Photo: Rex
If there is one item of clothing that symbolises the summer, it is the maxi. Long, floaty, packed with Talitha Getty charm, it says sunny days and relaxed chic more than any other piece.
But forget that. The moment has passed. The summer, readers, is over. (Sigh).
Fortunately, the maxi is not. More resilient than our British summer will ever be, the maxi is set to endure for Autumn/Winter. But, without the safety blanket of bare shoulders, open-toed flats and enormous sunglasses, how exactly do we wear one?
The answer lies mainly in the faithful woolly jumper. Come autumn, the maxi takes on a more slouchy, 1970s insouciance – think Ali McGraw in Love Story or Olivia Palermo sat on the front row at a chilly February fashion week.
Wool blends, tweeds or chunkier knits from the likes of Bruno Cucinelli and Schumacher, worn over heavier maxi skirts or dresses and paired with biker boots (the maxi should still sit with flats and benefits from a touch of toughness) makes the look truly winter friendly.
For the finest winter maxis, look no further than Etro (think paisley prints), Splendid (think easy-going jersey) and Eskander (think the perfect work skirt – yes, a maxi can work in the office).
To avoid being lost in those voluminous shapes, just add a belt around the waist of your jumper. And finally, don't be afraid to combine contrasting colours and prints – there's a boho girl behind every maxi and she just loves to mix things up.