Maxi Dresses Biography
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One of the earliest appearances of the “Maxi-Dress” was in 1968. The New York Times highlighted a cotton lace version by Osca de La Renta that he created for Elizabeth Arden Salon. More notable designers such as YSL, Dior, Cardin, Biba, Halston and others would latch on to the style as well.
Maxi-length skirts had begun to outdo the mini skirt in 1967, and the dress (as well as the maxi-coat) soon followed. Maxi styles quickly grabbed hold in London. Doctor Zhivago (1965) is often credited with igniting the craze for Maxi style (along with the tandem trend for “Midi” style skirts) due to its use of large flared coats over suit trousers. Initially, Maxi-dresses appeared lacey and slightly shorter than ankle length (while today’s versions seem to be mostly cotton jersey and down to the heel).
However, it was not until the 1970s that the Maxi-dress lodged itself firmly in the American mind (in all its polyester splendor), along with similar caftan and boho styles. By the late 1970s, it had become associated with the unfashionable and out of date (such as Mrs. Roper on Three’s Company).
The Maxi Dress; An undeniable wardrobe essential for style conscious women everywhere! No longer simply reserved for effortless glamour during the summer months, Maxi dresses have affirmed their position as a perennial style staple worn day or night. Whether you prefer a floaty, bohemian vibe or choose to opt for a city chic column dress, the maxi dress provides the perfect option for making your very own style statement.
Deeply rooted in the1960’s the maxi dress was embraced by early hippies as a remedy to the popular inclination for mini-skirts and ever decreasing hemlines. With 67’s Summer Of Love heralding a social shift towards counter culture the hippy look grew much more mainstream. It was the late great Oscar De La Renta who is attributed with adapting the maxi dress style and popularizing the trend, with movies such as Dr Zhivago romancing the flowing silhouettes as seen on Julie Christie.
The 1970’s embraced the look with open arms, recreating the iconic shape with exotic inspirations, heavily influenced by new print techniques. Ossie Clark led the charge in creating elegant ethereal shapes that embodied grace and femininity. Ossie’s signature floral printed maxi dresses defined a generation, giving rise to the ultra-feminine Goddess that characterizes the period.
As fashion moved into the 80’s the maxi was dismissed in favour of shoulder pad-centric power dressing. During the 1990s androgynous style became de rigueur and the femininity and romance of the maxi dress was rejected in favour or casual chic dressing inspired by sportswear and grunge.
The millennium proved important in reviving the maxi shape. Super model Kate Moss influences the acceptance of the trend when she was spotted in an ultra-feminine tiered paisley number for a friend’s wedding in Ibiza. Celebrities quickly followed suit with some of the decades most favored dresses being in maxi style.
Maxi dresses have been around for quite a while, dating back to 1968. The first version appears to have been a cotton lace version by Oscar de La Renta created for Elizabeth Arden Salon. This style was then picked up by more notable designers such as YSL, Dior, Cardin, Biba and Halston. The maxi dress was first lacy and slightly shorter than ankle length. It wasn’t until the 1970’s that the maxi had become a must-have fashion item. But unfortunately the maxi dress’ success was short lived and by the late 1970’s it was out of style.
As we all know the maxi has, in recent years, made its come back along with the bohemian styles, albeit slightly changed from its 1970’s guise. When they first returned, the maxi dresses were still slightly above the ankle but quickly became floor length. From there they went on to reinvent themselves over the seasons and occasionally within seasons. Sporting everything from strap tops to halter necks as well as slits… the maxi has done it all.
In its recent change from summer to winter wear the maxi changed to a heavier material and long sleeves to keep in fashion as well as keeping us warm! This season shows the maxi taking on the guise as a caftan, as well as showing off fitted bodice and with tank top styles.
The maxi has also shown its versatility in these seasons, slipping easily between day and nightwear, often simply by changing accessories! This season it is no different and the maxi shows off its simple elegance harking back to its roots, with lace numbers perfect for sipping a cocktail on holiday shores or for long summer evenings and BBQ’s. With bright colours and embellishments, maxi dresses are here to stay for quite a while. Check out the collection of summer dresses available at Very.co.uk as they have a great range of maxi dresses.
Whether you are a boho-chic trendsetter on your way to your next event, a free spirit gathering organic produce, or simply trying to escape the sweltering summer heat, chances are your go-to garment is an easy, floor-length maxi dress. While floor-length day dresses have been around for ages, the maxi dress in all of its glory has only been with us for a few decades. From its humble beginnings on the runways of Paris to muddy music festivals, glitter-filled discotheques and, finally, your closet, this wardrobe staple is way more than the poster garment for flower children.
The Maxi Dress is Born The maxi dress made its debut in 1968 at Elizabeth Arden Salon. Designed by Oscar de La Renta for Elizabeth Arden, the cotton lace dress that floated about the model’s ankles and was highlighted by "The New York Times" was a far cry from the floor-grazing maxi dresses of today. While de La Renta’s creation was not truly a maxi dress in the modern sense, it did cause quite a stir in the fashion world, where designers like Yves St. Laurent, Biba, Halston, Dior and Cardin picked up the new silhouette, and a trend was born.
Maxi in the Making Although the maxi dress seemingly sprang from thin air, longer hems had been creeping into stores throughout the 1960s and were giving mini skirts and dresses a run for their money by the end of the decade. Maxi hems on dresses, skirts and coats initially took hold in London before migrating around the world, due in part to feminist backlash against mini styles and the popularity of the movie "Doctor Zhivago," which featured maxi coats over suit trousers. Like the de La Renta dress that brought the maxi to the forefront, these early maxi skirts and dresses were usually made of cottony lace and fell slightly shorter than ankle length.
Maxi Hems Rule the '70s The maxi dress may have begun its life in the late '60s, but it wasn’t until the 1970s that it firmly embedded itself in the closets of Americans. Throughout the decade, maxi length kaftans and bohemian styles were worn by hippies and trendsetting foxy-ladies during the day. When night fell, halter neck maxi dresses in slinky, light reflecting fabrics were worn with sky-high platforms to the discos that have become synonymous with the era. However, as the 1970s came to a close, the maxi dress that was once beloved by all had fallen out of fashion.
Modern Maxi While the maxi hem may have become the calling card of out-of-date spinsters and quirky sitcom neighbors, by the 1990s maxi skirts and dresses were poised for a comeback. No longer made of cottony lace or the heavy polyester of the 1970s, today’s maxi dresses are made from lightweight fabrics that float and sway about the wearer’s heels. Available in a wide array of colors, fabrics and cuts, modern maxi dresses can take you from a morning running errands to a night on the town with only a quick accessory change.
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