MEET THE MIDAXI

Philippa Gerrard offers you a lesson in how to wear fashion’s favourite new hemline

Just when you thought there was no scope for a new hemline amid the midi, the maxi and the mini, the fashion industry introduces the midaxi. This new length hits just between where the maxi and midi left off – just above the ankle and about an inch lower than your mid-calf. Following its introduction to catwalks at the start of the year, the midaxi is a look that has proven to be popular on the high street too.

Stylists are putting this down to the way that it fills the shortcomings of the floaty maxi dress, which can be either too formal or too casual, and looks more flattering than the midi dress, which often accentuates the widest part of the legs.

Instead, the midaxi cuts off just above the ankle, where most people’s legs are slimmest.

The style also offers the same romantic, feminine appeal of the maxi, but with more potential to show off your shoes.

A midaxi dress can be teamed with summer sandals, boots, or even trainers, to offer three distinct looks.

There’s been a lot of talk over the years about the wider significance of rising and falling hemlines.

The Hemline Index was introduced by economist George Taylor in 1926 and claims that the length of women’s skirts rises and falls along with stock prices.

When the economy is good, short hemlines prevail, whereas in poor economic times we favour longer lengths.

We’ll leave it up to you to decide what the in-between midaxi length means in our murky Brexit Britain.

Glamorous Dalmatian print dress, £42, Topshop White mid-length dress, £49.99, bonprix.co.uk LEFT: Blue satin midaxi dress, £69, Marks & Spencer RIGHT: Devore ladder trim maxi dress, £55, very.co.uk Floral tiered smock dress, £45, Miss Selfridge ABOVE: Royal blue gathered skirt dress, £32, roman originals. co.uk