How to get away with never wearing heels again Pt. 4 Maxi Dresses

Ah, the maxi- my favorite length! 

1. Top Left: Soft, boho, and ornate. Echoing this in a sandal makes a perfect outfit. A buttery soft boot or bootie could also work. Valkyrie, Maenad, Nymph, DP.

2. Bottom Left: funky stripes knit is striking and high energy. A shoe to match that is color, shiny, and pointy. A boot or booty could work here as well. I like the idea of a boot that is a bit witchy or Victorian. Jelly sandals could be fun. If you can pull off a dress this funky, you probably have a lot of room to play in your shoe choice- just avoid anything too classy.

3. Top Right: A kimono feeling with a 3/4 wide sleeve, V-neck, and vertical draping. I love the idea of a velvet loafer in red, or metallic sandals with a bit of sparkle. Nymph, Fae, Maenad.

4. Bottom Right: Green mermaid gown with an off-center shallow v and a bit of pleating detail. It really calls for only the most dressy of flats. Metallic, ornate, and pointed toe is a good choice. Maybe a metallic sandal with a bit of detailing. Maybe a pointed toe slip on or slingback if it's lush enough- soft and embroidered with metallic thread. Nymph, Seer.

5. Center: A solid heathered grey with a bit of asymmetry in the neck and hemline. Any shoe that is funky/unexpected or sporty will work. Ballet flats with an interesting print could work. A truly dressy flat would look odd, but otherwise the options are open. What types do you see possible here?

The post series on How To Get Away With Never Wearing Heels Again has concluded and you can find it all here:

Part One: Mini Dresses

Part Two: Mini Skirts

Part Three: Midi Dresses

Part Four: Maxi Dresses

Part Five: Pants

Part Six: Jeans

Summary and Type Specifics

How to Get Away With Never Wearing Heels Again Pt. 3 Midi dresses and skirts

Whew, we got through the mini skirts and dresses, which in my opinion is the hardest to do with flats. Midis are more in my purview. We are continuing to pair flats to fit the mood of the outfit, as a way to illustrate that there is a flat for every outfit that will look fabulous.

From left to right:

1. This knit, sleeveless, sheath midi is a bit sporty and a bit casual, but could be dressed up some as well. Everything but the sweetest or most formal of shoes will work, which leaves a lot of room. I chose textured loafers with metallic toe caps to push it in a funky direction. I think it would look great with a pair of sneakers. The shoes in the left column as well as the bottom row would all work. A dressy sandal would be pretty. Flatform slides are another good option. It would work well for some Maenads, and probably some Nymphs as well.

2. Cocktail bodycon dresses remain the most difficult challenge for flats, but these work well because they're closed toe, pointed toe, and have some blingy detailing. Adding a very small heel would drastically increase the dressiness. It's great for Maenads, possibly for some Valkyrie, possible for some Seers, and maybe even a few Magic Queens with the right jacket.

3. This one is too easy, right? Very Audrey Hepburn. The combination of the floral print, the fitted higher neck bodice, and the full skirt require a shoe that is also rounded and fairly dressy. There is a world of ballet flats that would pair perfectly, as well as simple (not too detailed or ornate or flashy) peep-toe flats. This could work for the right Magic Queen or Angel.

4. A really plain t-shirt midi calls for a flat with personality. This flat has color, straps, and a print. Most flats would work with this dress. I would avoid rounded toes (too sweet) and shiny fabrics (too dressy). This would really take the right person and accessories to be a good look. Possibly Fae or Valkyrie.

5. This is another really versatile look- the dress is a solid color, fitted but not clingy, with enough detailing to not be boring but still have lots of room to add personality in accessories. It could be personalized to work for any type. The point on the shoe wouldn't be best for everyone, but I imagine there is someone in each type for whom it would work. The dress and shoe are both fairly plain and need personality through accessories. 

6. This dress and shoe are both full of personality, and thus limited in terms of type. The pointed white brogues with silver metal bars I chose to emphasize a funky kind of cool. The dress is funky in print and detailing but the a-line adds some sweetness. The brogue pushes against that sweetness and this juxtaposition creates energy. Most styles of flats could work with it, and the best flat will be one that adds up to your authentic beauty. As-is, I imagine this outfit for Mermaids.

7. A plain black midi skirt could be pushed in any direction depending on the top and shoes chosen. I really like the way plain knit midi skirts look when pushed in a sporty direction, and so chose sneakers. The top could be a tee half tucked in, or a sweatshirt with a print or design on it. You could just as easily do a list blouse and a ballet flat. The skirt could be paired with any of the other eight shoes in this set, depending on the look you're going for. 

8. A floral bodycon midi needs a shoe with a bit of flirtyness- no black ballet flats here, please. The tropical feel to the print makes a colored sandal a great choice. Sneakers, brogues, loafers, and boots would look out of place on the whole. 

9. Closed toe flats- ballet or pointed, slingbacks, and dressy sandals are all nice choices. A glossy tall black boot would be an unexpected sexy twist. A sneaker or saddle shoe would be playful. 

What types do you see for 7, 8, and 9 as they are?

The post series on How To Get Away With Never Wearing Heels Again has concluded and you can find it all here:

Part One: Mini Dresses

Part Two: Mini Skirts

Part Three: Midi Dresses

Part Four: Maxi Dresses

Part Five: Pants

Part Six: Jeans

Summary and Type Specifics

Mix & Match Wardrobes are Overrated

Separates, separates everywhere! Mix-n-match separates! Believe me, I understand why they are everywhere- they are loved because we currently live in a culture of hyper casual dress, and they are lauded as providing more wardrobe options as they are mixed and matched (which adds even more emphasis to casual appearance). I need to tell you, there is a dark side to separates. I'm especially lookin' at you sister capsule bloggers.

Tell me that the above set I created doesn't look painfully familiar. Why are so many wardrobes so horribly lacking in personality?

Separates are overrated because:

1. Casual is not the epitome of progress. It has a use and a place, but the way we present ourselves is a huge communication tool, and I like to think there is more to be visually communicated than "I'm on break from marathon Netflix in bed". 

2. When your goal is to maximize mix-match-ability, you will be forced to choose fairly plain items and rely almost entirely on accessories for visual personality. This isn't bad, but I think you could do better.

3. It doesn't flatter many people to create the line breaks that this separates approach takes, and it takes more effort to blend the line and complete a cohesive look than if you had chosen a smashing dress or suit. There are casual dresses and suits that would launch you so far from Netflix in bed. 

4. Option overload. Sure, you have a closet full of separates, but do you actually wear and pair them all? Do you enjoy it? Wouldn't it be easier to have a handful of complete looks just ready for you to grab and go, knowing it's already fabulous?

5. While the separates approach doesn't look awful on very many people, it also isn't enhancing anyone, due to the profound lack of flavor. Solids in neutrals (white, grey, navy, brown, cream, blue denim/chambray) are really really great. As filler. They are what you use when the rest of the outfit is loud and has already made the statement of YOU. Or you wear solids in neutrals as a statement themselves- modern/minimal, but in this case, there is a large burden placed on the style of the garment(s) to make a statement. A white button-up and a black skirt aren't going to do it. A white button up with sheer panels and bell sleeves, and a black midi skirt with fabric knots/twists and an asymmetric hem might do it- for a subdued look.

I get wanting wardrobe to be easy and to be comfortable. I even get wanting to blend into the crowd in a way that is aesthetically pleasing without calling attention to yourself. But you're reading my blog, and I want more for you. We can do easy and comfortable (not pajama comfortable, but easy walking comfortable), but we have to do it in a way that really sees you, and then chooses to enhance what it sees. Death to mix and match wardrobes.

This capsule wardrobe was put together quickly, and without anyone in particular in mind, so it isn't as cohesive as it could be, but if you ask me any day of the week which wardrobe I'd want, or which I'd want to see on someone, I will hands down always choose this second capsule.

The first/typical capsule has 240 possible combinations, each as dull as the last. It's an impressive number from 15 pieces. With the personality capsule, 14 pieces makes 80 possible combinations. If you added another pant of some kind, you could have 15 pieces and 128 possible combinations- still only half that of the first, but how many do you need? How many combinations will you wear? What makes you feel expressed and joyful to wear? What's easier to look great in?

 

Thank-you for indulging my agitation. I truly understand the appeal of neutral-heavy, mix & match, separates, and I will continue to help you wrangle them and make them work as you wish. Just know that there is another way of doing things, and it could be even better.