Summer Maxi Dress

 Hot and then cold. Sometimes weather can creep up on you no matter how much you check the forecast. So you want to be prepared when the sun goes away that you still remain stylish, yet cozy. The ever-trendy maxi dress has proven to be more than just a comfort summer trend. Its been seen on celebrities such as Nicole Richie and Mary-Kate Olsen for months, the long dress is back and better than ever with a variety of shades, prints, patterns, cuts, and material.

With an unfamiliar name, the Maxi dress is typically a floor or ankle

length less-formal dress that is formfitting at the top and loose flowing at the bottom, cut to flow over the body. This summer maxi dresses are best paired with gladiator sandals or summer wedges and also make a perfect summer vacation outfit. Many of the long dresses have been deemed to be “bohemian” but this is not always the case. Maxi dresses can be styled according to your personality, as some of the basic solid styles are canvases open to interpretation with accessories such as bangles, charm bracelets, stud earrings, headbands, and metallic necklaces. Many dresses that incorporate a pattern such as paisley, tie-dye, or floral should be accessorized-down – (meaning hold off the the gobs of jewelry) to not take away from the dress.

If things get chilly in your neighborhood at the beach or when the sun goes down, make sure to bring along a light scarf or cardigan to cover your shoulders. The scarf is perfect if you don’t want to bear a cardi, but cardigans work best for warmth if the temperature tends to dip dramatically after dusk. The best thing to do, is keep a neutral cardigan with you, such as gray, black, off-white, or beige so that no matter which dress you choose your basic cardigan will compliment it. With one or two simple accessories you can easily adjust to different weather factors from day to night.

This month we’ve seen a great variety of maxi dresses worn on Angelina Jolie and Miranda Kerr and

mommies-to-be, Heidi Klum and Ellen Pompeo. Each celeb showcases a different dress cut, pattern, and fabric to meet their body type. Miranda Kerr blends both solid and prints into her dress while accentuating her waist with a braided leather belt. Paired with metallic sandals, Miranda keeps accessories to a minimum since the later half of her dress has such a bold print.

Angelina’s chocolate strapless dress is ever-so simple, yet classy as the silk fabric adds sheen and glamour to her look without any extra additives. This is a perfect look to throw on when the summer day is warming up as it doesn’t require much fuss. Both Heidi and Ellen chose maxi dresses that have empire waist seams to highlight their torsos, making them comfortable and versatile from warm to cooler weather.

To find which maxi dress is right for you for the rest of the summer months, explore the many options in our fashion widget. Don’t forget to make the dress your own with your favorite jewelry, shoes, headgear, and outerwear.