Tuesday 11 September 2012

How to Wear... the Mixi (aka Drop Hem / Hi Lo / Waterfall / Fishtail etcetera...)

I don't know why the term mixi hasn't really caught on, but I'm still going to champion it - why oh why would you want to call something so pretty a mullet? Shudder. A mixture of the mini and the maxi (or the mini and the midi, or even the midi and the maxi), this asymmetric skirt/dress shape is perfect for the indecisive, especially the indecisive who harbour secret desires to be a princess.

Since these only dropped onto the fashion scene relatively recently, I haven't had time to build up as dauntingly humungous a collection of them as I have of other cuts, which may come as a relief (to you as well as me!), but I am still irrevocably hooked.

The Handkerchief
One of the precursors of the modern mixi, the handkerchief hem has a soft boho vibe. I've toughened this sweet seventies-throwback number up a little with a bondage-inspired belt, but stuck with chocolate accessories, rather than black, to avoid too stark a contrast. The wide belt also transforms a floaty empire line cut into a more structured hourglass silhouette - left alone, it would look great with a battered denim jacket and flat sandals for a hippy-chic look.


Dress: Primark (Past Season)
Belt: Primark (Past Season)
Sandals: Primark (Past Season)

The Midi-Mixi
Cut just above the knee at the front, and just below at the back, this style is perfect for adding a little interest and glamour to a daytime look. For this look, I took inspiration from the flowing lines of the skirt, deciding to echo it in the lines of the top half of the outfit (see another similar look here). I've maintained a neutral colour palette, picking out the tones of the skirt, to keep the look relatively subtle, but doubling up or clashing prints and colours also looks fab if it's impact you're after!


Skirt: Primark (SS12)
Top: Miss Selfridge (Past Season)
Waistcoat: H&M (Past Season)
Shoes: New Look (Past Season)

New Classic
The mini front-maxi back combo is fast becoming a classic - perfect in whites, creams and pastels for summer, and blacks, grapes and wines for winter, not to mention print options... Currently I only have the white *sadface*, but I make it work hard!

The Blouse
Shirts and blouses look great tucked into mixis, matching for wow factor, or mismatched for a more effortless feel. I've added pewter accessories, including multi-buckle heels, for a fierce-glam edge to an angelic all-white chiffon ensemble.


Skirt: Topshop (SS12)
Blouse: Primark (Past Season)
Belt: New Look (SS12)
Shoes: Next (Past Season)

Greek Odyssey
Teaming a white chiffon mixi with a matching bodycon top gives a Grecian toga-dress vibe, enhanced by metallic gladiators, collar necklace and belt. Flat sandals make the look wearable enough for day, but switching them for killer heels would instantly have you evening-ready for almost any event.


Skirt: As Above
Bandeau: Jane Norman (Past Season)
Shoes: Peacocks (Past Season)
Necklace: Primark (SS12)
Belt: As Above

Heavy Metal
Metallics work perfectly with the glamorous vibe of the drop hem. Crop tops always look great with high waists - matching your top to your accessories gives even more impact. A kimono adds a touch of elegance. This would also be a great autumn look with a darker-hued skirt.


Skirt: As Above
Top: Primark (AW12)
Necklace: Primark (SS12)
Shoes: New Look (Past Season)
Kimono: Primark (Past Season)

Hot Orange


A block-coloured mini-front/maxi-back dress = instant red carpet style glamour. Play up the glam factor with delicate metallic accessories, or sharpen the edges with a statement belt and shoes.


Dress: TG at Studio
Look 1 - Belt: H&M (Past Season); Shoes: New Look (Past Season); Earrings: Primark (Past Season)
Look 2 - Belt: ASOS (Past Season); Shoes: Primark (AW12)

Transitioning into Autumn/Winter: Acquisitions and Mergers
My much-loved white number is going to have to be relinquished to vacuum storage soon, so I will be in dire need of some more autumnal versions to replace it over the coming months - I think black, grape, wine and bottle green shades would all look amazing, as well as rich-toned prints.

I'll be working my much anticipated autumnal acquisitions with Edwardian and rock-chick style shirts and blouses, cosy knits and boots for day, and rich/dark-toned and metallic bodycon and drapery for evening. I am loving other bloggers' ingenious ways of subverting the asymmetric hemline's voluptuous glamour for autumn days with hats, denim and chunky boots - check out this beyond fabulous peacock-print number, taken from red carpet contender to daytime boho with judicious accessorising.

Tomorrow: How to Wear Cropped Trousers


See more recent posts featuring mixi skirts and dresses here


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2 comments:

  1. I love the way you've put all the photographs together. Your outfits are really gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete