What is the Maxi Dress?

The Maxi Dress: It’s Back!

If the maxi dress had to be put into three words I would choose these three “f’s”: flirty, flowing and floor length! Celebrities from Jessica Alba to Miley Cyrus are sporting summer’s most fashionable trend. Everyone thought the maxi dress would die along the boho style of Mary-Kate and Ashley. But the maxi dress has proved its greatness when it came back into fashion for 2008 because of its fashionable casualness and easiness to wear.

“Maxi” must be an abbreviation for “maximum” since this dress offers maximum comfort and maximum comfort which is what we love about this season’s trend. The “maxi” is the perfect piece to take from day to night because of the casual fabrics the dress comes in, and the long length and pretty patterns makes it glam enough for the night. We live in our maxi dresses and believe it has become the new velour jumpsuit! Throw it on when you’re walking the dog, shopping for groceries, or for your coffee runs, its comfortable and more glamorous than any tracksuit.

The dress works with chunky heels, gladiator sandals, even the regular Havaianas you have laying around. For shorter girls however, I would recommend pairing your maxi with a chunky heel since this dress tends to make small girls look microscopic with all the fabric! The “maxi” comes in many different styles from halter to tube top to spaghetti and a variety of fabrics such as jersey, silk and cotton. The fit of the “maxi” is loose and voluminous which is perfect for that casual beachy feel for summer , and for hiding any bodies not ready for the swimsuit season while still looking fabulous.

It can be tricky to wear this trend without looking like a huge tent, so here are a few tips to making sure you look like a socialite and not a balloon:

1. Make sure to find a dress that is more fitted around the chest area or an empire waist to at least some of your body some shape.
2. If you’ve got some hips and stomach don’t pick a dress that’s too voluminous or has too much fabric because that will add to the “tent” factor.
3. If you’re lacking in the height department make sure to find a dress that isn’t too long, fix your hemlines so you don’t lose any more inches from your petite stature.
4. Don’t match this long flowing dress with an oversized coat or long sweater, instead opt for a cropped bolero or fitted cardigan to prevent yourself from looking too grungy.

The maxi dress also comes at many different price points. Our favorite brands for the higher priced maxi dresses are: Milly, T-Bags and Ella Moss. Milly has a beautiful silk maxi dress with halter straps for $520 Milly Maxi Dress.

My favorite dress of T-Bags is the black one shoulder dress for $238 (T-Bags Maxi Dress). And the Ella Moss Dress that is perfect for day of shopping or beach parties is this sleeveless blue dress for $200 (Ella Moss Maxi Dress). My favorite maxi dress I’ve seen is this one by Nicole Miller for $328 (Nicole Miller Maxi Dress).

There are also some absolutely adorable ones we found. There were so many to choose from at Vicotria’s Secret website but our favorite one is this print halter dress for $79, the print is so fun and playful and the fit on top prevents the maxi dress from looking like a smock (Victoria’s Secret maxi Dress). This one we found at Wet Seal, comes a fun and flirty bright pink color and has a pretty criss-cross detailing in the back for only $36.50 (Wet Seal Maxi Dress). The Halter Necklace Maxi Dress we found at Forever 21 looks so comfy and chic, and for only $29.80 we want to buy them in all the pretty colors (Forever 21 Maxi Dress)!

Have fun experimenting with the different ways to wear your maxi dress this season. Accessorize it with pretty necklaces, chunky bracelets or fabulous hoop earrings. You can adapt this season’s dress into any of your summer’s events so take advantage of this trend, we know we will!