Recently I have noticed something of a fashion epidemic, quite literally sweeping the streets of Britain.  A growing number of women I see out and about the town, doing the food shop, filling up the car, in the queue at the post office, paying bills in the bank…all seem to be wearing a maxi dress.  Why?  Was an announcement put out which I missed?

Presumably the memo also stated that they must be worn with the obligatory cropped denim jacket and ethnic looking jewellery.  Chunky beads.  Big wooden necklaces.  Just another detail I’ve noticed in this curious phenomenon of late.

Don’t get me wrong, not all maxi dresses offend me, too much.  I think they have their place (preferably a summer evening somewhere hot with a summer cocktail being the only accessory required) but here in cloudy Britain I can’t help but feel like they look completely out of place.  At best there is just something a bit too wedding-day about them.  Well what’s wrong with that?  Because the thing about weddings is that in general they require a uniform which looks ridiculous out of the context they are intended for.  Especially when that context is dragging a shopping trolley over a damp and grubby car park, trying not to catch the billowing, tropical-flower printed fabric in the wheels.

Context aside, are they even really that kind to the female form?  They are all over the shops, taking over the magazines, convincing women they are wearable and flattering (which we all know is a nicer way of saying ‘slimming’).  But perhaps I am just missing the trick.  I don’t think so, but I do find it confusing; they make people look like they could be 6 months pregnant.  Now, there is not a thing wrong with looking 6 months pregnant.  I’m just not convinced why you would want to aspire to emulate that look on a regular basis.

Well I think it is safe to say I won’t be one of the maxi-devotees this summer.  In fact, I am off to buy myself a mini-dress in defiance.  Apparently they are the next big thing.