Sandhya Garg — Guest Editorial
The Maxi Dress, Decoded
History · Styling · The Perfect Travel Dress · By Angelica Guillen of Stylehopping
Quick Answer
A maxi dress is a full-length dress that reaches the ankle or floor — and it's arguably the single most useful thing you can pack for a warm-weather trip. One garment, no coordinating required, dressed up or down entirely through shoes and accessories. It entered the modern fashion vocabulary in the late 1960s and has outlasted trend cycle after trend cycle since. Below: where it actually came from, how to style it, and ten designer maxi dresses worth packing.
Planning a vacation and not sure what to wear? A maxi dress could be the answer to your needs. It's the best piece of clothing to bring on a trip for a number of reasons — and not just a comfortable travel dress, either. Maxi dresses are fashionable and contemporary, and designers like Sandhya Garg make them count in their collections.
I've travelled in maxi dresses across the Caribbean and beyond, and I keep coming back to the same conclusion: nothing else earns its suitcase space quite like one.
In This Guide
The Real History of the Maxi Dress
The long dress has a longer run than most people assume. Fashion archives from the 1930s show natural and empire-waist crepe gowns, mostly in solid colours with oversized necklines but nothing extravagant. The 1940s continued with simple shapes and richer florals, kept minimal by wartime rationing. By the 1950s the economy had stabilised, women began spending again, and the fashion world delivered: chiffon and tulle princess gowns in pastels. The 1960s brought bright colour and psychedelic florals.
But the maxi as we know it has a surprisingly traceable origin. According to fashion history research, the word "maxi" first surfaced in American newspapers in a July 1966 syndicated report from Paris — and the craze is often credited to an unlikely source: the flowing costumes of Doctor Zhivago in 1965.
Then, in 1968, The New York Times highlighted a cotton lace maxi designed by Oscar de la Renta for the Elizabeth Arden Salon — and the silhouette had its mainstream moment. Yves Saint Laurent, Dior, Cardin, Biba, and Halston all followed. Maxi-length skirts had already begun outpacing the mini in 1967; the dress and the maxi coat followed close behind.
The maxi dress has evolved past being a trend. It's a timeless fashion item — it has won a permanent spot in our closets.
In the 1970s it stayed on trend with a twist: duller prints, tiny florals, lace, cotton and polyester blends, silhouettes borrowed from the Edwardian and Victorian eras. The 1980s combined 1940s shoulders with a 1950s bodice and a stronger, sexier line. Then it largely vanished for two decades — and came back stronger than ever. Its versatility makes it the perfect travel companion, and every season designers put their best versions on the runway.
The Chiara Dress — Resort Wear
Sandhya Garg, Project Runway Season 13 finalist, created the Chiara Dress — as she describes it, “made of luxurious 100% cotton, featuring Amalfi coast inspired Madras checks.” A long, flowy dress with an asymmetrical cut and artisanal embellishments.
The length is perfect for taller women, and the back design is fresh and innovative. It's one of a kind, with three different patterns linked by a beautiful lace panel — I wore it throughout a trip to the Dominican Republic and it was a show stopper every time.
SHOP THE CHIARA DRESS →When and How to Wear a Flowy Maxi Dress
The Chiara works for weekend activities, a resort stay, a festival, family gatherings — and it's the ideal choice on vacation, especially in cotton for warm destinations. The same is true of any well-made maxi.
The real magic is in how far you can move it up or down the formality scale without changing the dress at all:
Dress it down
Wear a maxi with sneakers for a comfortable, casual look. Add a Panama hat and you'll look effortlessly chic without trying.
Dress it up
Add a belt to accentuate your waist, then a necklace and earrings to complete the look. The same dress reads formal with one change of shoe.
Wear it year-round
Layer with a denim or leather jacket for cooler temperatures, or add a long-sleeve shirt underneath for warmth. Solid or print, strappy or long-sleeved — it works in every season.
Shop the Chiara Dress here →
A maxi dress is a wardrobe staple any traveller should consider packing when discovering new destinations. One dress, endless outfits — which is exactly what you want when your suitcase has a weight limit.
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The Maxi Edit · Artisanal · XS to 3XL
Ten Maxi Dresses Worth Packing
Original prints and hand craft in full length — every one of them dressable up or down with nothing but a change of shoes.
All pieces XS · S · M · L · XL · XXL · XXXL · Custom sizing available · Free US shipping over $250
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is a maxi dress?
A full-length dress that reaches the ankle or floor. It's distinct from a midi (which stops mid-calf) and can come in almost any silhouette — A-line, wrap, halter, kaftan, or fitted.
When did the maxi dress become popular?
The word "maxi" first appeared in American newspapers in July 1966, and the style broke through in 1968 when The New York Times highlighted a cotton lace maxi that Oscar de la Renta designed for the Elizabeth Arden Salon. Yves Saint Laurent, Dior, Cardin, Biba, and Halston adopted it soon after.
Are maxi dresses good for travel?
Exceptionally. One garment replaces a full coordinated outfit, most pack flat without wrinkling badly, and the same dress can go from a beach walk to a dinner reservation with just a change of shoes and accessories.
Can you wear a maxi dress if you're petite?
Yes — the trick is a defined waist (belt it, or choose a wrap or empire style) and a hemline that clears the floor rather than pooling. A high-slit or vertical print also lengthens the line. Custom sizing is worth asking about if length is a persistent issue.
What shoes go with a maxi dress?
Sneakers for casual daytime, flat sandals for the beach or resort, and a wedge or block heel to dress the same dress up for evening. The shoe does most of the formality work.
Words & Photography By
Angelica Guillen
Angelica Guillen is a model, blogger, and actress born and raised in the Dominican Republic. She writes about fashion, beauty, lifestyle, and travel at Stylehopping — where you'll find more of her destination style guides and wardrobe essentials, including her take on the timeless off-the-shoulder top. All text and photographs in this article are hers.
About the Designer
Sandhya Garg is a Project Runway Season 13 designer who won two challenges on the show and presented her collection at Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week. She studied womenswear at London College of Fashion and worked at Alexander McQueen, Gucci, Liberty London, and Alice Temperley. Her Los Angeles label creates limited-edition artisanal maxi dresses and resort wear — featured in Marie Claire, Elle, Cosmopolitan, and Vogue online — in sizes XS–3XL with custom sizing available.
Keep Reading
The Fundamentals
What Is Resort Wear?
The complete guide.
Destination Style
Dressing for a Caribbean Vacation
Island-by-island, where this dress was worn.
Colour
Dopamine Dressing
The real science of wearing colour.
Shop
All Maxi Dresses
Every length, print, and silhouette.
Project Runway · Vogue · Marie Claire · XS–3XL
One dress. Endless outfits.
Sandhya Garg is a Los Angeles boutique creating limited-edition artisanal maxi dresses in original prints — built to travel, built to last. Sizes XS–3XL, custom sizing available.
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