The maxi dress: Many have encountered her and have gotten to know her over the years. She’s joined us to our beach-day brunch outings, night-time adventures or when we’re trying to bring some much-needed upscaling to an occasion. Emerging from the bohemian fashion movement from the 1960s, maxi fashion typically refers to ankle or floor-length and generally oversized clothing items, most commonly tops, dresses and skirts.
Maxi fashion gained momentum in the ’70s following fashion designer Oscar de la Renta’s first ever maxi dress design at the 1968 Elizabeth Arden fashion show. Immediately following the show, The New York Times published an article featuring the maxi dress, and the fashion trend only grew from there.
Maxi fashion was embraced and accepted by the hippie movement, and one of its early adopters and muses for designers was actress and singer Jane Birkin. Birkin’s relaxed and minimalistic approach embodied the era of the ’70s.
The relaxed, less restrictive and non form-fitting design of the maxi dress became a symbol of liberation and self-expression for women as they were fighting for gender equality. Women of all body shapes could embrace themselves in whatever pattern or textile they wanted while still remaining fashionable and functional in their garments of choice.
Sophomore biology major Sofia Bronstein is a religious Jew and follows Jewish modesty standards of covering her elbows and knees in her everyday clothes. Since attending the University of Miami, Bronstein has grown spiritually and has embraced maxi fashion along with it.
“I am really happy that maxi skirts are so in right now,” said Bronstein. “It is so nice to walk around campus and feel like I’m fitting in as opposed to feeling like I’m the only one in a long skirt in Miami.”
Bronstein said how she’s noticed more stores and brands such as Anthropologie, Lululemon, Olive & Tuesday, By Tess Collection and Apparalel are including more maxi pieces into their clothing lines.
When living in Miami, fashion is all dependent on the weather, which is subject to change at any moment. Bronstein said that the best skirts for running errands on a busy day is the Lululemon Nulu Slim-Fit High-Rise Skirt, priced at $78.
Business owner of Stem Boutique, Katya Llerena, opened her Coral Gables store in January 2019 after working for years in the corporate world of advertising and marketing. Since then, Llerena has been working with clients by helping them find their best styles.
“Maxi fashion combines effortlessness with elegance, making it perfect for anyone who wants to look put together without too much fuss,” said Llerena.
Llerena said she noticed her customers buying maxi pieces for all sorts of occasions, regardless the time of day the event is occuring. While Llerena is a fan of maxi fashion, she advises her customers to be mindful of styling the maxi pieces.
“Sometimes maxi dresses can make us look shorter, or throw off our proportions, so it’s important to style them with the right footwear and ensure the neckline and sleeves complement our figure without overwhelming us,” said Llerena.
The idea of maxi in fashion does not strictly limit to dresses or skirts, but extends further to include coats, jackets and even jewelry.
“I’m a big, big fan of big chunky gold jewelry,” said Isabelle Fitzpatrick, senior journalism and public relations major. “I have a really chunky gold chain that I wear for sentimental reasons, because it was my grandpa’s. My philosophy is that it’s big and gaudy and gold. So everything has to be big, gaudy and bold.”
Fitzpatrick would describe her sense of fashion along the lines of boho, and is a big fan of the oversized pant and baby tee look.
“Pairing big statement oversized pieces with a more minimalist base outfit, like jeans and a plain top is a really cool way to step up a very casual outfit,” Fitzpatrick said.
Store manager of OHM Boutique, Sydney Johnson, has been working in retail for seven years now, and has been with OHM since 2021. Johnson prefers a more fitted look to complement her sense of style rather than maxi fashion, but said how she does notice many women purchasing and rocking the oversized look — especially long skirts.
Unfortunately, the maxi style saw a decline in the ’80s as women began to incorporate more suit jackets and shoulder pads for a powerful look. However, what goes out of style tends to make a huge comeback. Maxi fashion made its comeback in the ’90s and 2000s with influencers such as Sienna Miller.
Unlike actress Jane Birkin, Miller would accessorize her maxi dress with items such as a belt, a crossbody bag or clutch, a wide-brimmed hat, or even an oversized jacket, vest or cardigan depending on the type of event she was attending.
Designers such as Marc Jacobs and Vera Wang reinvented the maxi dress through a modern approach while still respecting its bohemian roots. Marc Jacobs approached the maxi dress with a grunge twist to it. His designs incorporated flannels, slips and layered pieces to create a laid-back, rebellious vibe. Known for her bridal gowns, Vera Wang elevated the maxi dress through the use of luxury fabrics and intricate details to her pieces to wear to either formal or everyday gatherings.
In the media today, Llerena noticed certain celebrities such as Hailey Bieber and Zendaya for wearing maxi fashion.
“Hailey often adds a modern twist with edgy accessories, while Zendaya brings a chic and versatile touch,” Llerena said. “Influencers like Emma Chamberlain and Addison Rae also embrace maxi styles, showing how they can be fun, trendy and perfect for everyday wear.”
“Maxi and midi are timeless,” said Fitzpatrick. “In recent years, the whole mini and micro mini skirt thing has been huge. So, I think it’s a little bit almost subversive at this point to wear something longer like that. It sticks out more. It’s different than your whole legs being out.”
Whether you’re getting ready for that boat party you’ve been wanting to attend all week or a special day with a special someone, maxi fashion may be what you’re looking for to give you an effortless, yet classy look.
words_ariella green. photo_valeria barbaglio. design_charlotte deangelis.
This article was published in Distraction’s Fall 2024 print issue.
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