It is no state style secret around these parts that I’m a fan of the maxi dress.
Massive fan.
HUGE.
If you need to play catch-up at this point, head on over to this post I wrote last year. Everyone can find a maxi dress that fits and flatters. Yes, you can.
For me (and most people), the best styles are ones that are streamlined, have an a-line shape or give you shape under the bust. Or all of the above.
These are the types of maxi dresses you’ll find in my summer wardrobe.
They are my go-to, summer dresses for all occasions.
Case in point, this one from the Virtu spring-summer 2012-13 collection. She’s called Delilah and we are very much at one with each other.
She’s got that a-line thing going on plus a lovely v-neck to keep the girls nicely balanced and in proportion with the rest of me, plus she’s in a wash-hang-and-go fabric combo of polyester/elastane.
(I know this fabric combo may be a problem for some but because it’s sleeveless and skims the body it will mostly survive my summer sweat test.)
Want to check her out?
On the model:
Virtu Delilah maxi dress $89.95
Virtu Girlfriend wrap $69.95
And on me:
Virtu maxi dress and cardi | Zoe Kratzmann shoes | Polka Luka ring | Miu Miu sunglasses
I have nicknamed it the Liquorice Allsorts dress, partly for its yummy-ness, mostly for it’s colour-splashed-back-with-black yummy-ness.
These sweets are a favourite in our house at Christmas time … a bit of a tradition … so it seems fitting that this dress is already a front runner for Christmas Day.
Especially as I added in a bit more colour with the Virtu chartreuse girlfriend wrap.
Can I please just take a moment to talk up these wraps for a little minute?
Chartreuse is just one of five colours in this style and if you like to cover up your arms and keep your cool in summer then I’d be adding a couple of these babies to your wardrobe. Quick smart.
Yes, I will wear this sleeveless maxi dress sans cardi, waving my tuckshop arms in the air like I just don’t care, but sometimes I just like to look and feel a bit more polished. Hence my love of this garment. It’s cotton, it’s loose and drapey. So perfect for all but those super-stinky summer days.
We’d better talk sizing too.
Virtu is a store that offers on-trend fashion pieces for women sized 12-24. I’m very much a fan. The 12 is a busty 12 too, which is good to know if this is sometimes an issue when buying a 12 or even a size 14 or 16 in other stores.
I’m wearing a size XS (14) in the dress and XXS (12) in the wrap. And I’m 167cm tall if that helps you working out how the length would sit on you, unaltered.
As for the shoes, I’m simply in love with these leather platforms from Zoe Kratzmann. They remind me of a Country Road pair I had several years ago but they are lighter in weight to wear.
I’m a big fan of platforms for adding height without sacrificing comfort and they provide a great accompaniment to a maxi when you’re wanting to dress it up a bit.
Zoe Kratzmann Frisk platforms $230
Are you a maxi dress fan? If you’ve found one lately that ticks all your summer style boxes, leave a comment to let me know what it’s like and where you found it?
* These garments and shoes were gifted to me for editorial consideration in accordance with my disclosure policy.
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