The maxi that wasn't meant to be

I've been flirting with the idea of maxi's and made this yesterday... but my husband, son and I all agreed this just didn't work as a maxi. I thought it was a bit night-gownish in the longer length.. so I cut it to just below the knee.
I still wouldn't give it a 10. I thought the fabric would drape more softly, but had to line it due to sheerness, so I think maybe that stiffened it up a bit. I will certainly not hesitate wearing this on our cruise though, and casually this summer (as in running errands, etc) but I won't wear it as an "event" dress.

I'm curious... from 1-10 how would you rate this as a casual dress? You may be honest. (but nice

oh, and this was the dress I used as my pattern inspiration...
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/to.....n=wishlist

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14 years ago

Maya

Veteran

I LOVE the cut of this dress on you. You did a great job!

The print and color aren't my personal taste but it looks really good (color and print are so subjective). While it doesn't really blow my mind, it is no doubt a cute dress for bouncing around town and very flattering on you. I give it a 9 (in the knee length incarnation)

Agree that the maxi isn't working, but then, I don't like maxis.

Girl X

(website)

Another great sewing project! I think the last one (the Tahari inspired?) was a 10, this one is more of an 8. As you mentioned, it doesn't drape quite as softly around your legs, and to me, the print is a little less exciting. Still, an 8/10 is pretty sweet, you'll definitely enjoy this on your cruise and over the summer.

Anonymous

Cute! I can't believe how much the look changed by shortening. I think it's at least an 8 now. I think with the right jacket (maybe white denim?) it could be a 9/10!

anna

Active Member

I give it a 9, it is very flattering on you and I like the pattern.

Queen Mum

you guys are echoing my sentiments pretty much. Nothing to write home about, but it will be a nice comfortable casual dress to have on hand. I hadn't thought of popping a jacket over it. I"ll have to give that a try.

kimmyintexas

Would you consider going above your knee? I think if it were shorter I would give it a 8-9...it's really cute but I just don't love the length.

I'd give it an 8 or 9 as a cute summer dress. You did a beautiful job! While I like the print and the color separately, I don't care for them together. The print seems tropical; the color doesn't. Just an opinion.

kimmy- I'm wondering about that. I need to pin it to right above my knee and see... I'm thinking that could be a fresher look with this dress.

celia

The dress is nice in a shorter lenght, possibly shorter as you are saying.You did a great job sewing this dress , I guess the fabric didn't help.

Heather

I completely disagree. I gasped aloud and almost cried when I saw that you cut it off!!! (I look at the beautiful pics first). The cut is lovely on you, Kim.

Jonesy

To my eyes, I think the culprit is the empire waist combined with the maxi length and the print....Angie's piece of wisdom about the midi-length working best with some waist definition applies to this situation, IMHO. I like it short, either just below or above the knee.

Scarlet

I think I would like this dress a bit shorter, like clearly above the knee. I do like the print and color. You are so talented! I actually quite like the print for a maxi and the shape you made, but somehow the top should be different to my eye for the maxi length, but I don't know why!!!

Steph

First off, it's amazing that you can make a dress, let alone whip one up in a day!

I definitely prefer it at its shorter length, and am actually surprised by how much of a difference cutting it made. In its first incarnation I felt that it made you look a bit bigger in the hips than chest (which you aren't), and in the second version, it doesn't look that way at all! I'm really surprised that shortening it would change that proportion. Maybe an optical illusion with the print and all that fabric.

I do think it might look even better shorter.

Beth

I'm with Steph. At the longer length, you didn't look like you; your hips looked bigger than I know they are (possibly it was the stiffness of the fabric?) Cutting it shorter revealed your figure as we know it to be.

I like it very much at the shorter length. Your sewing skills are impressive!

san

Wow you are a very talented seamstress.
This reminds me of a maxi dress I made in the early 70's. The print was large and the dress long and I felt overwhelmed in it. Do you think a maxi dress might be better suited in a plain non print fabric?
The shorter version looks wonderful on you. I would like to see what it looks like pinned up to the knee. What a perfect over all fit on you! Just beautiful.
How fun that your guys give you their style advice.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

KILLER MIDI DRESS!!!

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