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The Best Maxi Dresses for 2008From Boho to Bandeau to Floral & Color-Block Full-Length Dresses
The maxi dress has turned out to be the favorite look of the season. From feminine florals, flirty prints, and tough color-blocks, there is a style out there to suit you
Who would have thought 2 summer seasons ago that the humble maxi dress would be such a success story? From its re-emergence onto the runways in 2006, women the world over have really embraced the trend in 2008. There has never been a better time to buy a maxi dress. We have wised-up on how to wear it and the sheer abundance of styles is mind-boggling. From feminine and floral, to flirty and fun, to chunky and tough; gone are the days when only a boho maxi or a Laura Ashley print ran amok on our high-streets. The Success of the Maxi DressThe longevity of the maxi dress has taken many by surprise. Whilst some fashion gurus were saying that it would only last a season, it seems that designers and high-street retailers had other ideas. According to the Guardian newspaper “the experts said mini would be the look of the summer — but it turns out women would rather go maxi.” Part of its success must surely be due to its comfort and versatility — the fact that it transcends all age groups and figure shapes, providing you shop smart. Not to mention how A-list celebrities like Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Nicole Ritchie continue to favor the trend, being snapped in all variations of maxis. How to Look Great in a Maxi DressThe best part is that we have learnt from our mistakes and now wear the favorite dress of the season with pride. A maxi dress can cover a multitude of sins, from big butts and stomachs to chunky legs, but be careful that you avoid looking as if you are trying to do just that! To work the maxi dress well needs the right (slimming) cut, and shoes and cover-ups which complement the look, rather than ruin it. Go for trendy flats or chunky high heels or wedges (and a pedicure!) and keep any cover-up to a bolero-style cardigan or short to medium-length jacket that clings closely to the body, therefore compensating for the full-length skirt. Forget kitten heels and longer-length jackets if you want to be hip! Choose a color which flatters your shape and remember that single color-blocks will elongate a curvy figure. Finding one to suit you is no longer an impossible task. There are some gorgeous designer labels out there, and some great high-street brands that pass muster. The Best of the Designer LabelsYou can’t go wrong with a great contemporary (and still affordable) label like DVF. Diane Von Furstenberg’s dreamy maxi dresses are legendary; classy, chic and comfortable, which will take you from beach to bar or casual to cocktail. DVF’s multicolored Orchid print Rewa Silk Gown (£510) is demure, but right on-trend with its frilled hem. For something more elongating and sexy, the Maui maxi dress (£350) with patchwork print is perfect for day and evening. Its chic and elegant styling and the billowing silk fabric will make you feel like a princess. Its panel detailing is designed to flatter any figure, as although the skirt is full, its styling actually slims the silhouette. An ideal vacation dress is the Pauline Maxi dress (£325), in hot summer yellow, and a classy silk print. With the slight ruched detailing under the bust, this is an ideal style for those who are big breasted, or want to hide a few extra pounds around the tum! This dress is crying out to be accompanied by some dreamy jeweled flats, or toughen it up with some chunky wedges. If boho is more your style then there's Tibi’s Riviera Paisley Dress (£340) or DVF’s Kamea maxi kaftan (£363). All the maxi dresses listed above are available at Net-A-Porter.com, and if you hurry you can take advantage of another 25% reduction. This designer summer offer applies to full-priced DVF, Tibi, Chloé, Phillp Lim and Marc Jacobs and finished on June 12 at 12pm BST. Just type in Summer 08 in the checkout box to get the discount. The Best of the High-Street LabelsTake a look at Monsoon, Mango and Warehouse for some of the best on the high street. The Guardian's gallery features what it claims to be, in its opinion, the five best maxi-dresses. Spanish retail chain Mango (with branches all over Europe) has some classic designs from around £50, including an adorable Nicole Ritchie inspired design (RSL Hill £55) with a jeweled neckline, as featured in Look magazine 26th May 2008, which is perfect for the beach or bar. At the low-end, for budget fashionistas, there’s Primark’s flirty maxis (around £10), and going more upmarket, some single-color block maxis, perfect for evening wear from UK chain, Dorthy Perkins and Warehouse. Maxi Dresses for Spring/Summer 2009The maxi dress provides effortless glamor at its best. Given its growth in popularity, it is proving to be a good investment, and is touted to be with us again next summer, even bigger and better, as featured in the recent Cruise collections of designers like Christian Dior. Images courtesy of Fashion Week Photos
The copyright of the article The Best Maxi Dresses for 2008 in Women's Dresses/Skirts is owned by Gill Hart. Permission to republish The Best Maxi Dresses for 2008 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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