Welcome to the age of body-unconscious dressing, not to be confused with Gwyneth Paltrow’s conscious uncoupling. Rather, this is the new wave of floating ephemeral silhouettes, liberating women from the tyranny of hip-gripping, bosom-binding, bod-con dresses.
The trend took flight with romantic maxi dresses floating down the Paris runway at Chloé and Zimmermann before drifting into the collections of Alemais, Bianca Spender and Lee Mathews on a gentle breeze.
Here are the best ways to push the volume to the max this season.
Don’t fear the sheer
With billowing sleeves, full skirts and the liberal application of ruffles and ties, it’s easy to lose yourself in a maxi dress. Go for sheer fabrics which catch the breeze and ripple by simply raising a figure, revealing the women within, without giving away too much.
We are not talking about exposing as much skin as Margot Robbie in her barely there Armani Privé gown at the London premiere of A Big Bold Beautiful Journey. Sheer fabrics should hint at what’s beneath rather than allowing passers-by to know where you buy your underwear.
Zimmermann “Rebellion” blouse, $1250. Lee Mathews “Alexia” skirt, $669.Credit: Jedd Cooney
Alémais dress, POA.Credit: Jedd Cooney
Embrace your curves
The romantic maxi dress is flattering for curvy figures. The lighter, sheer fabrics skim the body and conceal areas you may love less with the effectiveness of Spanx but none of the pain. Exhale with ease and embrace the figure flattery of diaphanous dressing along with a bowl of pasta.
Many romantic maxi dresses also feature an abundance of adjustable ties and an excess of fabric that allows you to adjust waistlines for last-minute curve customisation. If your figure is closer to one of Giacometti’s slim sculptures than Botticelli’s Venus, those same straps and ties can craft curves more easily than a Pilates class.
Lee Mathews “Liana” dress, $1399.Credit: Jedd Cooney
A preference for pastels
Heavy blacks and navy blue can weigh the sheerest of fabrics down, making you look like you’re auditioning for a coven, or airing your tablecloth. Pale yellows, baby blues, sea greens and soft stone keep the mood light.
If you’re playing with big blouses and skirts to achieve the maxi silhouette, keep the palette of both items towards the pastel end of the spectrum rather than contrasting with a darker shade that will overwhelm the effect and inevitably anchor the eye in one place.
Some sheer fabrics will require layering a camisole or slip underneath. Stick to whites, beige and pale colours or the underpinnings will unintentionally steal the show.
Lee Mathews “Alexia” blouse, $599. Bianca Spender “Efuse” skirt, $595.Credit: Jedd Cooney
Added extras
Apply a minimalist filter to maxi dressing. Be careful of straying into boho territory by adding a wide leather belt or breaking out the fringed suede handbag – even Sienna Miller and Kate Moss have left that look behind. Rather than try to tame the silhouette beneath a buckle, let it float.
Resist, too, the urge to ground your look with chunky loafers or boots and lean into the ultra-feminine with strappy sandals, low espadrilles, or flats that allow you to feel the breeze. High heels are best avoided unless you’ve mastered the art of walking in dresses with hems that skim the ground; there’s nothing romantic about face-planting in four metres of fabric.
Fashion director: Penny McCarthy. Hair: Travis Balcke. Make-up: Aimie Fiebig using Charlotte Tilbury. Styling assistant: Abbey Stockwell. Model: Wioletta at Chic.
