Maxi dresses - are they ever ok for work? Are they passe at this point? - YouLookFab Forum

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About: Mom on the Go: The Casual Maxi Skirt

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Maxi dresses - are they ever ok for work? Are they passe at this point?

fathenry

Veteran

Hi! Question on Maxi dresses. Are they ever okay for work? I work in technology in marketing. I see a range of outfits at work from business casual to jeans and tee shirts. I tend more toward business casual (no distressed jeans, white denim ok)

Not sure I want to invest in a maxi dress or not. It's cute, comfortable and looks good on me.

Maxi dress pros:

Flattering on me, I am average height.
Looks ok with a moto jacket and casual wedge sandals, more casual with a denim jacket
Nice for cool summer evenings, when jeans are too warm during the day (although we're having fewer of those in the Seattle lately)

Cons:

It screams dowdy if you try to put a blazer over it.
I don't want to invest in an item with limited wear if Maxi dresses are on their way out.

Not sure it's the right vibe but don't want to be afraid to try something new! Do you have one of these? why or why not? When do you wear it? Is this still a trend or is it skirts now? Thanks!

Dressing

18 replies

Latest reply was from fathenry

Anonymous

My own opinion on this - and it's just that, an opinion, is that they aren't right for work. They just look too be evening/beachy/vacationy, even if paired with a jacket of some sort. A blazer over one is deadly dowdy, I agree. I'd wear , if I had the body for it, out casually in the summer, but definitely not for work, no matter how casual. They are also not that easy to stride around in , and at work, who wants to look like they can't move quickly and efficiently?

Staysfit

Veteran

I wear them, but......I am not in your line of work. I am fairly certain I would not wear them in a more formal work setting. I never wear one with spaghetti straps or low cut anything. I always wear some sort of cropped topper. I don't think they look dowdy at all. I think they are cool, breezy and easy, especially on hot days in a building where the air conditioning is iffy.

A business casual or even smart casual setting may be more formal than my work place in the summer. When I walked in today there were people in tees and shorts, and I definitely saw someone in a maxi dress. I can move easily enough in my maxi dresses to feel safe in my work environment. I wear them with flat sandals, or my tall flat gladiators.

Beewee

If you sit in a rolling desk chair in the course of the day...beware! You will roll over the hem of the dress and possibly ruin it. The voice of experience.

Susie

Veteran

We have a casual office environment but I wouldn't wear one. Though I see them worn frequently here; in fact, the President was wearing a black and white narrow striped knit one today. It had cap sleeves, some waist definition with a drawstring, and she was wearing it with nice sandals. She is my age but has a nice trim figure and tends to dress a bit "younger" in general. So while not a professional look, it did not look inappropriate either.

unfrumped

Veteran

I probably should not comment (but am,haha) since I've learned that so many jobs have super casual dress codes or even that employess need to wear very casual dress in order to "fit in".
I tend not to like how they look at work, and one reason, I think, is because the average maxi dress is a very thin jersey knit, so tend to look not only casual, but a bit cheap, or revealing the way knit nightwear would be. In addition the average style is cut low in front so even if shoulder straps are covered by a jacket, the combination still might be more beachy than would be in a typical work top. Finally they seem to call for sandals and perhaps more casual sandals. These are just the styles I tend to see most--YMMV.

So to me those types of dresses look less "work-like" than very nice darkwash jeans, footwear, sweater or topper in a smart casual outfit--they don't come across the same way a "work dress" might.
But as in the first sentence, it so depends on your frame of reference--if your colleagues are in shorts, well.....!
Another thing that's been discussed on the forum is more about how you want to present yourself and does the maxidress fit that. For that I don't really put so much stock in "self expression" myself, though I know some do, but to be taken seriously and/or for using dress as part of how you achieve your goals at work, whether that's for corporate-type looks, authority needs, or for having the right "creative" look, or being approachable, or whatever is valuable for functioning in your job. Again coming back around to the idiosyncracies of your own workplace, some folks who "dress up" more than peers or than expected for their function have problems as much as those who dress down.

Wow, I guess just deciding about a maxidress isn't really that huge, but these are the things I think about for wearing a particular style or outfit.

Sal

Veteran

I love a maxi dress in summer, but I tend to wear them more casually or in the evening. I hope they are not on the way out! There are so many variations now and I prefer the less boho ones and the more classic styles.

However I am not sure that I would wear one for work, to me they do scream summer holiday. This is to me, and only my opinion.

How about a midi dress?

fathenry

Veteran

Thanks for chiming in. I think I will reserve the maxi dress as a weekend item. Now I just have to decide if I really need another casual dress v something I can wear to work. I still feel limited on my wardrobe since I lost some weight - I actually just looked at it and counted it up. It's amazing what is left when you take out everything that is the wrong size or that you don't wear for some other reason.
2 pairs of jeans (casual, white)
2 pairs of work pants (blue, green)
1 pair silky track pants (black)
3 skirts (1 dressy, 2 casual)
3 dressy dresses
7 jackets
4 casual dresses
7 blouses/tops
1 tee, 1 tank
4 sweaters
1 work dress

I think I am going to buy a few more basic things first like another pair of pants, a top or more versatile dress for work. Less fun, but more necessary.

Aida

Veteran

A maxi dress is generally going to be very casual or very formal. IMO not appropriate for work, even in tech particularly because you've said that you tend more toward business casual; a maxi dress isn't going to read as professional.

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Personally, I don't think that maxi dresses are appropriate for work, yet I see so many women wearing them at offices now. Its a staple summer piece and for offices that have smart casual dress-code, they could work with blazers and smart office bag plus shoes combo.

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kkards

Veteran

i'm going to be the outlier, i think maxi's can be totally appropreate for business casual. its all about the details…..1)the dress needs to be bra friendly, 2) the fabric needs to be substantial enough that its not see thru, 3) if its got a slit, the slit must not send the skirt into the club wear zone, 4) the shoes must be appropreate for business (i.e. no flip flops). as for toppers, denim jackets work, but so do longer cardigans, knit blazers. i wear this find from target to work (also business casual) and feel its both appropreate and completely inline with what the younger women in my office are wearing.

Merona® Women's Maxi Dress w/Belt - Prints

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2

MuseumGal

Veteran

In my workplace (midwestern university) they are absolutely appropriate for work. I wear one at least once a week in the summer, and almost always get compliments. However, I don't wear those thin jersey $20 numbers from TJ Maxx or Ross. I have a nice heavy cotton from Eileen Fisher, another lovely linen one from J Jill, and a few mid dresses as well. In my office I go without a topper, but for a meeting, I do wear a topper, usually a little cardi.

BethT

I've worn one to work...it was spaghetti strap, but I wore a light-weight T underneath it. I was still dressier than most people where I work (super casual because of the work we do!). I wouldn't call it a professional look, but it was certainly appropriate. And I felt comfy and confident in it, which is important to me.

Aida

Veteran

Hmm I feel like I should clarify my thought a bit. I think a maxi dress can be worn for smart casual, but not for business casual. The examples Maneera posted are all smart casual. If smart casual looks are appropriate, and desired, then it's possible that it'll work as long as you pair with structured dressy counterparts. But if business casual is what's required, or simply your preference for what you wear to work, then I don't think a maxi falls in line with that.

fathenry

Veteran

Thank you for the advice! Here are a bunch of pics of the dress alone and different jackets. I'm glad I took the time to look at it from the back. There is a very cute cutout (would never reveal that in a professional setting), but I just noticed that the pattern across the back is different, with giant sripes across the rear end. Might be a deal killer right there, for any setting. Why would they put giant stripes there???

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Anonymous

I like #2 and #3 for work. You look very smart!

kkards

Veteran

from the front i like this very much, and think its totally work appropriate. but i'm not sure about the cutout in the back….i get it that you'll leave the jacket on, make sure that the jacket completely covers the cutout, especially when you move…also, make sure that you wear the jacket into and out of the office, and yes that means in the parking lot….

abc

Veteran

Ok sorry but now all I can think about is the tag line for the mullet haircut - business in the front, party in the back.

Fwiw I think the industry and your position/job title have a ton to factor in to if this is work appropriate or not.

fathenry

Veteran

This definitely confirms my decision. If it's this hard to decide and this many issues to work around, it's going back! Thanks again for taking time to read through this. Too many issues means it won't be worn. I like things easy, want to feel confident and look like a pro - not worry how my dress looks. Sometimes I guess you have to recognize when a piece isn't quite right and doesn't work for your lifestyle.
Thanks!