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‘They're romantic and they hide a lot,” says actress Beatriz Yuste, 37, who is browsing through a rack of maxi dresses at Zara. Yes, maxis. We're talking full and ankle-skimming.
But the real reason she likes these dresses? “To be honest, I love the feeling of the wind blowing through,” she reveals with a giggle.
So the secret is finally out; except that with maxi, it's actually not.
The intended message is “updated bohemian” and, if female celebrities are any indication, it is the summer's hot look. Eva Longoria, Nicole Ritchie and Lindsay Lohan have been snapped wearing them. There's a scene in Sex and the City: The Movie where the fabulous foursome are in Mexico and all sport variations of the maxi.
Watercolour dress, $199, and jeweled sandals, $69.90 at Zara. Necklace with pink crystal, $1,245 through Daniel Espinosa. (Simon Hayter for The Globe and Mail)
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Yes, maxis have a free-spirited sensibility that allows them to transition from a Saturday stroll to an evening date. They are comfortable to wear in hot weather and easy to pack for vacations.
Colourful prints make a big statement without requiring big bucks; good ones can be purchased for under $150.
But they definitely demand a new definition of sexy. In exchange for hiding the legs, maxi dresses draw attention to the décolleté. Flat stomachs are, thankfully, not a prerequisite. Instead, well-toned arms become the priority at the gym.
Toronto hairstylist Kate May says this is her favourite outfit to wear in the summer, especially since she rarely spends more than $50 on a dress.
“You can just put them on and that's it,” says the 33-year-old, who is en route to an appointment with her trainer. “They're inexpensive. I can concentrate more on working out and staying in shape and less on my clothes.”
Maxis fill a need in the marketplace for a no-brainer alternative to black leggings and belted tunics. L.A.-based T-bags is an increasingly ubiquitous label that was among the first to popularize maxis in vibrant prints (Cynthia Nixon's character, Miranda, wears one of the jersey dresses in the SATC movie).
T-bags founder Shadi Askari and her partner Su-Lun Tay create the prints as well as the designs, whether floral-inspired or geometric. And while T-bags also does short styles, its main look is long and flowy.
“We travel a lot and we like things that are comfortable and easy to wear and we liked that whole boho chic look and there was pretty much nothing out there like that,” Askari says from Los Angeles.
As why women are gravitating towards full-length frocks right now, she says that they flatter all body types and ages. “I have girls that are zero or two and girls that are an eight or ten and they can wear the same dress and look amazing in it. It curves areas that you want to show and hides areas that you don't want to show.”
In other words, maxis can even be confidence boosters. Perhaps those hippie girls were on to something back in the Summer of Love. Just embrace the full-length look and be prepared to feel footloose and fancy free.
Maximize your maxi
Maxi contrarians who argue that the style belongs to the same fashion family as the muumuu or nightdress need only try different waistlines and necklines.
Empire styles are the most popular and play up a smaller bust, but they have a tendency to suggest a concealed “bump.” If this is a concern, look for a jersey fabric that hugs the body without being clingy. Halter straps flatter the shoulders, while capped sleeves complement sculpted arms. Full skirts are best for petite women; larger women should choose narrower silhouettes. This is one style of dress that looks better with flats (jelly gladiators are a fun option) or, at most, a small wedge. Heels will ruin the floor-grazing effect. Just be prepared to hold up your hem when taking the stairs.
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