The Maxi Dress: Dressed Up

If there's one item of clothing I love in the summer it's the maxi dress. You simply cannot go wrong when it comes to the many styles, colors and patterns of the maxi let alone the endless ways in which you can dress a maxi up or down depending on the occasion. It's foolproof.

Years ago, I never owned a maxi dress or even tried them on when I saw them in stores simply because I thought I was too short to wear one. Being 5'2, you'd think a long, floor-length dress would make you look frumpy, even shorter than you already are and just silly. However, I'm happy to say that over the years I've learned (through lots of trial and error) to pick out maxi styles that fit my shorter body type and actually elongate me visually and are the perfect length so I don't find myself tripping all over my dress or having it drag along behind me.

Maxi dresses have become my go-to in the summer for something light, breezy and versatile to wear whether it be for date night, going out with some girlfriends or heading into work. Depending on the styling, you can turn a casual maxi dress into a night out look instantly through accessorizing; or, in reverse, you can dress down a fancier maxi dress so it appears to be laid back and day appropriate.

In my latest styled shoot with local Seattle photographer KNDM Co., I am showcasing how to dress up and dress down your maxi dress.

In this first look, I'm styling a maxi dress for a dressier occasion -- whether it be for a wedding you're attending this summer, a date night or a cocktail party, this outfit, while effortless, looks classy by minimal accessorizing to make the maxi a standout piece.

I'm styling my lavender gray Lulus strapless maxi for a dressier occasion -- I love the pastel shades this summer because they go with everything and look so dreamy.

This outfit, while effortless, looks classy by minimal accessorizing. I'm only wearing a couple of silver stacked bangles from Nordstrom to make the maxi the statement. Since this dress is a bit on the longer side from the type of maxis I typically wear, I'm wearing my nude wedge heels from Brass Plum.

Can we also talk about this dreamy location at the Woodinville Lavender Fields?! Not only was this location breathtaking but it just so happened to compliment my lavender dress perfectly!

My number one rule of thumb for purchasing a maxi? Play with dressing it up and down. While my lavender strapless maxi looks fancy, it can easily be dressed down by throwing a denim jacket over the top and some gladiator sandals. Versatility is the key when you're shopping maxis.