The Maxi dress is no stranger in the fashion world. An informal or formal lengthy dress worn by women, Maxi Dresses have hundreds of different designs that suit any and every age group. They can come in tartan, stripes, polka dots, floral patterns, solid colours and many more. Many celebrities, like Blake Lively and Nicole Richie have worn Maxi Dresses to the red carpet.
Arguably, the maxi dress is the most versatile garment. A well fitted maxi dress can be worn from AM to PM and looks uber chic dressed up or down. To achieve the daytime look with a maxi dress it is imperative to keep a few things in mind. Designer Gauri of Gauri and Nainika recommends wearing a summer friendly fabric for the day , for example cotton, jersey, linen etc. and stick to georgettes and crepes for the evening. She says “Most maxi dresses have an empire cut and are cinched from above the waist. This provides an ideal silhouette for almost all body shapes”.
Busting the common myth around maxi dresses Designer Ranna Gill says, “You don’t have to be a skyscraper to work a maxi! If you look close enough there is a maxi made-to-fit for each one of us”. She adds “If you have a shorter frame, get a dress with a busy print or one solid colour and a style that suits your body”. Pair your maxi with strappy flat sandals or pumps, minimalistic jewellery and bangles and you are all set to sizzle. Designer Shalini of Paras and Shalini suggest a sleek up do for the evenings, ditch the hold all for a clutch and add chunky jewellery for instant oomph.
Paras and Shalini in their spring-summer collection have showcased embellished maxi dresses in muted shades of nude and grey perfect for the evenings or as resort wear while designers like Anita Dongre and Masaba Gupta have created a more daytime, flirtatious collection. You can also go eco friendly with Anita Dongre’s SS’11 line featuring only organic cotton and vegetable dyes in earthy tones. Not in the mood to splurge? Hit the high street for pocket friendly fashion at Mango, Zara and Forever new.