Dodging Fashion Roadkill | The Maxi Dress
Wednesday, February 9th, 2011
S2011 | Micheal Kors
As long as there are women, there will always be the Maxi dress. Designers must find this fact annoying because, perhaps in an effort to relieve their boredom, they’ve decided to inject different textures and structures into this spring/ summer staple. The possible result? An epic miss, with some of the most unflattering combinations known to man… or in this case, woman.
The word “Maxi”, as it applies to a dress (or skirt), refers to either length (usually floor grazing) or fullness (voluminous) – either way there is a whole lot of fabric. The goal of a Maxi dress is to create the illusion of easy sophistication, but this punchline can easily get muddled when designers run with such wild abandon in the park of imagination, that they miss the mark totally.
Most of trends for this Spring/ Summer 2011 (S2011) may be seen somewhere on a Maxi Dress near you. Beware of the pitfalls.
1. The See-Through-Maxi
S2011 Trend: Lace/ See-through Fabrics
S2011 | Giorgio Armani
The issue: Visible underwear, isn’t Sexy. [Visibly] going without underwear, tramp style, is worse. No-one is interested in seeing your ‘titillating’ ‘assets’. This dress will flatter noone with an ounce of flesh. Much more than the sheer fabric will be… bouncing… in the wind.
S2011 | Givenchy
The solution: Go sheer without going bare. Printed sheer materials can offer less translucency that plain coloured ones. Also, well placed detailing can detract, or conceal, areas of perverted interest. Depending on the dress, you can wear a (modern) slip.
2. The Bright, Boxy, Structured, Maxi
S2011 Trend: Bold Colours/ Menswear/ Suits
S2011 | Jill Saunders
The issue: Your waist called. He misses you.
May be laid back, but this look is definitely not sexy. All that’s missing here are the potatoes, which is ironic because that’s probably the last thing that’s available on that menu.
Proportions. Proportions. Proportions. An hourglass shape, or the illusion of one, is the key to classic style. Also,tThe overly structured look of this dress defeats the purpose of a Maxi dress.
S2011 | Lanvin
The solution: The bold colour rocks. Keep the structure to an asymmetrical neckline and a belted waist.
3. The Retro Maxi
S2011 Trend: Retro/ 60s Ladylike/ Red carpet glam
S2011 | Vivienne Westwood
The issue: More like 60s/ Ladylike Prom, and looks like the dress equivalent to helmet head – Untouchable.
S2011 | Lanvin
The solution: Switch up the fabric. Interpret the retro ladylike, rather than raid your mother/ grandmother’s closet. Similar silhouette, different reaction.
4. The Graphic Maxi (I)
S2011 Trend: Floral Prints
S2011 | Jill Saunders
The issue: Large prints, like this floral overwhelms petite frames. The dress’s voluminous nature around the waist area also does not complement a woman’s figure.
S2011 | Marc Jacobs
The solution: Choose a floral print that is proportional to your size – larger frames are better able to carry larger prints. Add interest to a floor grazing floral number with a contrasting detail in a complementary colour at the waist. Peek-a-boo skin, unveiled through a v-neck, gives balance to a potentially, visually dizzying number.
5. The Graphic Maxi (II)
S211 Trend: Bold Colours/ Geometric Prints/ Asymmetrical hems
S2011 | Vivienne Westwood
The Issue: An effort is made to highlight the waist with a twist-tie, but the over-sized vertical stripes + no structure + peculiar dress length + bold colours+ excess fabric = Please Stop. My head hurts.
S2011 | Marc Jacobs
The solution: One voice at a time. Keep silhouettes, to dresses in busy fabrics, simple. The ruching detail in the right places breaks the monotony, and gives a flattering look to even the no-no horizontal stripe rule.
6. The White Maxi
S2011 Trend: All White/ Minimal/ 60s Ladylike
S2011 | Chloé
The issue: The abundance of fabric on the top half, in white no less, coupled with a gathered waist would make for an excessively commodious, unflattering look on most humans.
S2011 | Chloé
S2011 | Chloé
The solution: A wrap dress, or one that mimics it, is universally flattering, even in white, as it breaks up the details, as well as highlights the natural waist.
Tip: A V-neck works better than a round neck for fuller and/ or curvier figures.
7. The Unfinished Maxi
S2011 Trend: Asymmetrical Hems / Metallic/ Sheer/ Unfinished Detailing
S2011 | Vivienne Westwood
The issue: The first issue is the trend itself – Unfinished garments. Unhemmed garments, unclipped trimmings. A frayed, fuzzy look with thread dangling everywhere. Why? I’ll file this in the juvenile section, right next to destructed jeans.
More than the hems, the statement is undone in this crinkly, scratchy, bed-head looking kit, the draping of which also makes for an unflattering profile. Besides, if you are going to tote all of this fabric, and still have a peep show, why not just don a fitted, loosely crocheted dress instead? Oh yeah, that’s also a don’t.
S2011 | Micheal Kors
The solution: Just because the fabric has a metallic finish, doesn’t mean it has to look like it will cut you. Switching up the fabric to a touchable knit, (one that is also less sheer), and tightening the silhouette a touch, gives the still-asymmetrical look an easy-going, figure-enhancing flow. Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
8. The Body Concious Maxi
S2011 Trend: Body Concious/ White/ Lace/ Sheer Fabrics
S2011 | Emilio Pucci
The issue: The combination of the above trend may make for a body conscious, but not a body flattering combo. Perhaps this would be better worn as resort wear, in the form of a beach cover-up.
S2011 | Emilio Pucci
The solution: Emphasize your curves in one trend. Either in lace/ sheer fabrics OR a body hugging silhouette.
OTHER USEFUL TIPS
1. DO give unexpected skin via a high slit or an asymmetrical hemline to give overly voluminous , or excessively lengthy dresses a modern edge, as Emilio Pucci does here.
S2011 | Emilio Pucci
S2011 | Emilio Pucci
2. DO play with the Military trend with ‘sober’ colour choices – e.g. olive green, navy, combined with subtle masculine detailing.
S2011 | Lanvin
Whoever said that Power can only be unleashed in a pant suit must have never experienced the Power of a Maxi.
b Freakin’Fabulous
great insight my girl. as a woman who had numerous maxi dresses of all styles, colours, shapes.. this was well presented and choice of illustrations were some of my favs for this season !! i love the lanvin collection this year !!! so proud !!! xoxo
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Thanks Z! You were one of my inspirations for this post, so I humbly accept the compliment
OMG Lanvin’s collection ROOOOOOCKS!
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really liked some of these! particularly the floral and the bright one
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Supernova Reply:
February 10th, 2011 at 12:52 pm
Rock on! You’ve certainly got the look, not to mention the height
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