Styled to the Max: How to Work a Full-Length Dress
Once again, maxi dresses are all the rage for summer. There are the classic bohemian versions, long and floaty in a delicate paisley print. Then there are the crisper, more modern designs featuring breton stripes and a body-con fit. And now there’s a new wave of smock-topped maxis for a retro slice of prairie-inspired style. Whatever your dress of choice, we’ve come up with a range of ways to get styling…
For a Kate Moss inspired festival look, keep your eyes open for the new tie dye prints of the season, featuring jaded greys, blues and greens. If you keep the colour scheme muted as far as the dress itself is concerned, you can afford to be bold with your choice of accessories, by pairing your maxi with a brightly coloured clutch bag, like the Exclusive Splat Stud Clutch.
If you prefer a cleaner, more gentil approach to maxi styling, then why not go for a preppy look? Simply add a cute, bolero cardigan — there are a number of delightfully ladylike lace versions available on the high street this season — and keep your jewellery small and sweet. By adding simple chains, delicate bracelets and pretty stud earrings, such as these diamanté flowers.
If you’re not a fan of this season’s vogue for big prints, then you can always style up a monotone maxi dress with a brightly printed shoe. Depending on your body shape, big prints can be difficult to wear but make for a fabulous way to accessorize. With a plain black or navy maxi dress, try these tropical printed wedges available from newlook.com.
Maxi dresses can also be styled for the office, by pairing them with neat stiletto heels, a Parisian-style neck-tie and a cropped blazer. For any busy woman-about-town, the finishing touches have to be a pair of oversized, black-rimmed sunglasses, a slick of poppy-red lipstick and a generous leather satchel bag to keep all your documents organised. This is laid-back professional style on the move.
