At first look, the maxi skirt is to the mini skirt what the Austin Maxi was to the Mini – a piece of 70s frumpery compared to its sexy 60s … erm … mother. But that is to completely miss the point. Maxi skirts, and their dress equivalents, were hugely popular throughout the 1970s, and the chintzy designs remain to this day a legacy of the era. They came in every pattern and every colour under the sun, with big, bold floral displays, stark abstracts in purples and turquoise, and the odd tartan and tweed thrown in for good measure.

The maxi skirt also marked the end of the era when it was not unusual for women to make their own clothes from patterns tucked into magazines, as the next era would be one of imported, mass-produced clothing. So if you’re looking for some genuine 70s maxi action in a vintage clothing store, don’t be surprised if there’s no label in it. That is not to say the labels of high fashion weren’t as eager as the domestic goddesses were to create these wonderful full-length garments; so don’t expect everything you find to give you that “where have I seen this pattern?” feeling (which lasts until your great aunt Doreen asks you to open her curtains for her).

Anyway, enough of the joking. Maxi skirts are hot right now, so it’s time to land yourself something that has stood the test of time and go native. Yes, the modern ones are all well and good, but can you honestly say you think the ones you’ll pick up from the high street will take you anywhere near the vibe of Penelope Keith or Felicity Kendal in their Good Life heydays? Of course not. The collective consciousness that prevailed in the 1970s was utterly purged in the 1980s, to the point where imitation is futile. A whole generation was brainwashed into believing the 70s was the era that fashion forgot, when, as we now know, that accolade belongs to the self-obsessed 80s. Okay, you might pick up something a little more thigh-hugging than 70s tastes would have allowed, and perhaps the material will be ever so slightly more delicate, but you’ll be missing the je ne sais quoi, the earthy realness that made the 1970s what it was.

So don’t let anyone tell you that the 1960s, with their bare thighs and kinky boots, were the last word in sexy high street chic. For sure, they laid the foundations for a more relaxed and liberated future, but weren’t they a little, you know, up tight, always looking over their shoulder? We’ve seen what became of the baby boomers, so we can read a lot into their fashion sense too. The 70s generation are the real movers and shakers today, they are the ones who created the linked-up digital world we now rely on. They were also the generation the 80s was a rebellion against. And they did it all surrounded by floral maxi skirts! Experience the dream. Live life to the maxi.

Vintage fashion styles sometimes seem unusual. But many make a re-appearance just like women\’s maxi skirts have done. Women\’s vintage clothing such as long skirts will always find a new audience. James follows the vintage clothing market always has an opinion worth reading about.

Vintage fashion styles sometimes seem unusual. But many make a re-appearance just like women\’s maxi skirts have done. Women\’s vintage clothing stores such http://www.rokit.co.uk/ always stock long skirts as they always find a new audience. James\’ vintage clothing knowledge is widely appreciated.

Author Bio: Vintage fashion styles sometimes seem unusual. But many make a re-appearance just like women\’s maxi skirts have done. Women\’s vintage clothing such as long skirts will always find a new audience. James follows the vintage clothing market always has an opinion worth reading about.

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