Point of Reference: Maxi Dress
It’s hard to remember a time when the maxi dress wasn’t in every girl’s closet and in every other store. This ubiquitous dress has been around long enough that it is easy to forget where it started. Oscar de la Renta is credited with creating the first true maxi dress in 1968 when he made a cotton lace dress for the Elizabeth Arden salon. And so, a fashion star was born. Designers latched onto the trend, with YSL, Dior, and others showing maxi dresses in the 1970s. By the end of the 70s, the maxi dress trend was waning as suits with shoulder pads came into vogue in the 80s and grunge in the 90s.
The new generation of maxi dresses has been revamped. Gone are the ankle grazing lengths and heavy polyesters, replaced by even lower hemlines and light cottons and chiffons. These modern takes of an old favorite have been worn by the likes of Kate Moss, Mary-Kate Olsen, and Kate Hudson. We love this Betsey Johnson sheer lace maxi in Kate’s Closet as an updated version of the original.
Wear with flats and a cool hat for a casual daytime look or wear statement jewels and heels for an evening look.
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