Last year when I first started seeing maxi dresses, I was really hoping that it would be one of those trends that would come and go away. Maxi dresses were firmly categorized in my mind as beach/resort/boho wear and therefore had no place on the streets. But it seems that maxi dresses are here stay in the city for at least another year (they even have their own dress category on Shopbop!, I think I’m finally coming around to them!  The key is to find the right maxi dress that has the right balance between the beach and the city. Here are a few suggestions:

Choose bold colorful prints and stay away from tie dye and ethnic paisley prints. Those make you look like they picked it up from the markets in Bali. Nothing against picking things up on the streets of Bali, but if you’re going to spend more than $150 on a maxi dress, it should at least look the price. These ones here will take you from from the beach and into the city. For the city, you might also consider whipping on a cute crop denim jacket or leather jacket (depending on the weather) to make it look edgier.

Then there are the romantic floral prints. They are girly, flirty and summery. I am in LOVE with the Jill Stuart dress here (left). The bold colors and floral pattern strikes just the right balance between looking old fashion and looking chic. I also love the Elizabeth and James dress in the middle. Check out the tulip hem!

I also came acrosss some pretty prints/colors/styles that were pretty refreshing. I love Alice and Olivia dress (center). It looks like a water color! And the halter neckline of the Only Hearts dress (right) is interesting. It reminds me of a dress S wore in GG last season!

When all else fails, stick to the basics. Kiera Knightley and Lauren Conrad here are the epitome of keeping it simple. All you need to do is switch in your large tote bag and flip flops, for a clutch and some killer heels for the night!

Image Source: Saks and Shopbop