Admit it. When you think of the maxi dress, memories of ankle-grazing iterations to "Big Love" spring to mind. As do the over-tanned wags of the Nineties, or worse still a frantic attempt to hide from fast-approaching middle-age spread.
Yet there is no denying, now that the dust has settled on the Autumn/Winter shows and as editors are beginning to break down the trends, the maxi is creating a bit of a hoo-ha.
The maxi skirt and its painfully awkward little sister, the midi length, have - after a couple of seasons of treading water - finally hit the news-stands. The question is, are we ready to tackle them?
You see, while in print they sound like a wonderful idea - grown-up, elegant, flattering and feminine - in reality they are downright difficult to wear.
So why are we all so scared? Well, for a start, for the last five seasons we have been used to slinging on one piece. Be it the smock or the jumpsuit, it seems we have forgotten how to put outfits together anymore. All of a sudden we have to start thinking colour combinations, to tuck in or not to tuck in, and what to pair with what. In short, we are flummoxed by separates, stuck in a cycle of less is more.
Yet if we rationalise, there is nothing remotely prim or staid about the new maxi. Forget flouncy, Holly Golightly beach dresses, as the current versions are actually rather modern - fun, even.
Think in opposites. If your bottom half is strong and structured, go loose on top. If you lean towards a more ballet-inspired style, go for a tightly buttoned-up shirt in order to balance. Speaking of tucking in, make sure to do it; this is the key to mastering the maxi. An untucked top half will only add unwanted bulk and lose impact to the finished look.
When it comes to shoes, they have, have, have to be flat. If you are desperate, perhaps a wedge, but any sort of a heel and you cross back into Nineties territory. Or tartiness. Or, worst case, both.
So now that summer - that thick fog of unbearable heat that's gaining momentum as fast as tumbleweed - is well and truly on its way, perhaps this is exactly the right time to give the new length a whirl.
Because before we know it, being able to experiment with anything more than a cotton smock will be nothing more than melancholy.
m-ometer
This week's highs and lows
A PERFECT FIT The Ex-Vogue Paris editor Carine Roitfeld will join the team at Barneys New York. Way to spruce up their look.
ON THIN ICE Why has Dsquared2 come up with these wacky skate shoes? They're a bit much.
SHOE WARS Jimmy Choo's bid for his brand of shoes is reported to be backed by the Malaysian government. We'll keep our fingers crossed for him.
SHOULDER BURDEN It's all about rucksacks and across-the-body bags now.
TRESS TO IMPRESS Will Jennifer Aniston's new bob cause as much of a riot as her famous "The Rachel"?
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Rio de Janeiro from Dh7,000 return including taxes. Avianca fliles from Rio to Cusco via Lima from $399 (Dhxx) return including taxes.
The trip
From US$1,830 per deluxe cabin, twin share, for the one-night Spirit of the Water itinerary and US$4,630 per deluxe cabin for the Peruvian Highlands itinerary, inclusive of meals, and beverages. Surcharges apply for some excursions.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now
Dr Graham's three goals
Short term
Establish logistics and systems needed to globally deploy vaccines
Intermediate term
Build biomedical workforces in low- and middle-income nations
Long term
A prototype pathogen approach for pandemic preparedness
WRESTLING HIGHLIGHTS
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%3Cp%3EAuthor%3A%20Shalash%3Cbr%3ETranslator%3A%20Luke%20Leafgren%3Cbr%3EPages%3A%20352%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20And%20Other%20Stories%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Name: Colm McLoughlin
Country: Galway, Ireland
Job: Executive vice chairman and chief executive of Dubai Duty Free
Favourite golf course: Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club
Favourite part of Dubai: Palm Jumeirah
more from Janine di Giovanni
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs: 2018 Jaguar E-Pace First Edition
Price, base / as tested: Dh186,480 / Dh252,735
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder
Power: 246hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 365Nm @ 1,200rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.7L / 100km
Sreesanth's India bowling career
Tests 27, Wickets 87, Average 37.59, Best 5-40
ODIs 53, Wickets 75, Average 33.44, Best 6-55
T20Is 10, Wickets 7, Average 41.14, Best 2-12
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed