Wear What When
MAXI-DRESSES Even though they are far from being a new trend (we first showed their return to fashion in our resort collections report back in 2007!), this may be the summer to finally take the plunge into those long, cool drink-of-water dresses, especially if you’re on the curvier side and think all that fabric will make you look hefty or dumpy. The key word here is BALANCE. Generally speaking, those longer lengths of fabric have to be controlled in some way – firstly, through their shape. This summer’s crop has noticeably sleeker lines that gently skim over your curves, avoiding the bulk that comes with too much fabric. Most also have a raised waist, as in the beautiful looks by Simplicity in the main image and in the middle inset at left. These high-rise waistlines effectively circle and define what is usually a very trim part of your torso (even if you do have quite a bit of tummy) creating a visual trick that streamlines your frame. Another terrific way to control the silhouette is to cut it away here and there – the best maxi-dresses now contain some sort of bareness up top by way of cut-out details (a defining feature on the season’s best styles that beautifully shows off toned shoulders or frames a décolletage), or through slits that show a trim bit of leg.
Main image: Simplicity 1612, Misses’/Plus sizes: 10 – 28W. Insets (top to bottom): Simplicity 1358, Misses’ sizes: 4 – 26. Simplicity 1375, Misses’/Plus sizes: 4 – 26. Burda Plus 6949, Euro sizes: 42 – 52.
If you’re really not one for going to great lengths, there are lots of other styles on offer. We showed quite a range in our previous issue, but there’s even a terrific update on the classic wrap-dress from the Burda Plus range on page 55.
