Maxi-dress

Posts Tagged ‘maxi dress’

If you’re short, petite, or small you might be wondering if you can wear those long flowing maxi dresses that are in fashion at the moment. Well, of course you can. Many people will tell you that you can’t, but you don’t need legs like a flamingo and a neck like a giraffe to wear a maxi dress and look fantastic.

Trying a dress on is the best way to find out if it suits you or not, just don’t give up after trying only one – there are plenty of variations on maxi dresses and there are those that suit shorter women better.

The key thing to look for is a dress that that maintains your shape, as maxi dresses can sometimes be looser fitting and this will tend to swallow petite girls whole. We’re not talking figure-hugging here, it is a maxi dress after all, but keeping a form can make all the difference. The same applies if you live on the plumper side of life, as the right balance of outline and space can really make your body work for you.

One neat trick to consider is to head for the strapless maxi dresses. Wearing straps, even spaghetti straps, can often make you look caged in if you’ve got a smaller body, but ditching the straps can elongate your upper body and accentuate that slinky maxi dress style. Additionally, short necklaces and earrings with low cut shoes can help to put space at the top and bottom of the dress and make you seem taller.

Patterned dresses can be a bit of a mixed bag on shorter ladies, as some larger elements like giant polka dots need room to breathe. A safer bet is a pattern with finer detail, with floral dresses looking great on anyone. Stripes in any direction, horizontal or vertical, are also good – ignore the myth about horizontal stripes making you look fatter. If patterns aren’t your thing then there are plenty of maxi dresses in solid colours. Bold is beautiful, as can be seen at Debenhams.

The oldest trick in the book for short ladies is, of course, the heel. High heels and wedge heels go great with a maxi dress, and can boost you up a good number of inches. If you’re having trouble finding a maxi dress that isn’t too long, be sure to try on a few whilst wearing heels – you may find the perfect dress.

Ultimately we petite women have no reason not to enjoy the most beautiful maxi dresses.

What you wear with your maxi dress is dependent on the style of the dress and what type of event you’re going to.

Strapless Maxi Dresses
Strapless maxi dresses are relaxed and fun; they look great at the beach, at a garden party, or just strolling around town. Taller ladies should try a long, simple necklace to visually tie the dress to their face, while shorter ladies will want to accentuate the gap by wearing shorter necklaces. Light and simple is the way to go, or take that maxim to the extreme and forgo the necklace completely. The same is true of bracelets; chunky bracelets are a no-no as they tend to stick out when you’re wearing a long, flowing, and above-all sleeveless maxi dress. You want to emphasise the feel-free, elegant attitude of your dress rather than looking like you’re carrying weights on the ends of your arms. Earrings should also follow the flow of the dress: short or long and dangly are best, whereas giant hoops don’t work. Smaller to medium size hoops are OK though.

Halter-style Maxi Dresses
Whereas large hoop earrings don’t work on strapless maxi dresses, they most certainly do work when it comes to halter-tops. Hoops of any size can help to give you width around the neck, which can look slightly strangled on certain halters. If hoops aren’t your thing then studs or long-and-thin earrings still work. Obviously necklaces are unnecessary, as the neck is already busy enough, but when it comes to bracelets there are plenty of options. Heavier bracelets match well with hoop earrings, the halter neckline forms a loose triangle down to the wrists which visually holds the weight up for you. Beads are also a good combination, either a single string or multiple strings in different sizes.

Strapped Maxi Dresses
Maxi dresses with simple over-the-shoulder straps can be tricky to accessorise, but there are some tried and true things you can do. Medium length necklaces work best, especially beads or pearls (real or imitation); these will help break up the often straight and sharp lines around the shoulder and neck area. Earrings too can help you keep that flowing feeling, with hoops and danglies working well. If you choose to wear bracelets then a sneaky trick is to try and stick to the same thickness of bracelet as you have strap – this provides continuity and prevents the bracelets from looking too light or too heavy. Miss Selfridge currently has a good collection.

Belts
If there’s one accessory you need for a maxi dress it’s a belt. You don’t always have to wear it, but having it available can double the amount of use you can get from one dress. A belt is especially useful when you’re looking to dress up a touch, as it brings in the waist, emphasising elegance while still keeping the loose feel. The weight of the perfect belt is determined by the type of dress, a general rule is to follow the weight of you bracelets but don’t be afraid to try out several to see what works.

Shoes
What shoes to wear with a maxi dress can be overwhelming, given all the choices, but we’ll be running an article on shoes in the near future to give you some ideas.

Maxi dresses are exceptionally versatile, you can wear them formally, informally, and everywhere in between.

Generally maxi dresses split into two styles: prints (floral etc) and solid colours. Either style can be formal or informal, but prints tend to be easier to wear for casual events and solid colours are easier for events where you’re expected to dress up. The appropriateness of the dress will, of course, depend on the occasion as well as what you wear it with.

The long, soft lines of a maxi dress mean that you can attend weddings and graduations without looking out of place, but they’re also at home on the beach or at a garden party. A belt can bring in the waistline for greater elegance, or leave it loose for maximum freedom. Worn with flats, sandals, or flip-flops and your dress will make you look relaxed and confident. Choose heels or wedges and you can be ready for any formal event that life throws at you.

Strapless maxi dresses are more casual than strapped or halter neck maxi dresses, but that doesn’t mean you can’t wear them when you want. A pashmina or shoulder wrap will keep the flowing vibe, while a blazer or jacket can add clean, crisp edges. Either way, you’ll be dressed to impress but ready to relax.

Maxi dresses can be worn to any occasion – bat mitzvahs, birthdays, parties, festivals, a day at the races, and more. You’ll find Hollywood starlets showing them off on the red carpet as well as when they’re out shopping. Maxi dresses are so versatile they can fill almost any role – don’t know what to wear for that big dinner date? A clean cut maxi dress with a few choice accessories says fun without saying easy, selling your feminine side without promising the farm.

The image that maxi dresses convey is of grace and refinement combined with a sense of freedom and a hint of sensuality; you would be harder pressed to list the situations in which a maxi dress doesn’t work than to find those in which it does. As ever the key is to try it – be bold, and comfortable in that boldness – and your maxi dress will not let you down. If you don’t believe us, take a look at what Cosmo’s saying.

So grab a belt and some heels and you’ll be ready for that formal event, or throw on some sandals and enjoy hanging out in a relaxed environment – just don’t forget your maxi dress.

You can never have enough shoes, but we often run out of space long before desire. No matter how limited your shoe wardrobe, there is bound to be a pair that works with your maxi dress.

The key consideration, as with any outfit, is how formal or informal do I want to be? If you’re attending a formal function such as a wedding or a graduation then you might want to wear heels for the long and sophisticated look. However, if you’re going to be on your feet all day or the weather is particularly hot, you can take a step in the right direction with gladiator sandals; they aren’t much less formal but they can be much more comfortable.

With an informal event such as a party or dinner out then wedge heels can give you a lift without straying into too formal. Gladiator sandals, again, form a pleasing, practical alternative, but also consider a low-cut sandal with a full strap – as the eye wanders down the maxi dress that strap will form a strong full stop without compromising on comfort.

At a truly casual event like a trip to the beach or strolling around town, then pretty much anything goes. Flats, flip-flops, even cowboy boots work well in combination with a maxi dress. Don’t be afraid to let those toes wiggle about in freedom; maxi dresses are all about movement and expression. Equally, try on a full shoe of your choosing and you might be pleasantly surprised. Maxi dresses tend to cover calves and ankles so you really can go straight from dress into shoe and not worry about it.

Boots can be tricky to wear with maxi dresses as the length of the dress covers the height of the boot, but don’t assume that the look won’t work! Maxi dresses are a great choice for festivals due to their practicality and easy wear, but being forced to choose sandals in inch deep mud is just unfair. Wellies go with maxi dresses just fine, especially if you can find them in bold colours. Don’t overload on floral patterns though – if your dress is patterned, make sure your boots aren’t. Try ShopStyle for some interesting deals.

Wellington boots work with maxi dresses because they’re chunky, which provides a nice contrast to the light and flowing maxi dress. Other sturdy shoes can make a fine fit as well, but it is much harder as maxi dresses are usually best accompanied by footwear that accentuates their relaxed style. There’s no reason not to be bold and try it however, a pair of canvas lo-tops might be just the thing you need.

Truly, there is a shoe to fit every maxi dress, and often any shoe will do.

Maxi dresses are great for those long hot summer days, but sometimes they’re not quite enough when evening comes around. Follow these tips though, and you can wear your maxi dress from spring through summer and into autumn.

Shoulders and arms: these are the exposed areas on a maxi dress and are the logical choice to cover up in cooler weather. What you wear with your maxi dress will of course depend on the occasion and the rest of your outfit, but generally speaking you’ll want a jacket or cardigan.
Jackets over maxi dresses are a great look, especially if you opt for clean lines over a wavier, softer maxi dress; by wearing a crisp jacket you can easily dress up a maxi dress for formal events like weddings and graduations. A shorter, high waisted jacket can make you seem taller, while strong shoulders can give your upper half more shape in contrast to the flowing lines of the dress still visible below. A slightly more informal look can be achieved with a short leather or denim jacket – you gain all of the benefits of shape and warmth but you’ll accentuate the air of freedom and rebellion that maxi dresses can give.

If you want to take the jacket look in a more formal direction then you can’t go wrong with a blazer in neutral tones. Black, grey, and navy blue work well with most maxi dresses but remember to keep it short and trim for maximum effect.

Consider a pashmina or similar wrap if you want to keep the soft contours of a maxi dress and not get goosebumps in the breeze. A single swath of cloth wrapped once or more around your shoulders can create a look of sophistication and elegance, and looks great in casual and formal situations.

At the beach or just out-and-about, a cardigan will take the chill off those long evenings and allow you to enjoy your maxi dress well into the night. Softer materials and lines complement a maxi dress’ flowing style and are comfortable to boot. If you’re worried about being too hot, try a shorter sleeve or a low neckline; on a strapless maxi dress you’ll cover your shoulders without hiding away that beautiful dress. A lot of maxi dresses are patterned, which can make picking a matching garment difficult, and if that’s the case stick to a strong black or white top. This will stop the dress overwhelming your carefully chosen jacket; Cosmo’s fashion section has some interesting ideas.