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Health & Fitness

Maximizing the Maxi

A beach cover-up no more! The maxi dress goes from day to night, from country to urban, and....get ready....from summer to fall before you can say 'Labor Day'!

The maxi dress has been a great leader in trends for the past couple of summers, but you know what?  Fall is right around the corner!  And one of the biggest trends we’re seeing for fall 2011 is the maxi.  This is one of the reasons we absolutely love the maxi – it works in each season!

Most people find the maxi really flattering, but shorter or petite women tend to think it isn’t a flattering look for them.  Think about Nicole Richie and Rachel Zoe.  Both live in maxi dresses and they are both about 5 feet tall! 

If you are shorter, pick a maxi dress that is more form fitting, especially at the waist, so you can see your figure, and aren’t engulfed in fabric.  It also helps to wear a wedge or an espadrille to really elongate your legs.  In this weather (where it feels like we’re living inside of a hairdryer) all you need is your maxi dress, a great piece of jewelry (long necklaces, stand-out earrings, a stack of bangles), and a strappy sandal, or heel for the evening.  But don’t let that maxi fall into the depths of your closet this fall!

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Here’s how to make the maxi work when the leaves start to change:

>Switch your sandals for leather boots or wedges.  Frye’s or cowboy boots can look really cool. Or pair your maxi with another trend from fall, the high loafer.  Chiffon maxis and printed maxis were what I kept seeing in the fall shows.  I love the look of soft flowing chiffon paired with a tougher suede or leather shoe.  Think Ralph Lauren. 

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>Layer, layer, layer!  It looks chic to layer a turtleneck underneath a maxi, as long as it’s in the same color family (i.e grays with black, tans with browns).  Another obvious option is to layer a light jacket or cardigan on top, and I suggest using a cropped version that is form fitting to avoid having loose fabric hanging from head to toe.  For the shorter woman out there, try to avoid jackets that come past the hips. Simply belt anything wider to show your figure.  Also, wrap and knot scarves around your neck to lend warmth, and add different textures.

> Accessories can easily change the feel of your outfit, too.  Switch anything light weight for heavier leather in a deeper color.  Try slinging a heavy leather belt around your hips or cinching one at the waist to change the shape of your maxi.  Carrying a great bag elevates any outfit.  I keep seeing portfolio bags on the runways, which look like big envelopes (swoon!).  Throw a hat on.  A felt fedora, wooly, or berets in neutral colors are all classics that you will wear to death in the fall/winter seasons.  It is not necessary to do all of these accessories at once.  Just a touch here and there as we go into fall.

> Though printed maxis are on trend for fall, you can’t really use your Hawaiian tropics print dress during this season, or your bright yellow, so just tuck these away until next summer.  If you have a super thin or fabric that will be too chilly for fall just pair tights underneath.  You will see a lot of sheer chiffon, so little sheerness is a good thing!

Don’t freak out, ladies, but despite the heat, fall pieces are making their way into stores.  A lot of summer pieces are going on sale, so now is the time to scour and score the deals!  Find the dresses that can work into fall.  Done right, the maxi dress can look so great and sexy. If you haven’t joined in the maxi fun yet, I hope this post inspires you to give it a try! 

Until next time!



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