Open the book of summer silhouettes and you will find the maxi dress taking up majority of the pages. Be it parties, or a picnic or a simple day out by the sea, these long numbers adapt themselves indoors and outdoors with ease and make for versatile closet pieces. Remember Kate Middleton’s Anita Dongre-numbers during her India tour? With patronage from the likes of Kareena Kapoor Khan to Jessica Alba and print variants from stripes to florals, it’s time to take the long road this summer. (The writer is a freelance journalist)
MIXED BAG
If we could trade wardrobes with a celebrity, Jessica Alba would top our list. Trust the Fantastic Four actor to teach you how to get your maxi game on point. Be it this printed dress-leather moto jacket combination or even a lazy sheer number paired with a linen shirt, the 35-year-old has been giving us wardrobe goals all season. Note her interesting footwear pairings, mixing it up with ankle boots and gladiator sandals.
A BIG NO
Flip flops: Pairing your gorgeous maxis with lazy flip flops is a cardinal sin. Do away with them and add more edgy footwears to your rack this summer Layers: The point of choosing a maxi is to bring down fashion to the bare minimum. Don’t add too many clothing layers to your outfit. A clutter makes for a disaster. Scanty accessories are recommended. Print on print: If you’re teaming your dress with a jacket, go for a plain-print combination. Too many lines and colours hurt the eye
STAPLES FOR THE SEASON
Jacket or oversized shirt White sneakers/ ankle boots Chokers or long-chained charms Rounded sunglasses and hats
SHOE TIME
Despite all the controversies, Gigi Hadid’s collaboration with Tommy Hilfiger has given us some chic numbers. Take this patch print maxi dress for instance. Teaming it with minimal accessories and a simple pair of shoes in addition to the string waist belt makes this a perfect summer outfit. The collection also has a number of conservative full sleeve options for those who want to escape the sun. A nice pastel summer hat isn’t a bad addition to this ensemble.
BARING THE CLAVICLE
Jenna Dewan- Tatum knows how to spruce up a simple day spent shopping, if her sleek off-shoulder outfit is anything to go by. The navy blue floral-print off-shoulder maxi with a thigh-high slit makes for a great outdoor choice. Our attention, however, is on her cognac-coloured ankle cuff sandals from IRO. If your shoulders are your best asset, here’s the celebrity to take notes from.
SUMMER BLUES
When spring came calling last year, Katrina Kaif was a new girl, with a killer revenge body and gorgeous red tresses, busy with the promotions of Fitoor. Despite being a forgettable outing at the box office, the movie gave us a peak into Kaif’s maxi collection. This blue Rebecca Taylor creation is a case in point, with its boho print and cut sleeves making for a breezy spring summer look. Her look is also a great example of the wonders of low-key makeup and accessorising
BLOOM IN THE DARK
Myleene Klass’s latest line for Littlewoods is enviable. The simple breezy maxis with floral designs inspired by the blossoms in Morocco are elegant and playful, a great styling choice for the summer. We like her ruffled halter-neck tied number. Full marks to the gothic blossoms — a chic darker alternative to all the happy florals out there. Make sure to throw in a pair of booties to complete the look.
THINKING LOCAL
With temperatures in the city set to soar in the coming weeks, maxis could just be your wardrobe saviours. Try the t-shirt maxi variants that are easy on the skin and easily styled into great outdoor outfit choices. We like the ones with the side slits and recommend teaming it with a loose casual shirt tied to your waist. If you don’t want to do away with your denim pants for the summer, pair a high waist pair of jeans with a breezy centre-slit maxi. Stripes and block colours work well for this choice of outfit.
WANDERING SOUL
Vanessa Hudgens is our go-to-celebrity for bohemian styling. Pictured here in a sheer maxi dress and black ankle boots, the ex-Disney actor makes it look easy. We like the John-Lennonisque glasses and the simple bag, although we are not too big on the green cardigan. A gothic print kimono, meanwhile, could be a great idea (Think Coachella).
JEAN POOL
Rihanna’s all-denim Robert Balmain ensemble grabbed eyeballs as she partied away in London earlier. How she turned a forgettable runway piece to a great party piece is still beyond us. The knit dress complete with baby blue sandals and metallic choker and sling bag along with an oversized denim jacket isn’t a look everyone can pull off.