Midaxi and maxi dresses and skirts are on-trend and mainstream. If you like those lengths, milk it and enjoy. If you like the silhouette of a dress and skirt, but feel it’s too long, have it hemmed to a shorter length. Maybe you prefer maxi dresses and skirts at a midaxi length, and midaxis at a midi length. Maybe you like dresses and skirts just below the knee instead of calf-grazing. Shorten them to your sweet spot.

Some of my clients like the look of a maxi dress and skirt, but feel it’s too hot to wear, or a little treacherous to walk in. Hemming it to a midaxi or midi length solves the problem. Sometimes maxi hems have patterned borders and tiers, in which case, decide whether you’re okay to lose the border and shorten the tier. And every so often maxi, midaxi and midi dresses and skirts have complicated hemlines — or sweater dress hemlines — that cannot be hemmed easily, if at all. In that case pass on the style, or make peace with the length.

I’ve hemmed a too long dress to a shorter midi length, and am pleased with the result. I also have a loose-weave knitted midaxi dress that grew to maxi length after laundering that I cannot hem. I LOVE the dress, and have made peace with the longer length. A client of mine fell in love with the Ralph Lauren dress on the right. It fit perfectly and looked smashing. She said she wouldn’t wear it because it was too long, and hard to walk in. To which I replied, hem it to midi length! She did, and is very happy with the results.

As I replace wardrobe items, fill wardrobe holes, refresh my style with carefully chosen trends and classics, create outfits, and select what to wear each day, I ask myself the same questions. Do the items work for my lifestyle and climate? Are the items and vibes aligned with my style goals? Do I like the colours? Do the proportions adhere to my personal figure-flattering priorities? Am I happy with the fabric, fit, quality, price point, and the way the item was produced? Does hubs Greg like the look? Am I physically and emotionally comfortable in the outfit? Can I walk my fast walk with doggies in tow? Do the items and outfits make me happy? Usually, if enough of these boxes are ticked off, the items and outfits are winners.

I also find myself asking one additional question more frequently these days: If not now, when?

More and more, I feel that I need to seize the moment, throw caution to the wind, be more daring, be less practical, and give myself permission to splurge a little more on my style. Cognizant of what we can afford and what I will actually wear, I believe that if I don’t dress the way I really want to dress right now, life will pass me by, and I will not have made the most of it.

That sounds awfully dramatic. Yet, it’s how I feel about many aspects of life lately, and not just about about fashion and style. Maybe it’s because I turn 52 in a couple of months. Maybe it’s because my late Mum left too many things for good and died in her fifties. Maybe I’m making up for two years of pandemic life.

This is why I buy dressy wardrobe items and wear them in very casual Seattle. It’s why I wore a formal tulle skirt to a friend’s house for casual dinner last week. It’s why I wear clashing and monochromatic brights from head to toe, and bought impractical blush pink suede boots to wear in rainy Seattle (although only on dry days). It’s why I frequently wear dresses, skirts, and white wardrobe items. It’s why I wear dressy pants to work from home, and spend a little more on a wardrobe item than I used to.

I am committed to living life more fully, and making it count. That means being more deliberate with my actions and experiences. I am all for waiting because good things come to those who wait. But at some point, waiting to wear and do something can be wrong too.

Today’s shout-out goes to American brand Ralph Lauren. Their collections are trendy classic, varied yet signature, inclusive, and iconic. The brand minimizes their impact on the environment with sustainable materials, chemical management, and responsible design. I rediscovered the brand last year and am thankful I did. I’m a fan of their quality, fits, designs, refinement, natural fibres, and absolutely superb customer service. Ralph Lauren has become a go-to brand of mine. Shipping and returns are fast and easy too.

The roundup includes Ralph Lauren items that can be bought at a discount if you subscribe to their email alerts. I usually receive a 25% discount on the items that I buy, which takes the edge off the pricier items. Be sure to browse the colour and size options.

• Polo Ralph Lauren Classic Fit Plaid Linen Shirt: Best modern classic linen plaid shirt of them all. Impeccable quality and fab fluid fit. Not too boxy. Soft, pretty and elegant. SIX plaids to choose from, so click the link to check them out. I chose this pink and blue, and wore it last week with white jeans. LOVE. Sizes run from XXS to XXL.
• Bella-Vita Betsy Sandal: A pretty, very comfy and striking cage sandal that comes in four neutrals and FOUR widths.
• Polo Ralph Lauren Plaid Linen Pullover Shirt: A gorgeous pop-over shirt for Team Slouchy. It's boxy so consider yourself warned, and size down. The blue is more grey in person.
• Chaus Tie Neck Smocked Blouse: Very pretty boho-lite blouse with a lovely soft lining. The puffy sleeves lie quite flat, and the shirred cuffs are gorgeous. I have it and love it! It's a polyester that feels a lot like silk. I wore it with white boyfriend jeans, shocking pink loafers and jacket, and a white bag, The colours are delicious. Comes in a solid Swiss dot too.
• Polo Ralph Lauren Classic Fit Cotton Eyelet Polo Shirt: This is a WOVEN eyelet polo shirt and another beautiful quality piece. It's soft, pretty, fluid, and fits well if you like polo shirts. I fell in love with it and got it as a high Summer top. 100% cotton and very breezy. If you wear it with a bra that is low contrast to your skin tone, you don't need a camisole. Or wear a nude-for-you or white camisole.
• DKNY Women's Sleeveless Tank Top: A crease-resistant textured knitted top that comes in three colours. Clients like to wear this one with a skirt.
• Bella-Vita Amiyah Sandal: Extremely comfy sandal booties that come in assorted neutrals and FOUR widths.
• WASH LAB DENIM Sway Denim Skirt: If you liked to wear skirts with basques or yokes back in the '80s, you might like this one in denim. Soft, comfy, and different.
• Polo Ralph Lauren The Earth Polo: This is super cute in a beachy and tropical way if you enjoy wearing polo shirts. Well-made and lovely quality. I almost kept it, but liked the white eyelet version more.
• Lauren Ralph Lauren Plus Size Cotton Puffed Sleeve Top: A fab shirt with fab waist tie detailing. Good on Team Tall, and comes in a narrow blue and white stripe.
• Lauren Ralph Lauren Button-Shoulder Striped Top: Simple Stripe Shirt Fabness with shoulder button detailing. Fitted, and comes in white and navy too.
• Lauren Ralph Lauren Beach Club Solid Twist Underwire Tummy-Control One-Piece Swimsuit: A bathing suit that is cut quite modestly, yet feels alluring. It has structured and comfortable support under the bust and on the midsection.
• Polo Ralph Lauren Betany Plaid Cotton Twill Shirtdress: A maximal plaid shirt dress that is fab on Team Blue With Silver Hair. Beautifully made, trendy classic, and can be hemmed to a shorter length.
• Chaus Midi Skirt: If you like to wear easy knitted, pull-on, A-line skirts that cover the knee - this one comes in a few colours and is $59.
• Liverpool Moto Jacket: A toffee denim moto jacket is a unique find, and here it is. Soft, stretchy and comfortable.
• KUT from the Kloth Jasmine Top: A classic blouse that is crease-resistant and runs a size big.
• Josef Seibel Caren 01 Sneaker: VERY comfy, and can work with smaller bunions. Bookends strawberry, ginger and auburn hair very effectively.
• AG Women's Kinsley High Waist Pop Crop Jeans: Fab jeans that work well on a curvier and straighter body type. High but not too high in the rise. You have to be okay with the sandblasted wash down the legs. Consider yourself warned.
• White House Black Market Smocked Waist Blouse: If you wear V-necks well and like a defined waist, this blouse is elegant.
• White House Black Market Multicolored Cable Knit Sweater: An excellent V-neck sweater for mild weather. Good on a larger bust and shorter waist. The welt adds a lovely bit of structure.
• White House Black Market Pinstripe Slim Ankle Pants: These are AWESOME dressier pants if you like tapered hems. Black with an olive pinstripe. There are diagonal pinstripe tuxedo stripes down the sides so click the link to get a better look. Comes in a curvy fit too. Substantial fabric and good fit.

You can see the pictures alongside the items on the collection page.

We see white Summer dresses every season, but will see even more right now as they enjoy their on-trend fashionable moment. Mini, midi, maxi, sleeved, sleeveless, flared, A-line, tiered, sack, shift, sheath, column, empire, swing, crochet, eyelet, smocked, peasant, T-shirt, frilly, halter neck, balloon, ballet, one-shoulder, embroidered, straight, architectural, shirred, ruched, strappy, and shirtdress. Take your pick. The collection below shows a good assortment.

Fabrics are Summery cottons, linens, eyelets, rayons, viscose, silks, lace, or blends of natural and manmade fibres. Fits range from tailored and fluid, to very fluid and oversized. Looks are generally relaxed, beachy, casual, or smart casual, and you’d wear the dresses with casual footwear. There are dressy options too.

White dresses can be a little transparent, so make sure you’re okay with the sheer. In my experience, the sheerness is tempered when silhouettes are roomy and breezy because there is more fabric to create coverage. You can wear a camisole if you like. Also, if a bright white or soft white is not for you, try an off-white, cream or bone.

White dresses can be impractical, and aren’t for everyone. Some look too frilly, boho and angelic, and others too Western. Some white dresses look too much like nighties, and others have a lab coat vibe. Some people feel washed out in white, and simply prefer dresses in other colours. 

I’d love to get a casual white Summer dress, and it’s on my shopping list. They scream relaxing, hot Summer days to me, and look awfully pretty and crisp. I’ve tried on a few that were in fabric I didn’t like, or the necklines were too wide, or the length was too short, or the sleeves were too filly, or the sleeves were overwhelming. I’d prefer a white dress in textured fabric, to help break up the expanse of flat, bright white. I’d probably go for a sleeved and flared tiered dress, or shirt dress, and welcome eyelet and smocking too.

Over to you. What do you think of the white dress trend?