maxi dress, sundress, duster, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge

The Magnificent 8: In It for the Long Haul

July 26, 2023 / 18 Comments
maxi dress, sundress, duster, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge

Today’s post marks the 5th anniversary of this lovely collaboration of 8 magnificently stylish women, who have become my dear friends in fashion over this past half decade. Since 5 years is kind of a long time in the fickle world of fashion, we have chosen our quarterly theme to reflect the lengths we reach to keep this sassy alliance going. Cheers to us because we are in it for the long haul!

The Magnificent 8 is a collaboration among 8 stylish women, each in a different age bracket, ranging from 20’s to 80’s. The mission of this collaboration is to show you just how ageless style is, how we can each dress however we’d like and in ways that make us feel fabulous. There are no age restrictions on style. So wear what you want, when you want, add a smile, and strut your style with confidence. 

Every quarter, we choose a theme and each create an outfit that suits our own personal tastes and fashion choices and we post them on the last Wednesday of every third month. So be sure to go check out everyone’s posts for lots of style inspiration at any age! And join us again on October 25, 2023, for our next collaboration. 

Let me introduce the ladies of The Magnificent 8 so you can get maximum inspiration for your maxi styles. You can click on each individual link to see how my beautiful friends have interpreted this theme.

maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge

To honor the endurance of this creative coalition, we are each styling maxi dresses or skirts in our own personal ageless ways. To avoid any confusion, let me first define what maxi length means. The hemlines of maxi dresses and skirts generally skim the floor, or at the very least, skim the top of your feet. When the hemline is raised above the mid-calf but below the knee, it is considered a midi length. So I would categorize maxi lengths as any hemline that falls between mid-calf and the floor. I am on the taller side of female humans, measuring just under 5’7″, with long legs and a high waist, so the longer the maxi, the better for me. But I do like all the lengths because versatility in one’s wardrobe definitely keeps things more interesting.

In 1926, Wharton Business School Professor George Taylor suggested that hemlines on women’s dresses and skirts tended to rise in conjunction with stock prices, stating that “the shorter the hemline, the stronger the economy”. This observation was based on the price of silk stockings which were notoriously expensive a century ago. During good economic times, women could afford to buy silk stockings so they were able to raise their hemlines. When the economy worsened, hemlines were lowered to avoid the need for stockings at all. In today’s fast fashion markets, everything is cheaper including stockings, which eliminates that piece of the equation when choosing hem lengths. Now we can choose the hemlines that are the most flattering, comfortable, and suitable for our own personal needs and tastes without breaking our budgets on silk stockings!

maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge

I have a wardrobe filled with maxi length dresses and skirts (among all the other sorts of things that fill my closet room), so this was a super easy theme for me to style. While I have been trying really hard to limit my purchases of new clothing, I did do some shopping on my birthday in May and brought home a small haul of summer dresses from the Kohl’s clearance rack, including this tiered maxi sundress in rich shades of burgundies, reds, and oranges.

Another new purchase is this safari print kimono which I scored for free with Torrid rewards. The colors in it paired perfectly over the geometric pattern of the dress. My photos don’t really show the print very well, so here are the product images from the website. Unfortunately, this gorgeous duster is sold out.

I accessorized this outfit with my favorite brick red rope sandals, a straw sunhat, layers of old and preloved necklaces, and statement earrings. This has been my basic outfit formula this summer…a dress, a kimono (duster or wrap), a necklace pile, sandals, and a hat. It suits my bohemian soul perfectly and it is the most comfortable combination for this wickedly hot and humid season.

maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge

And that, dear readers, is how I celebrate longevity in fashion and blogging friendships! Happy anniversary to my magnificently fashionable friends!

Which hem length is your preference? And you do go for skirts or dresses or both? I definitely reach for dresses way more frequently than I do skirts and maxi lengths are by far my favorite of all the hemlines.

maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, sundress, duster, straw hat, rope sandals, safari print duster, black and red, summer style, thrifted style, preloved fashion, The Magnificent 8, Shelbee on the Edge

Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

Joining these Fabulous Link Parties. 

Outfit Details: Dress-Kohl’s / Kimono and Hat-Torrid / Sandals-Nomadic State of Mind / Earrings-Target / Red Necklace-Old /Long Wooden Necklace-Thrifted / Bronze-Copper Necklace-Middle Eastern Gifts

I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.

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18 Comments

  • Joanne

    July 26, 2023 at 11:57 am Reply

    I tend to gravitate to maxi dresses and skirts. While I do have 2 skirts and a handful of shorter more knee length dresses I rarely wear them. I feel more comfortable in a maxy and think the style looks better on me as well. Your layered dress and kimono definitely suit your bohemian soul!

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      July 27, 2023 at 5:52 am Reply

      Thanks so much, Joanne! I have a lot of shorter dresses, too, but I definitely gravitate to the maxi styles way more often. They are more comfortable and I think more flattering on me as well. I hope you are having a most wonderful summer, my friend!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      July 27, 2023 at 5:49 am Reply

      Thanks so much, Jodie! I can’t believe 5 years has passed already either! Thank you so very much for your co-leadership in this group. You have picked up my dropped ball many times and I really appreciate it!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Marsha Banks

    July 26, 2023 at 10:33 pm Reply

    Congratulations on your anniversary with this group of bloggers!! That is quite an achievement. My favorite is a dress because I can hide so many things under it. As far as length, I like midis as well as maxis. Though, to be quite honest, a midi is usually a maxi on me! I had heard that saying before but didn’t know who said it or why. It does tend to make sense. I’ve also heard it mentioned in the context of wars, too.

    This dress/kimono combination is amazing, Shelbee! Isn’t it something when you buy something at two completely different places, and they work together so well?

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      July 27, 2023 at 5:45 am Reply

      Marsha, thanks so much, my friend! These women have been such an amazing group of blogger friends and they are all so easy to work with, too! I do love when that coordinating magic happens with garments from different brands. I had a little giggle that midi dresses are often maxi dresses on you because I almost shared a different dress for this post. It is petite sized maxi dress which fits me like a midi dress! I was going to talk all about how to make a petite dress work on a tall body. Hahaha. I will share it soon because it is a really darn cute thrifted dress!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Rena

    July 27, 2023 at 1:48 am Reply

    First of all, this look is fantastic. I adore the long-over-long layering of the kimono and maxi dress and your choice of accessories is so perfect for summer. And second, how wonderful it’s been being in this group with you and the rest of the gals. Thank you for dreaming up this collaboration and inviting me to be a part of it.

    Rena
    http://www.finewhateverblog.com

  • Nancy

    July 27, 2023 at 2:05 am Reply

    5 years already? My goodness, time flies right? I never wore maxi until last year. And now I’m totally loving it. Your kimono is very pretty!

  • Eugenia Hargrove

    July 27, 2023 at 7:27 pm Reply

    Shelbee,
    Congratulations on five years of Magnificient 8. I’ve enjoyed my participation in the quarterly style posts.

    I read years ago about Wharton Professor George Taylor’s theory, “The shorter the hemline, the stronger the economy,” from 1926. His theory could hold in 1926 when women’s clothing became less restrictive and had shorter hemlines. But today, women have many options for hemline height.

    I like you prefer long or maxi dresses, especially in the summer when it’s sultry hot, which is more excellent than pants.

    The kimono over your dress gives a superb boho chic look, and I’m here for it.

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      July 28, 2023 at 7:41 am Reply

      Thanks so much, Eugenia! This has been such a wonderful group to be part of! As much as I do love showing off my legs in a mini dress or skirt, I definitely prefer the maxi length for maximum comfort and ease. I found George Taylor’s theory to be so interesting and probably very true a century ago. But today, with fast fashion, much cheaper prices, and unlimited wardrobe options, I don’t think the correlation works anymore. This was a really great theme for our quarterly collaboration. What should we do for October?!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Suzy Turner

    July 28, 2023 at 5:49 am Reply

    If I’m wearing a dress or a skirt, I tend to prefer maxi lengths, and if I wear a mini, then I’ll usually wear jeans with it! I clearly don’t like having my legs out lol!
    Those first pictures of you are particularly stunninng, Shelbee! The dress is divine and I love how you styled it. Youor hair looks incredible too!
    Gorgeous!
    Hugs
    Suzy xx

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      July 28, 2023 at 7:34 am Reply

      Thanks so much, Suzy! I have been twisting my hair before I tie it and I absolutely love the result, but it is kind of a pain in the arse to get it that way. I still cannot understand your insecurities about your legs because you really do have gorgeous legs, my friend! My legs are my favorite part of my body so I don’t mind showing them off. But I do prefer maxi dresses over minis because they are just more comfortable. I hope you are having a wonderful week!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

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