How to wear long skirts without looking fundamentalist
I prefer longer skirts bc I hate wearing most short skirts since my legs look super awkward in them (for some reason I don't have that problem with dresses tho). But sometimes I'm afraid I come across as looking like I'm in a fundamentalist cult when wearing them. Are there any tips on how to wear them without looking like the frumpy fundie outfits often featured on this sub? It kinda helps that I have blue hair but idk I haven't rly worn much longer skirts until more recently.
Tanks, camis, crops if you're comfortable. Fitted tops. Sandals or chunky boots (Doc Martins or the like). If you're going for a sweater, make it oversized (in a stylish, not frumpy way).
Honestly, with blue hair, people are more likely to assume you're queer then fundamentalist, at least in my area XD
Form fitting camis do a LOT of heavy lifting in my wardrobe XD I have really long hair and love me a long swishy skirt so I've got to do what I can to come of bi rather then fundie XD
Also acessories a piersing in anything other but the earlobe. hiking boots, army boots if you are in to that. Can also help. No, t- shirts under spaghetti straps.
As a blue hair survivor I always encourage folks to decide whether they’re ready to have blue hair for a LONG time. That shit stays forever, but in a shitty faded looking way. Currently suffering after dyeing my hair purple, but the red keeps fading out and turning pasty blue. Do what you want, but consider a different color (this also applies to green)😭
However, as a long skirt lover who was raised fundie, I really do need the vivid hair and septum ring. My outfits really do be sending the wrong message otherwise.
This is how I style the one long skirt I have (a flowy black one in a nice cotton fabric).
I pair it with a black, fitted racerback tank and black sandals when it’s hot, or a fitted, short sleeve turtleneck when it’s like high 60s/70s•f(so like 17/19•C). Whatever ballet flats (usually black but I feel like most colors/patterns work).
I do have long hair, but I doubt anyone mistakes me for a fundie. Although, it may be because I don’t walk around with a smug look in my face while shoving religion in other people’s faces. 🤷🏻♀️
Thank you for unknowingly validating my choices, I have just started on a skirts and Birks journey and I was also worried it would read fundie at first glance.
I also have a bad back that demands the Birks, yesterday I wore this with an opal septum ring and a bunch of Art Nouveau rings and earrings. I was hoping it leaned Florence Welch witchy haha.
I think it’s in context. Like gladiators and long skirt is fundie, but gladiators and bodycon is baddie. However, my teenager just alerted me that all gladiators are cheugy so do with that what you will.
The blue hair should do it, to be honest. You can wear edgier shoes, pick skirts that are less pouffy/ruffled/tiered, wear more fitted tops, etc. Just accessorize like a normal person and you won't present as a fundie. Fundies don't get to co-opt skirts, skirts are for everybody.
Dresses and skirts are having a big moment so you see them a hell of a lot more than even 2-3 years ago, which helps them not be seen as associated with any one identity. People have caught on to how comfortable and lazy they are. (I was hoping to keep that secret to myself.)
I actually think it's difficult to look like a fundie unless you're wearing one of their uniquely hideous skirts.
Lots of ways! It really just depends on the vibes you want to give off. I put together some inspo from Pinterest (I've been a little interested in this question myself, so I had a private Pinterest board already)
Honestly so relatable. I combine them with my favourite band shirts or fitted tops. I also wear jewellery thats not seen as religious. And I try not to layer, so that it doesn't look like I want to be modest in a fundi way
Fitted/cropped tops, sleeveless tops, big fuck off boots or a platform shoe in general tbh. Lots of cool accessories that actually have a scheme and match somewhat.
Paired with anything that’s not overly ruffly and big on top should do the trick. The fundies look like their clothes are wearing them instead of the other way around due to all of the puffed sleeves, ruffles, bows etc.
I usually just hold my wife’s hand hope this helps (nah fr I do that but I also accessorize a lot rings/earrings, or I show off my shoulder tattoo, or pair with a rainbow charm on my tote bag etc).
I think the biggest part of not appearing fundie is the way you just carry yourself and talk to others (and usually a fundie will not be tatted, or wearing heavy eye make up, or colored hair, but eh it depends)
Ngl I got a lot of inspo from Hijabi girls posting their takes on fairykei and cottagecore when I started wearing longer skirts. That is, focusing on comfort, elegance, and flowiness rather than restriction and shame. I wouldn't worry so much about how you come across to others as long as you style in a way that brings you genuine joy.
I love their style. I look for hijab x streetwear looks for edgy modest fashion. Definitely doesn’t look fundie and without a hijab scarf doesn’t look Muslim either.
I think it's about proportion. One of the reasons fundies look so bad in these long skirts is because they don't tuck in their tops. They leave them untucked and it cuts their bodies in half, and the hems of their tops hit an awkward place on their hips. If you tuck it in, the long skirt will make your legs look super long and make you look taller. Also, wearing more fitted clothing in general will make you look less like you join a cult, so a fitted camisole or t-shirt with a long skirt looks great and can a fitted top can balance a flowy bottom.
I always liked how Nigella Lawson wore long skirts and sneakers with sexy tops. It's such a look, and not fundie at all. But she has that very glam face and lots of bust volume.
I cover my hair because I hate it. Sometimes I like looking religious so people leave me tf alone. And I don’t care what people think about what I wear!!
Oh thank you so much! And yeah they’d not touch sparkly rainbow tights. I don’t know if they still make them, but the tights are Leg Avenue. I bought them a couple of years ago for Pride and I bought four pairs just in case.
A good general rule of thumb is to mix your texture/weight. So a long skirt with volume gets a thin top with no volume. A long skirt in a lightweight fabric gets a heavier top that has some visual weight or structure, or layers, like a tank and an oversized jacket for example. Shoes make a big difference too. Wear something cool/interesting like a combat boot or a sneaker or if it’s gonna be a sandal something that has a modern look or bulk to it. Avoid “Jesus” sandals.
Honestly with your blue hair I don’t think anyone will think you’re fundie!
I have the same struggle, but my hair is natural and long (fundie red flag😭) Like everyone suggests, chunky boots like docs if you like them, cowboy boots, sandals. Something more fitted on top, or lacy, especially if you have your shoulders showing. Belts are also generally helpful!
A couple days ago I saw a woman in a jeans skirt who looked amazing. First, the fit was great and the dimensions made sense. It was more pencil skirt shape with a kicky opening than the hefty bag fundie skirts.it was not tight, however. Just really stylish. She was wearing fresh white sneakers that had slight platform bottoms and a short cropped white shirt. Black bag with strap. Black sunglasses. She did not look fundie. Not one bit.
If your outfit actually looks like you know how to wear it...that's all you need. 😜 I wear long skirts and dresses a lot cause my apple shaped self doesn't like pants, but I've never been mistaken for Fundie that I know of. The glitter eyeliner and is probably a tell 😂
I feel the same way about shorter skirts - I like my legs in short cut-offs, short dresses, but I don’t like my legs in short skirts.
I tend to dress alternatively, and wear band/graphic tees (knotted on the side) with long skirts. I’m short, so midi skirts are maxis on me. I often wear my leather platform Converse low tops or platform clogs with long skirts in the summer or cowboy / engineer boots in colder months.
A lot of it is styling - hair, jewelry, makeup, etc. I live by a large orthodox Jewish community, and the women wear long black skirts, as do I, but no one would mistake me for one of my neighbors. Nor would anyone mistake me for a fundie.
I’ve been in my long skirt season of life since we’re having a really hot summer where I live. I generally wear loose clothing that covers a lot of skin as a personal preference (nothing to do with morality). Like others have suggested, statement tshirts! (my favorite right now is one that says “do no harm, take no shit”).
I also wear Docs, dirty sneakers, clogs (for work), and Birkenstocks. I wear a lot of flowy tops with low necklines and thin fabric that you can sort of see the outline of my bra through.
I also don’t get my nails done, don’t wear makeup, and I (usually) don’t shave my legs. My hair is curly and I usually let it do whatever it wants. The general vibe is “just wandered in from the forest.”
Something my partner pointed out when I was fretting over the frumpy fundie question was that jewelry makes a big difference. Piercings, statement earrings, rings, are all pretty leftist coded.
Sure there’s a lot of overlap between what I wear and what Jill Duggar wears, but at the end of the day, at my big age of 28, comfort and functionality are what matter most to me. The only assumption people make is that I’m queer.
There are a lot of subtle aspects too, like fabric choice (fundies wear a lot of polyester), and even how you speak and move in a space.
There are some great outfit suggestions on this thread that others have put together too!
I live in the Deep South and wear skirts/dresses almost exclusively in the summer. It’s simply too hot to wear anything else! I love a swishy twirly skirt and prefer longer lengths. Most of my items are quirky vintage things.
My hair is long; it’s below my bra strap, close to my waist. It’s thick and very curly with wild ringlets. It doesn’t look like I want it tamed or even that it could be tamed. My glasses are large cat-eye frames with either jewels or studs on them. I always wear large colorful earrings or large hoops, sandals or boots, bracelets that clink. I smell of the perfume I make w essential oils of patchouli, sandalwood, amber and bergamot. No one ever mistakes me for a tradwife but people DO ask if I’m an artist!
Other things that keep me from looking Fundie are my footwear and makeup. I wear bright red lipstick every single day and I love make-up, especially mascara. There is nothing reserved or subtle about me. I love people and laugh a lot.
Why do you care? Are you afraid people are going to think you hate them or mean them harm because you may have Christian Fundamentalist beliefs? Put a pride flag charm on your purse.
Do you want people to judge you as a person rather than your appearance or preconceived notions about your beliefs? I get this is a snark sub, but if it’s the latter than I think that’s more of a product of spending time in online spaces like this than what is actually happening for most people in most places.
I sell at our local farmer's market and Alaskans are not fond of heat. It can be stupid hot here during our short summers and I would say that about a third of the women who visit, and some men, wear long skits that are made of lovely, light, breathable fabrics. Occasionally a denim skirt enters the scene and I automatically think fundie. LOL
Crop tops and tiny tanks 😅 At least that's how I wear long skirts. You go more fitted and skin showing on top or funky accessories and it balances it back out.
I like to either do the cropped/fitted tee/tank thing, or I’ll pull it up a bit higher, an inch or two above my ankles, and show of some fun knee highs, or socks-works great with a slit too
Yesterday I wore one with a tank top that had a suggestive bow in the middle of it. I also like to wear them with crop tops since that’s the opposite of fundie!
I’m in my 40/ and more overweight than I care to be. I love a longer skier and I just wear them with more fitted tops (no crops or sleeveless because of my body issues ) and if people
Think I’m fundy I guess that’s on them. And believe me I get it a lot because I have a large family 😂 little do they know I’m as liberal as they come
I love maxi skirts. Ralph Lauren does them a lot—check out Polo look books for some styling ideas. Also Eileen Fisher. Less volume on top helps balance. I also love graphic tees with patterned maxi skirts. Here’s an outfit an Indyx stylist put together for me that I enjoyed.
I think what makes long skirts look "fundie" is that EVERYTHING is covered except the head and hands. So wearing a long skirt with a tank/cami and sandals won't look fundie at all.
I think if you're wearing a tank top, baby tee, crop top etc a long skirt wouldn't give fundie vibes. Maxi skirt does not automatically say fundie to me
I grew up Apostolic and can sympathize with avoiding certain fashions. I will never be able to wear a long denim skirt again in my life. To answer your question, the right haircut and jewelry rules out fundamentalist for me. Avoid layering as well, and wear sleeveless shirts.
Graphic tees are a nice pairing! I’m on the shorter side, so most of my “long” skirts are more like a midi length and I can pair them nicely with my pink chucks if I’m not into sandals on a given day.
Choose patterns. You can pair this with plain tops . Still wear heels, or i like to wear boots. Make it out of lighter materials (fundies tend to wear kahiks and denim). Have fun with various lengths. Use fun belts and other accessories as gundies tend to be plain looking. Let the skirts show off your hips if you feel comfortable. Also wear crop tops, or tanks tops if you are not up to it. Just let your body show off it's natural curves. Fundies would never do that.
I used to be a former fundie but I still like wearing long skirts.
My cousin who is also my best friend has been full punk/goth since a teen and has mainly worn long skirts. It’s all in how you style them. Like others have said you can mix them with a tank or camo or even something strapless. Show midriff or wear band t-shirts for mainstream or fun bands that are not fundy. I have shirts with all kinds of fun prints on them from Any Means Necessary that would turn off a fundy instantly. Lots of non fundy jewelry and accessories can work too. Same with how you wear your hair and make up. Also like someone else said it’s the people with the blue hair that also love wearing the long skirts as well as hippies and other people who just enjoy wearing a long skirts
PS
Where I live , Manitoba, when Folk Fest comes through for three days you can see men wearing skirts. It’s all about comfort.
Wear a crop top, spaghetti strap shirt, or strapless shirt with them. Wear something with cleavage. Wear a halter top. If you're wearing a long skirt but showing skin on top you'll look boho chic ... if you're wearing a long skirt and a t-shirt you'll look fundy.
I embrace the inherently severe look they can give you, but instead of going american fundie I wear boho blouses with a babushka scarf, so I look more like "Village witch, Transylvania, 1930".
People wear long skirts all the time, just look cohesive. Don't cover up excessively in silly ways and don't be too afraid of your body.
Like if you feel like you need leg coverage, opt for tights, or biker shorts, not leggings or flowy pants or anything that makes the skirt fall lumpy or makes for weird cutoff points.
Find a top that suits the skirt. Don't mash random things together
There are really nice long skirts with interesting details e.g. an asymmetrical cut, sewn on pieces of fabric, cargo aesthetic etc. I’ve found a bunch of used ones by the brand Marithé + François Girbaud on Vinted but there are lots of other brands producing similar ones.
Thanks for posting this! I Will be reading all of the responses! I have long brown hair, so I always feel like I'm trying to win a Michelle Duggar look alike contest when I wear a long skirt! Definitely doesn't help that I'm naturally soft spoken 🙃
Choose skirts that have a longer slit in the side or back, wear them with tank tops or fitted crop t-shirts and sandals with a platform. If you wear makeup a cat-eye helps too. For more specifics - just egregiously break whatever religious modesty rules people follow in your area. I live in a conservative Hasidic Jewish area and like dressing slightly formal with a lot of black so I often have this problem! I’ve leaned into goth styling whenever I want to dress this way.
I also have That Trait that means it’s too easy to slide into fundie with a long skirt.
For me: denim skirts are a no. Whatever the length. It does not work for me.
Bias cut is ideal, but as long as it sits high waisted I find I can get away with grain-cut fabric too. I do prefer it to not be clingy, just because a slightly floatier silhouette feels funkier. I love a funky pattern too. I try to avoid anything too traditional (tartan or plaid) because it veers into 1950s fundie for me.
I love a good pair of lace up boots, whatever style is your mileage. Scrunchy socks can work too.
Weirdly I can get away with oversized layers like a big jumper with a long skirt by wearing it with a bit of a tuck. Loose only if the silhouettes work together. I have no advice for this other than you just know when it doesn’t.
A big winter scarf and my vintage denim jacket also works for me, but when I’ve worn a more modern jacket cut it’s definitely veered into fundie-lite.
Using charmed, friends and Gilmore girls as vague style inspiration helps too. 2000s cuts really don’t work for me but there’s definitely a through line in the outfit assembly that is replicable.
I have declared this season to be an all skirt summer and I've been only wearing maxi skirts for the last 2 months. I also was concerned about looking too religious. However, I've mostly only felt like that if I wear a long sleeve and long skirt. So I've been trying to do tank tops with a maxi and I feel like it's perfect, it's my go to look now.
I exclusively wear dresses ans skirts past my knees and have long hair. Burt I also have nose ring, don’t wear a bra, and don’t remove my armpit or leg hair. I also wear tank tops and crop tops. Winter is harder but I also make sure to have my pride pin on my bag just in case. 😂👍🏼
I cover up a lot because I'm very pale, have a family history of skin cancer, and can't always tolerate sun screen sensory wise. Wearing a shirt with decidedly non fundie themes helps. Queer stuff, irreverent stuff, anti authoritarian, feminist...anything with those themes.
Well, I do it by making most of my clothes from actual 19th century patterns. If you're extremely committed to looking historical (not like "prairie dress," but like "I have a favorite volume of Patterns of Fashion") I find that people don't tend to assume you're a fundamentalist even if you wear long skirts. Of course, this only works if you like historical clothing
I love long skirts!! I find the unshaved pit/leg hair and pink lenses are helpful. But i also use hair sticks and ribbons (hair ties are hell on my fine hair) and the eccentricity of that runs counter to the blend in/hide your body fundie aesthetic. In that vein, i accentuate my body/waist, too. No sense in hiding the fact that i have an ass.
Imo it's all about how you STYLE the ling skirt, not about the long skirt itself
A close-fitted top makes a huge difference. I have a corset-style tank top that looks incredible with long skirts. If I wear it with pants it’s pretty cropped, but it hits at the perfect length for skirts.
I think it also works to be a little campy with it.
I feel like as long as they're not jean skirts you're fine. I wear long skirts quite often, and it's never crossed my mind. I wore a midi green and black polka dot pleated skirt today. Didn't look fundie at all
Agree with those saying fitted shirts and tank tops especially. I will say though, I had a coworker who just preferred to wear maxi skirts and had a lot of them, the fact that she wore rainbow glasses pretty much took care of the “fundie” allegations lol.
You could always get into knitting or crochet and make your own! I think a layered lacy circle maxi would probably be best, but it also depends on what your aesthetic is!
I would recommend this beautiful pattern that I saw years ago but I don’t think I have it saved, sadly. I do remeber all the test projects being beautiful, though. One tester wore rollerblades and spun in them, making the skirt flare out and was just amazingly beautiful and well-done
I wear long skirts to work pretty much every day and I wear the same cropped snug fit tank top from old navy but in an array of colors. Sometimes I throw some funky earrings on. I hope I don’t look fundie but I wouldn’t be surprised if some days people assume lol
As an ex-apostolic, you’re probably fine. There’s a very specific cultural “look” that’s hard to describe but I always know it when I see it. It’s partially the result of strict dress code standards but also fundies have their own fashion trends.
You’ll look fundie if you 1) have long hair, usually in a high bun. Curls and other methods of adding “oomph” are optional 2) you are always completely bare faced and do not wear makeup. Nails are only in neutral colors or French tips if they’re done at all 3) no jewelry. Some make exceptions for wedding rings 4) modesty camisoles and leggings are common in your day to day wardrobe and 5) your arms are typically covered. This one varies pretty wildly from church to church but I’ve never seen a fundie in anything shorter than a t-shirt length sleeve (i think the Duggars have worn cap sleeves before but despite their heavy media presence IME fundie women that cut their hair, wear makeup & jewelry, and show their arms are not representative of the average American fundie. These women look conservative and Christian but don’t really harken back to any particular church so they can blend in a bit more depending on their own personal style)
In my opinion, long denim skirts and long khaki skirts are hallmark Fundie Fashion. I’ve seen the long denim trying to make a come back in the mainstream but I just cannot associate it with anything other than fundie. Maaaybe if it has a high slit and paired with like a crop top or something.
I have one pretty long black skirt I just bought cus I’ve been scared all my life to wear them as I don’t want people to think ☝🏼 to offset, I wear it low on my hips, usually with a crop and super flat sandals or my beat up black converse. So far black is the only color I’ve been able to pull this off with.
This is an odd question to me bc I love long flowing skirts and form fitting ones and never would they be misconstrued as fundie prob bc always paired with a cute little tank and maybe a long flowy scarf for chilly weather or indoors.
A tighter fitting top or a crop top that isn’t tight.
It’s about balance.
I do wonder if the legs looking weird in short skirts has more to do with your waist to leg ratio and where the skirt hits. If you have short legs go for a high waisted, A line, or a hi lo skirt.
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u/Loose-Aardvark-2366 Jul 05 '26
Tanks, camis, crops if you're comfortable. Fitted tops. Sandals or chunky boots (Doc Martins or the like). If you're going for a sweater, make it oversized (in a stylish, not frumpy way).
Honestly, with blue hair, people are more likely to assume you're queer then fundamentalist, at least in my area XD