Mimi Maxi bag dress | $115
Mimu Maxi skirt leggings | $48
Mimu Maxi cascade top | $68
You know, I think I learn more from you guys than you learn from me sometimes; I am honored to have such knowledgeable, generous readers. And it was one such reader who tipped me off to Mimu Maxi some time ago, and since then I have been absolutely OBSESSED. The company was started by two sisters-in-law to provide modern, modest clothing, and they have indeed succeeded at that.
I used to belong to a modern orthodox synagogue. I know, right? My ex-husband and I were “modern orthodox” Jewish and he was the president of our very small congregation. I personally did not alter my daily sartorial choices to dress in a typical modern orthodox fashion, but I did, on Saturdays, wear long skirts/dresses to services. (even though, to be honest, our synagogue was very welcoming and lenient when it came to “dress code” and many women wore pants).
If you’re unfamiliar with the practice, it is accepted that orthodox women don’t show a lot of skin; mostly they will never show their legs, but many also do not show their arms. And of course, also cover their hair. But again, there are varying degrees. It’s not uncommon among orthodox communities to see women wearing pants or jeans with a knee-length dress over top so as not to show too much of their bodies. Alternatively, they’ll wear long skirts/dresses. But again, many women will wear knee-length skirts unapologetically.
Anyway, all this is to say that it is very difficult to find modest garments that are also “modern” looking and minimalist in aesthetic. But Mimu Maxi has done it (incidentally, I believe they will also work well for Muslim women). I mean…if you didn’t read their about page, or know anything about the founders, you would have no idea that they’re trying to use their own religious “dress code” limitations to design functional, aesthetically pleasing garments. The items just look really chic & cool. I would wear ANY of them. Especially the black skirt leggings. Which are in my cart as we speak…
What do you think?
*honestly, I’m not 100% sure they’re made in the US, but if you read through their press much of it does specifically say they produce in the US. Since this was not a planned post, I didn’t have a chance to reach out to the owners to clarify, but I will…
This is a great post. Thinking about culture, religion and modesty norms as they relate to fashion is so interesting! Thanks for this.
I wish that silk shirtdress was in stock…it’s so hard to find dresses that are actually long, but not maxi-length. I don’t like wearing shorter skirts without tights anymore.
Curious to see how the skirt leggings wear. I love the way they look but worry they would drive me nuts in terms of being tight.
Ah, thought that was the skirt + leggings like from Eileen Fisher. It’s just a tube skirt like we wore in the 90s? (I mean, I wore them in the 90s, at least 😉
I still have one somewhere – I love it for travel when I need to be “covered” (eg the Meteora Monasteries we visited in 2011 – women have to wear skirts longer than knee length or you’ll get one of theirs to cover yourself – and we’re preparing for a 2016 trip to Asia that will have some similar restrictions – Thai temples where men have to wear socks and women have to wear long skirts again, etc)
ha! i didn’t wear skirts or dresses much in the 90’s. actually, i don’t think i EVER did. hmmm…now you’ve got me thinking 😉
but yes, it is just a tube skirt. but i love that it’s long, and “slimming” looking, although i’ll admit, it looks very difficult to walk in. we’ll see…
i think it would be great actually, it’s simple (without the ruching that JP does) and you could fold it up, or scrunch it up to be knee length, and then leave it down for ankle-length. very practical, that! but i’d probably prefer it for fall/winter than super-hot summer months.
I hope there’s enough stretch to make it easy to walk! Who wants to be hobbled?
Was thinking of you the other day – some friends and I have been discussing “fall” on facebook, and I started thinking – how do we show that we’re seasonally appropriate when it’s still >90 degrees with 90% humidity? I wrote that I’m not ready for sweaters & scarves until November (unless we get a cold snap, but that’s rare). But at the same time – come September, I don’t want to be wearing linen or white or bare sandals (I do still wear sandals, but I notice I’ll start to choose darker colors and different accessories – many of the pieces are the same (because the temps are still the same….) So many of the “transition” pictorials that magazines & blogs run just aren’t climate appropriate in the south, so what to do? Sorry for off-topic rambling…. 😉
I have the same issue in Northern California…September and October are the warmest months and when we really get our summer. So while stores are trotting out knee-high leather boots, I’m finally getting the most wear out of my sandals. 😉
I don’t understand the skirt leggings but I do like the HUG dress…
The clothes are great! I love the drape of the “cascade top” and the fact that it would cover my bum. But tell me about her shoes!!! Those sling back clogs are to die for!
NorCal represent! I have been grabbing linen tees in fall-ish shades and telling myself it’s the best of both worlds: summer-weight textures, fall hues.
I feel like California dressing could almost be its own blog sub-genre. I briefly lived in Los Angeles, and I was always so amused by the girls there who would declare “It’s freeeeeezing” at 50 degrees and whip out their puffy coats and Uggs … worn with miniskirts of course. But most of my adulthood’s been in the north of the state, and layering is an art up here.
Why do the stores, or the “fashion gods” somewhere get to decide that for us? I think we should just decide to wear what is temperately appropriate and be comfortable. I’m certainly not going to pull out suede, cords, wool sweaters, or boots until I feel like I need them. So that means cotton tops, button-up shirts with the sleeves rolled up, ankle length pants (and probably sneakers instead of sandals). And think about it…people in Hawaii or The Caribbean don’t suddenly wear sweaters at the turn of Fall just because that’s the calendar season, so why do we?
love those! i have no idea what they are..
Ha! Now Pinterest is sending me 90s Fashion recommendations 😉