#7 On Chloe's Must-Have List For Summer 2009: A Maxi Dress

A Maxi Dress

I shunned the maxi dress last year, figuring it was a poorly executed trend that would hopefully die out quickly, to never be seen again outside of the year 2008. You know what? I was wrong. The maxi dress is here to stay, and like all trends I hate at first but begin to like the more I'm brainwashed into seeing them... maxi dresses have kind of grown on me. What can I say? I'm easy.

There's something casual yet elegant about a maxi dress, something that says, "I'm lazy and don't feel like wearing pants but I still want to look freaking fabulous". And that is ultimately the best part of a maxi dress- they look glamorous with little effort required. For example- your legs are completely covered, so you don't need to wear fancy shoes (flip flops will even work) or even shave/moisturize/bronze your legs. Nobody is going to see them! You can keep a maxi dress casual by your chosen footwear and adding minimal jewelry, or take it up a notch or two by adding a statement necklace. They really are quite versatile and charming, those maxi dresses, much like the dress equivalent of Neil Patrick Harris.

(I will also use this time for the perfect segue and say I gave Husband a copy of "The Bro Code" as a little anniversary gift and it's hilaaarious.)

Yes, those maxi dresses, they're exactly like that one gay actor that's known best for playing Doogie Howser, MD and is now playing a hilarious metrosexual promiscuous straight guy on a CBS comedy sitcom. I am sure the fashion world agrees with my accurate assessment and that's why Nicole Richie loves them, no? I will like to throw in a disclaimer that I picked out maxi dresses that (mostly) work well for my body type- which is the body type of a 12-year old boy. It's pretty sexy, you know, being short sans curves, but I try my hardest to work with what I have. I also asked Husband one day (while I was picking up my stock of Flintstone's Vitamins at Target) how he felt being married to someone who is a shrimp and he said, "Your personality is what counts, dear, and it's larger than life." Actually, that isn't what he said. I'm lying. He just kind of twitched and looked at me and said, "I try not to think about it that way because it creeps me out." But I'd like to think that he was thinking of my awesome robust...personality. Yeah!

Which reminds me- one time I was sitting at my hairstylists chattering away and when I stood up she said, "Ohmygod! This is going to sound weird, I always expect you to be taller than what you actually are!" I was wearing 4" heels. She had been my stylist for three years. Awesome.

So without further ado, here's my pic for "must have" maxi dresses:

1. The high-end:

ADAM Deep V Long Dress With Covered Buttons - $495

If I didn't already have a ridiculously expensive maxi dress from ADAM, I would buy this one in a heartbeat. The color, the cut, the style- all pure perfection. The empire waist can give a pregnant effect to most; however the empire cut on the ADAM dresses tends to be a little bit more subdued. The high waistline also lengthens the legs and really helps us shorties to look a little longer and a little leaner. Brilliant! Just watch out- ADAM dresses run one size small. Runners up: ADAM Deep V Dress (I would have picked this as my pick but it's now sold out!),J Crew Printed Silk Chiffon Whitney Dress, Catherine Malandrino Keyhole Long Dress, Alice and Olivia Belle Beaded Band Dress, Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent Bra Top Tiered Dress

2. The middle:

C&C California Crochet Trim Tie Dye Long Dress - $158

I typically think tie-dye is obnoxious (and for hippies, you know- really obnoxious hippies) but there is something about the design of this dress that is appealing. Maybe it's the colors, maybe it's the subtlety of the tie-dye. Whatever it is, I like it. Again, I like the subtle empire waist that hits at a higher point- if it's too much volume for you, belt it! Most of these dresses look great belted (Forever 21 makes awesome, cheap high-waisted belts, by the way) and it will give you more of a defined waist, if that is what you're after. Runners up: Rachel Pally U Ring Long Dress, Susana Monaco Sarah Long Dress, Design History for Ann Taylor Braided Maxi Dress

3. And the cheap:

Target Mossimo Black Cami Maxi Dress - $29.99

This is a pretty dress in an even prettier price. Dress it down with flip flops or dress it up with a pretty statement necklace (or earrings) and you're good to go! Runners up: Target Mossimo Supply Co Maxi Dress in Teal Canal, BB Dakota Dynamic Maxi Dress, AE Floral Maxi Dress

4. And then there is me:

In an ADAM Dress:

Yup, more recycled pics. I'd take new ones, but this dress is currently (finally!) at the tailors getting hemmed up a smidge. Yaaay for procrastination. At least I'm doing it in May and not in November, right? Right.

Are Maxi dresses a do? A don't? A maybe? What do you think? Share in the comments! :)