How To Wear a Maxi Skirt in Summer

A maxi skirt can be a godsend during transitional times like late spring and early summer when warmer temperatures start coming your way. Its breezy style keeps you cool while the long length discreetly drapes calves and thighs you’d instead not showcase. (Take that shorts and short skirts!)

But how do you wear a long maxi skirt without looking like an extra in a Western? Here are four ways to wear a maxi skirt in summer to look fabulous, not frumpy.

How to Wear a Maxi Skirt in Summer

One of the simplest and easiest ways to wear a maxi skirt is with a tank top. You create a slim silhouette by combining a close-fitting top with a long, flowy dress.

For summer, I especially love the look of a brightly colored maxi skirt worn will a classic white tank. The white makes the print pop. This tropical floral maxi is excellent for every day or even backyard entertaining. It looks hip and modern and will keep you cool.

When putting this look together, ensure you have a fresh, bright white tank. If your’s has seen better days, it may be time for a replacement. White fades very quickly after a season or two.

This is a casual look, so keep the relaxed vibe going with metallic sandals that are considered neutral and won’t distract from the print. Add a touch of boho jewelry (hoops and some layered necklaces) and a charming straw tote in keeping with the carefree vibe.

How to Wear a White Maxi Skirt

There is nothing more classic and fresh than an all-white outfit in the summertime, and a white maxi skirt makes a perfect ingredient for this style recipe.

But while it’s a lovely, effortless look, there is a trick to making an all-white outfit pop, which is texture. An all-white outfit that is ‘flat’ from head to toe is a little blah and needs some visual interest. Using pieces with surface takes it from ‘Ho hum’ to ‘Holy cow!’

Take this white, peasant-style maxi skirt, for example. It has built-in texture – a smocked waist and the pretty crochet hem detail. I have added a top with a playful white-on-white embroidered pattern. Even the white sandals I’ve selected have a slight texture with the way the stitching is.

Finally, I finished this outfit off with a great tote. You can go with white, but I like the tonal effect this one brings to an all-white outfit.

How to Wear a Striped Maxi Skirt

Striped maxi skirts, predominantly black and white, have a relaxed, urban vibe and look great when you play that up. One of my favorite style tricks is to add a white shirt (or an off-white shirt if you have warm skin tones) to a striped maxi skirt.

Ah, the white shirt. Want to elevate the look of blue jeans? Add a white shirt. Don’t know what to wear with the multicolored skirt you fell in love with and brought home from the store? Toss on a white shirt.

It’s a classic look, and when you roll up the sleeves and leave the top couple of buttons strategically undone, it’s also an ultra-feminine look – think Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, and Grace Kelly.

White shirts and maxi skirts are a match made in heaven. Tuck one into your maxi skirt to highlight your waist, roll up the sleeves to balance the skirt’s volume, and you’re ready to go. Talk about sophisticated!

How to Wear a Pleated Maxi Skirt

Pleated Maxi skirts in metallic shades, bold prints, and bright colors seem to be having their day and are a refreshing change from jeans. This last outfit recipe for how to wear a pleated maxi skirt is admittedly a little more fashion-forward, but it is wearable for the over-40 gal.

Take a pleated maxi skirt, like this one, bright peach, and add a t-shirt, leather jacket, and a few edgy accessories. The rocker leather moto jacket mix with the ladylike pleated maxi skirt brings an interesting twist to this outfit. This makes a great look for date night or cocktails with your gal-pals.

How to Wear a Maxi Skirt as a Dress

I love your maxi skirt; do you wish it were a dress? Get a load of this versatile creation that lets you wear a maxi skirt as a dress. With the simple adjustment of drawcords, this striped maxi skirt transforms into a strapless dress. A convertible maxi dress. What a great idea and money saver too!

Here are some maxi skirts currently in stores.

Do you wear maxi skirts? What’s your favorite way to style them?