Inspired By: Abbey’s Zig-Zag Dress

April 28, 2012

 chicago street style

Zigzag dresses are all over the streets right now. I prefer the subtle interpretations as opposed to blatant rip-offs, which is why I photographed Abbey’s zigzag dress for this post. Her outfit doesn’t scream “Missoni.” Subtlety often heightens the chicness of any look. It’s the whole “less is more” maxim. The long-sleeves make this dress perfect for cold weather, while the short hem keeps it young. My hunch is that the recent overwhelming popularity of zigzag striped dresses this spring is a legacy of the Missoni x Target craze last year, which brought Italian-style fabrics to the masses. It’s Reaganomics for fashion! Only I guess it’s actually trickling up rather than down… this legendary Miranda Priestly speech explains it more poetically than I ever could.

I thought Abbey’s simply adorable look was so great that I selected four great zigzag dresses inspired by her for my readers. Long sleeves don’t work in the summer so I decided to select the inverse. No sleeves and long hems!

These dresses are all around $200 or less. Maxi dresses are here to stay and are the perfect new summer wardrobe investments. I still believe that the solid colored versions are tough to pull off unless accessorized correctly, preferably with a wide belt at the waist. The long length of a maxi dress looks best broken up with swirling patterns or bold prints. That’s why these zigzag-striped versions are the perfect way to rock the maxi dress without looking like you’ve been swallowed by a fabric amoeba and turned into an amorphous blob.

I especially love Trina Turk’s “Avedis” maxi dress [left] because although it’s clearly inspired by Missoni’s signature zigzag weave, it’s different enough with the asymmetrical design and self-belt to stand on its own. The sparkly River Forest x ASOS tank is covered in sequins for a party-ready look, day or night. Yes, I know it’s not a maxi dress but it’s cute and very similar to Abbey’s actual dress. Wear this long tank with leggings (it covers the ass, so you’re good) for a harder-edged take on the zigzag dress trend.

Both of these zigzag striped maxi dresses exude a boho-chic vibe perfect for leisurely strolls through one of Chicago’s gorgeous parks. The Karina Grimaldi “Florence” wrap dress [left] lends a sexier touch with its V-neck design and figure-flattering wrap silhouette. In contrast, the tiered bodice and looser fit makes the Blu Moon “Summer Lovin” maxi dress [right] perfect for girls who want to bring a rock-and-roll edge to their summer wardrobes.


4 Comments


  1. what an adorable dress, i am really loving chevron print as well!

  2. I love her look here. And I like all your selections, except the wrap dress, but that’s only because I think I look terrible in wrap dresses eheh. Lovely post!

  3. I love your zig-zag picks! Abbey’s dress is gorgeous, and I love how she paired it with those cute boots.

    Kate {Something Fabulous}
    http://thesomethingfabulous.blogspot.com

    {BESO HANDBAGS GIVEAWAY ON MY BLOG!}

  4. Her look is too cute! Love how she paired the dress with the boots! Super cute finds as well!

    xx
    Giovanna
    http://www.oliveandanarrow.com

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