. . . how I wore it 
. . . it’s a cute dress BUT . . .
1. It’s too short. I can only wear it with flats. 2. The top doesn’t stay up.
I altered this caftan/maxi dress below because it was too short as well {flats only} and makes for a much better skirt than dress. However, this one had an elastic empire-ish waistband so I just snipped off the top section and called it a day. Easy!
* Cut off the top {if there is an elastic waist band, carefully cut right above it and you’re done …unless you’d like to hem it under to finish it.
* Fold under the top of your “skirt” creating a channel large enough for whatever “string” you’ll be using to cinch it. You may also use elastic if you’d prefer …and pin in place. If you’d like to get pro about it, you can do a proper hem, but since this is a stretch jersey, and no one is going to be examining mine, I’m leaving mine with raw edges.
* If I had a Serger, I’d use that but since I don’t, I just hand-stitched {a very messy, I may add} loose, base-stitch all the way around …and then around again to secure it. Keep the stitches nice and loose so as to not break the thread when pulling your skirt on and off.
* Find the center of your skirt and snip a little slit in the front. Again, since my skirt is jersey, I’m not worried about finishing this up nicely …it will stay in tact. Safety pin the end of your rope or ribbon and slide it through.
…you have a skirt
DIYing an old maxi dress into a maxi skirt gives life to an old dress you may never wear again …and it’s really simple given it’s already in the shape of a skirt. You may want to keep this in mind while vintage shopping as well …if a dress is too small on top but has a great lower half, it could be your new favorite skirt!
Have Fun!
* This Little was No Help At All! *
Estefania Lovelifefashion
I love the pattern 🙂 Waiting to see your outfit with your “new” maxi skirt 😉
kisses Maegan 🙂
Shanika@LifeisPichey
This gave me an idea for an old dress I have. Thanks! *goes to get scissors and dress*
Anonymous
Por qué no usas la maquina de coser?
Lili
Thanks for this little DIY 🙂 I would have done it exactly the same way… The seam I mean ^^ I don’t own any kind of sewing machine and all I ever do is done by hand… and looks exactly the same way. But it stays put, and that’s all I want from it 🙂
Relatable Style
Lindsey Regan Thorne @ be pretty
Oh thank you for posting this I LOVE MAXIS {actually just did a post on one today}… I have so many maxi’s that I’ve “worn out”… literally washed too many times and now they are too short and I’m loving long flowy skirts! Can’t wait to see the pic’s of you in it! ps… I adore your pup! pss… I’m the chic that commented on your FB yesterday about the Macarons… and can I tell you how much I appreciate you not blogging, photographing, talking about a friggin macaron!! XO
Prissy
Such a wonderful DIY, or MIY in your case! LOL. I may just give this a try one day. I’ll let you know if I do
Prissy
http://www.rushourfashion.com
Loca por tu Ropa
It´s a great idea!! I´ll do it!! 😉
Kisses from Madrid,
Sandra.
modanista junkie
I did the exact same thing with my maxi dress!!! It’s was a good decision!!!! And you can use the top portion as a bathing suit top!
Awe how cute is the little guy!!!
xoxo,
melrod
anhesty
great and simple diy!
Kalika Brooke
Amazing idea!! I see cute maxi dresses all the time with those little boob cups, and they never fit! Also, i like the Dwight fact pin, that show is amazing:)
Jaclyn T
I love your MIYs! I have given your blog a “Sunshine Award.” http://positiveponderings.blogspot.com/2011/04/awarded.html
pink.deco
You are sooo adorable & so are your pooch!!
I love your blog
Cheer’s xx
http://sonia-daigle.blogspot.com/2011/04/favorites-leopard-printpart-2.html
CessOviedo
Now I’m regretting tossing some maxis from last year that had a weird lenght! darn you just came up with the greatest way to re-use them!
Love the print on this one!
Cess O. <3
The Outfit Diaries
nancy @ {COZAMIA}
Sucha great fix, you make it look so easy! Also love the pooch, what cutie. I am soooo enjoying your blog!
Phuong
nice diy
Travel In Style; GIVEAWAY win Elizabeth Hurley Swimwear
Craftmaker
Great idea! I’ll search in my mom’s old clothes for a maxi dress I can alter.
Thanks for sharing! I’ll be waiting for the photos tomorrow 🙂
Ivana
Genius!!! I have a similar dress that I never put on, and now I know what I´ll do with it! Thanks for the inspiration 😉
LOVE your blog, and am your newest follower!
xx Ivana
http://styleinthecityen.blogspot.com
drollgirl
this little was no help at all?!?!? LHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAH he is so cute! and so is this diy!
Corie
Love this DIY but I can’t stitch or sew…I’ll stick to the jewelry DIYs instead.
itsmytaste.blogspot
RenvieanneMO
i think this is awesome <3
xoxo
http://www.renvieannemo.com
Daria B.
Love this idea!!
http://www.stylestudios.blogspot.com
gigiofca
Very cool!!
dana
I forgot to check your blog today and just googled “how to turn a maxi dress into a skirt”…haha! I guess I should’ve just checked your blog 🙂
Tamra of walkswithBella
wonderful idea!! I have a couple of maxi’s that need a little revamping. i.e. too many pics in them. nice share!! Newest follower!
best, tamra
OnTheRacks
So creative!! Love the print of this piece — looks great as a dress, can’t wait to see how you rock it as a skirt.
xx Laura
Samera
OMG! I LOVE YOU u saved me loool i have been looking for a blog like this for weeks i have a maxi dress and its gne short and i had no idea how to turn it into a skirt then i found you 😀
Anna
I did the reverse on one of my dresses that’s too small for me now. Kept the top instead. 🙂
Nalini
thank you for this!!!