The amount of material, the weight of the fabric, and the cut all play crucial roles in determining how successfully your skirt can moonlight as other garments.
But as I always say, you won’t know until you try it. Even if a couple of options don’t work for you and your skirt, it’s not wasted time. It’s much more productive than sitting and watching TV.
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Jodie: Layered Mini Dress
For my idea of wearing the flowy skirt as a dress, I played around with a layering option that is not included in the original video.
Steps:
-Start with the skirt waistband at the chest.
-Pull on a sequin tube top over the skirt around your waist/hip area.
-Grab the tube top AND skirt material at that juncture and pull up to the chest. This creates some extra material that overflows the tube top, which creates a ruffled look.
The stretchy tube top hides the extra material and keeps it all in place.
The secret to wearing a dress or skirt that seems too short is to wear a skirt under it. I grabbed this grey knit skirt that makes it modest and doesn’t call attention to itself in the outfit.
While most older women don’t think a tube top should be part of their wardrobe, I’ve shown another way that it can be a great tool for our closet.
Insider tip: The secret to many layering options is mindset. Be open about the items you buy. Sure, you may not wear it on its own as marketed, but it can work in other ways.
Details:
-I wore a swim top as my “bra” and straps for the dress. This swim top was from the time we experimented with swimwear from Target.
-These shoulder-scraping earrings were made by a special friend, and I adore them. Thank you, Judy.
-To counteract the sparkle and cuteness of the mini dress, I wore these faux Birk sandals. This style is by Ros and is still available in 2 other colors.
Valerie: Strapless Dress
Valerie took our flowy skirt as a dress experiment, the straightforward way. Since the skirt is a maxi, it allows ample coverage when you place the waistband at the chest and belt it.
Insider tip: This trick works even if you don’t like showing off your shoulders or upper arms. Any kind of topper or blouse can be a cover-up.
Even my mom, Charlotte, has tried this trick.
Valerie added a wide belt to define her waist and create structure, but a thin belt could work as well. Heck, if you want a more flowy dress, forget the belt and think of it as a caftan or mumu.
One detail that I love is how Valerie chose a brown, linen jacket to wear over the dress. Brown is an underappreciated color, especially for the summer months, yet it tones down the brightness of the tropical print.
Details:
-Her bendable necklace works fabulously since you can customize it to fit any neckline.
-We recently attended a trunk show hosted by a jewelry designer in our area, and Valerie came home with this amazing heart ring.
-Valerie recently found these comfy Skecher sandals on sale and was commenting on how great they felt.
Charlotte: Tunic Top
Charlotte transformed our maxi skirt into a flowing tunic top by stepping into it and pulling it up to sit at her neck, then belting it at her waist and wearing it over white pants.
The tropical print becomes a statement top and still covers your arms.
For my mom’s outfit, she chose straight-leg pants to counteract the volume at the top. While this is a fabulous guideline, don’t forget that sometimes breaking the rules makes for a wonderful outfit.
Details:
-What you don’t notice is how my mom used the cardigan pins on her “sleeves” to hold them up and out of the way.
-For her accessories, she used all the colors from the skirt.
Lesley: Hi-Low Skirt
Lesley created a trendy hi-low hemline by manipulating the way the skirt sat at her waist. This type of redistributing material is such an easy way to change the length and overall silhouette of a flowy skirt.
Steps:
-Put on the skirt in the normal way.
-Reach down and grab the material with your fingers about mid-thigh.
-Pull up the material to the waistband and pin it in place.
You’ve now created a hi-low skirt.
More about the scarf belt in the Details below.
Insider tip: If you want the entire skirt shorter and the material to drape well, you can also try this idea that I’ve used in the past.
Her styling incorporated a solid-colored top that beautifully complemented the vibrant print of the skirt-turned-dress. The hi-low effect added visual interest and movement, creating a dynamic silhouette that’s perfect for transitional seasons.
This transformation requires a skirt with enough fabric to allow for creative draping and manipulation. The key is experimenting with different ways to position and secure the fabric to achieve the desired asymmetrical effect.
Details:
-Notice how Lesley once again wore a scarf as a belt. It’s a multicolored scarf, and she threaded it through the pins holding the extra material. Instead of wrapping the scarf around her body, she doubled it in front and hid the ends between her body and the skirt.
The Technical Details: Making It Work for You
Not every flowy skirt as a dress hack will work every time. Here’s what to consider:
Fabric Weight and Drape: Lighter fabrics tend to work best for these transformations. They move beautifully and don’t add bulk when gathered or repositioned. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try some of your heavier ones.
Amount of Material: Generously cut skirts with plenty of width provide more styling options. Then again, this can create too much material to work with in some cases.
Waistband Construction: Elastic waistbands offer the most versatility, as they can be positioned at various points on the torso comfortably. Drawstring waists also work well and offer adjustability. But I’ve also done these tricks with a zipper, so just try it.
Insider tip: If your elastic waistband is tight for these options, be like Lesley and add a bit more elastic to make it comfy. It’s an easy alteration, and you wouldn’t even need a sewing machine.
If the skirt already has a casing. Just snip the casing open on the inside of the skirt, pull out the elastic, cut it, and hand-sew in a piece to make it bigger.
Length Considerations: Maxi-length skirts provide the most transformation potential, but midi-length pieces can also work for certain looks.
Related post: 5 Ways to Wear a Maxi Skirt
Be the Boss of Your Clothes
The real lesson from our styling experiment goes beyond the flowy skirt as a dress concept. It’s about developing a creative relationship with your wardrobe and refusing to be limited by conventional thinking.
Your clothes should work for you, not stress you out.
Insider tip: These ideas can also serve to “save” an item from the purge pile when you love the material but maybe not how it was sewn together.
Start looking at each piece in your closet as a potential chameleon.
That oversized button-down shirt? It’s also a dress, a layering piece, or a beach cover-up.
Those wide-leg pants? They might just be your next wrap-around top (as I showcased in a video)
The beauty of fashion lies not in following rules but in breaking them creatively.
When you become the boss of your clothes, you unlock endless possibilities within your existing wardrobe.
Not only is clothing origami good for your wallet, but it also helps to build new brain pathways. On top of that, you could consider it physical exercise.
So use your imagination and go experiment with your clothing. I bet you’ll be surprised how one piece can serve multiple purposes in your wardrobe.
Thank you
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Welcome to Jodie’s Touch of Style. I’m here to prove that it’s never too late to look great. Clothing and style are meant to showcase your inner personality. So let’s have fun and try new things.
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