Thanks to its breezy silhouette, an extensive range of prints, and a wide spectrum of colors, maxi dresses pretty much double as cover-ups once summer rolls around. But when styled correctly, a maxi dress doesn't have to be worn exclusively at the beach—it can be given a street-chic appeal for a city stroll or elevated for a black-tie affair. Combined with its ground-grazing length, the effect is dramatic. For photographic proof, we rounded up our favorite street-style snaps that have us reaching for our maxi dress, stat. Scroll through to learn from these chic snaps and then shop a few of our favorite maxis, below.
Maxi DressesTap your inner minimalist
Do away with the frills and stick with a chic maxi shirtdress and neutral sandals.
Toughen up a too-delicate dress
Top a pretty chiffon dress with a denim jacket and boots to take away the too-precious feel.
