How to wear a maxidress and not be stumpified?

Beth

I know some of you ladies are wearing maxi dresses and looking amazing, but every time I consider one, I can't help but think that being slightly busty and shortwaisted are disqualifiers for the maxi.

Would some of you be willing to post pictures of your dresses to help show me the error of my ways? I need some inspiration.

11 years ago

Dressing

10 replies

Latest reply was from Beth

celia

Veteran

Hi Beth,
I don't know if this is very helpful but this was the photo with a maxidress that I had available.
I am long waisted so I try to have some kind of detail on the waist and because I have wide hips I choose dresses that don't puff out much.
Have you considered High-Low dresses? They are not quite maxis all around but you have the feeling of a maxi with a bit more structure.

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11 years ago

carter

Veteran

Slightly busty, seriously shortwaisted, and wearing a maxi today! This my only one, and it's not my usual style. However, it is the best for travel. We have a 5 hour car ride today, so there was no doubt what I would wear. I'm certainly no expert, but I think that having toes peek out keeps it from being a stumpifying look. For the waist...I have it gathered about an inch below my actual waist, and I think that adds a bit of "correction" to my very high waist.

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11 years ago

Louise

Veteran

I recently found a 'tulip' maxi http://www.bhs.co.uk/en/bhuk/p.....038;ps=200 I love the high low hem so my legs show x

11 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

I haven't worn maxi dresses, but I have worn maxi skirts. Some of the things that help me are to have the hem long, just touching the tops of the feet (as in both the pics above) and also having a straighter cut with the skirt, so there is not so much material. And maybe a v-neck would look flattering, since I have heard that v-necks flatter busty shapes (I have no bust to speak of so would not know).

I think perhaps also having the entire dress is one fabric, rather than having the fabric change colors or style at the waist, would help.

Just keep trying them on...there will be one that will work for you!

11 years ago

Melaine

(website)

Active Member

I have been wearing a denim vest which gives it more definition. Maybe a belt?

11 years ago

MsLuna

Veteran

I am busty with a short and large waist. I don't own a maxi but I've made it work in the past! Here's how I did it:

- scoop/v-necklines. No high necks for me.
- no waistline seams (although empire waist works)
- one solid colour (all black)
- add a structured topper (jean jacket or vest) above the dress
- patterns that don't overwhelm the body

Good luck!

11 years ago

Sal

Veteran

I have two Maxis, both well worn now and possibly due for renewal. I love the shape of both and find them elongating! I am tallish with a short waist.

I think a flattering neckline and shoulder line is a must. I like them quite long but so that my feet show when I walk.

I don't like too full a skirt on me, but not too clingy either.

11 years ago

rabbit

Veteran

Echoing the others, I prefer long--touching the ground, or hi-low or tulip that is shorter in the front but long in the back, unless the whole dress is a shorter midi length. Heels can help too if it's midi length anywhere.

I like more body-con and skin at the top, either a bandeau or strappy top, or a halter neck (with a little cleavage) with an empire waist or elastic gathers or a built in band like celias. Cropped structured jackets or cropped fitted cardigans over it if needed.

Oh, and I prefer solid color or a very subtle pin-stripe or something. I'm not into the bold patterns and broad stripes or chevrons as I think they distract from the pleasing column shape which is very vertical.

The first pic is a maxi shape that I think is very hard to pull off and I avoid (or any blouson maxi, unless it's hanging from a network of long delicate shoulder straps or a very light and gauzy material or something.

The other pics are maxis that feel have nice structure at the top, handle the waist well, and any pattern isn't distracting. Some of these might work better for some chest shapes than others, but just as examples.

One last thing I've found, fabric matters because the cheaper jersey knits can abrade really easily, like from sitting, or a belt, or a cross-body bag and start to pill or pull.

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11 years ago

shiny

Veteran

Slightly busty, short waisted, IT, apple-belly prone, and only 5'0 tall reporting in!

This is what I look for in a maxi --

1. Scoop or V-neckline which allows for wearing a bra underneath (no spaghetti straps strapless or bandeau styles. Also no short or cap sleeves either (i.e., the "tee shirt dress") -- as that adds to my shoulder line and makes me look like a linebacker. Agree that you need to bare some skin on top, if you are going to go full maxi length with no legs showing.

2. Empire waist (see #2) OR no waist but straight column style (#2 and #3). #2 here has some ruching at the waist.

3. My hips are rather narrow so I look for maxis that don't have a lot of volume/fabric in the skirt. #2 here has the most volume -- it flares out -- but I think it still works.

4. Length: the longer the maxi, the higher the heel. That said, I can wear #1 with flats. What I avoid is maxis that are so long that I feel like they are dragging on the floor or I'm tripping over them.

I know it's supposed to be a "no-no" but I actually prefer my maxi's to be on the shorter side, baring just a bit of ankle. I feel like I look more stumpy -- or rather like I'm "overwhelmed" -- if the maxi goes nearly all the way to the floor, covering most of my feet.

Also, I find that I wear & prefer the midi-length such as #3 to the maxi length. I have a very similar dress to #3 that is in a simple black knit. I purchased it a year ago at H&M. It was originally a maxi but it shrunk to midi-length in the wash. I wore that one to death last summer -- it is now looking faded and pilled and has been resigned to beach cover up status. I tried to find a pic of it for you but all the ones I have I'm sitting down, or with other people.

All that said, I'm pretty much over the maxi trend now, and have no plans to add another. Midi's -- yes. Midi's look more fresh to my eye these days. It's weird how I went from thinking midi's looked like an odd & awkward in between hem length - to preferring them over maxi's... Midi's are also easier to get to work with flats OR heels, at least in my personal experience.

Hope that helps!

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11 years ago

Beth

Veteran

Celia and Carter, you both look fantastic in your dresses and the pictures do help! I think you're both right that waist details and placement make a difference as does length.

Louise, that dress is a great option! It's a high-low with a bit of a twist.

Gigi, your point about v-necks is right-on. It took me years to see that they can be much more flattering on a busty short-torso, but they really are.

Melaine, belts are tough for me to wear, but I love the idea of a vest! I can see it being very visually elongating.

MsKatieKat, another vote for a v-neck and solid colors! Adding structure and limiting pattern do too.

Kiwigal, it sounds as though limiting volume also matters. I hear your point that a full skirt would definitely overwhelm.

Rabbit, high-five on that first dress. Pretty, but very difficult to wear. The dresses you used as examples are all great, but #5 and #7 are extra fab.

Shiny, love those pictures of you, and your dresses are fab. Clearly, you have the maxi look down as I'd never have guessed you were 5'. Beeyouteeful.:)

Thanks for all of the input. Much to think about, but I can now go forth and shop with confidence!

11 years ago

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