From High End to High Street: The Best Winter Maxi Dresses

When I say that winter is my favourite season to dress for, it comes with a caveat, and that’s when I have the time to do it justice. If the mornings are slower, I revel in layering up merino tops and cashmere finishes, mixing and matching knitwear and satins and indulging in playful accessories of cosy mittens and sleek scarves. But as the busiest time of the year, those languid mornings are few and far between, and getting dressed for the winter months can feel like an added task that our extensive to-do lists simply don’t need. My solution? The winter maxi dress.

Easy to throw on and even easier to style, it’s a piece that will consistently serve your wardrobe when the temperatures drop. Whether facing a day in the office, a stroll to your favourite coffee shop or even an evening out, simply let a maxi dress do all the heavy lifting this winter.

The elegance of the silhouette speaks for itself, meaning you don’t have to do much to form a seriously put-together look when there are only 5 minutes to get ready. For day, slip on boots or flats with a dash of classic jewellery and you’re all set, and for evening swap in mules or heeled boots for a more elevated appeal. Finally, call upon your trusted winter coat to pull the ensemble together and you’re all set to take on the day, come rain, shine or snow.

At this time of year, our dresses deviate from the linens of summer or light cottons of autumn and spring, honing in on soft knits for the day, and elegant silks for evenings. Taking inspiration from some of our favourite fashion people, I’ve separated the best winter maxi dresses into four categories, covering the most popular, wearable and timeless styles around.