So, now that I have made my (probably abysmal) attempt at delving into the mind of one Laura J. M. , it is now my turn to defend why I not only own a few maxi dresses myself, but find they can be quite the fashion statement to a wardrobe. To begin, I am even shorter than our average 5'4" lady, coming in at a nice 5'2.5" so if any fashion is going to make a girl look shorter, that would be me to a T. Also, I am very susceptible to being swallowed by a pattern being of a petite size. But this does give me a firm advantage in the realm of maxi dresses (not to sound conceited). Maxi Dresses must be worn very carefully; if not done so, they will look completely unflattering unless you are in that 1% anorexic model section of the population. Yes, I am petite, but again that leads to being overwhelmed by a pattern. That in mind, let's take a look at a few of the key points in finding the right maxi dress for you.
Confidence
This is the most important factor to rocking any outfit, as I am sure Laura would tell you any day, being the front-runner of the Fabulous (yes, this is now a noun). If you have confidence in your body (the one you actually have, not the one you *think* you *should* have) you can rock almost anything. Of course, you should be prudent. There are just some things no one can pull off, and it is important to recognize a losing battle when you see one. But if you are confident in your body, you WILL carry yourself differently and have a much better chance at succeeding in that fashion adventure you chose. Personally, I truly love wearing an outfit that pushes the boundaries of accepted norms. So be bold, chose that dress that brings out the sexy in you... But in order to truly do this, you must begin with confidence and love of yourself. I knew a girl in college who could rock anything she wanted to, just by the fierceness of her self-confidence. And she was 5'0" and had some amazing curves.
Next, you want to make sure you aren't being lost in a pattern or print. This is especially important for those of us that are short. I own two maxi dresses and both have prints. Again, I am short. The trick here is the kind of pattern you have chosen. If you are planning on doing an all-over pattern, make sure it isn't a "zoomed-in" pattern. It needs to be a smaller pattern for it to be okay when enveloping your entire body. If it is too much, you will just be lost in a sea of kaleidoscopes. My other dress is a solid colored dress with one big flower print on it. The flower print is large yes, but not all-encompassing. So you notice the print but I am not lost in the midst.
Silhouette is also very important to pay attention to. Should you go with an empire waist? More likely than not, no. I frequently run into the issue of not wanting to appear pregnant. If you feel this way as well, be careful which empire-waisted dress you choose. This is frequently a by-product... If you are pregnant, however, go for the completely-boho-mama look and work the empire waist! Neckline is also a big player here. Halter, strapless, spaghetti straps... the list goes on. Know what flatters your body the best and go with that. Frequently, the ladies who are a little top-heavy need some additional support. So go with a halter top (not deep-V) and be confident in the curves God gave you. If you are wanting to show off that narrow waist of yours, be sure to pick a bust line that will assist with this, and by all means - add a belt! What if you have "boy-hips"? Well, why not try a dropped waist? Show off the body you do have, and add a little fun to the hips you have.
Find a pattern or print that not only suits your body, but your personality as well. Clothes should be a megaphone for the kind of persona we are attempting to portray. If you are being subtly sexy, why not try a dark colored maxi dress with no pattern or print at all? Let your body and confidence do the talking. I guarantee you will be noticed. If you are going for drama, try an understated animal print. And everyone loves some variety... try a different neckline or a dropped back. There are so many options out there, but don't settle for one you are not confident in. Chose a dress that shows off the features you are most proud of (albeit not too much) and a pattern that is fun and flirty.
Also, my personal favorite trait of the maxi dress:
They are incredibly Boho!!!
So what, exactly does this mean? Well to explain that would mean to explain the meaning of "boho". I'm not sure this is something that can be explained so much as felt. It is a spirit of adventure and freedom. The idea of not being tied down by the world, but taking up challenges and risks with a fiery passion. It is the love of nature and the smell of honeysuckles. It is truly owning a sense of self and having pride in who you are. But most of all, it is a free spirit, one living life to the fullest and never tainted by the cares of this world. Living every moment in the hand of an Almighty God and feeling blessed by every life-giving breath. Knowing that each day is a gift, not to be squandered but to make the most of. That is what it truly means to me to be Livin' Boho Chic. (Not to mention having a great fashion sense!)
If this doesn't make sense to you; well, are you really Livin' Boho Chic?
Is this Boho as in Bohemian? In the pre-hippy days, it described the avant gard and nontraditional lifestyle of artists -- actors, musicians and painters. It comes from 19th century France where it describes the gypsy neighborhoods of the Romani, a group of people who originally migrated from Czechoslovakia, back in the day when they were known as Bohemian.
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