Summertime is almost here! It’s finally time to pack up the tall boots, wool sweaters, and heavy jackets from your closet and bring out the lightweight casual dresses, bright colored flip flop flats, and wide brim straw hats. You have outdoor parties to attend, errands around town to run, and beaches to stroll down.
Whatever the occasion, simply throw on a maxi dress, and you’ll be good to go.
Maxi dresses are versatile, come in styles that look good on virtually every body type, and are complete outfits all in one.
10 Maxi Dresses We Love:
Dress by Gap. $69.95
We love it for it’s capped sleeves and shirring along the waist.
Dress by Loveapella, via Piperlime: $69
Straps thick enough to hide a bra strap, a wearable hi-lo hemline and crochet back detail, we adore this dress.
Dress by Old Navy, $29.94
You can’t beat this inexpensive price point, as well as it’s comfortable elastic empire waist.
Dress by Dee & Ray, via Piperlime, $64
This dress is simple and the sleek kimono style provide a cool way to cover your upper arms this summer.
Dress by Tinley Road, via Piperlime, $89.
This maxi has a contemporary cutout neck detail that we just adore.
Dress by Hive & Honey, via Piperlime, $59.
We love this dress because of it’s racerback styling and drawstring waist, which is so very flattering.
Dress by Target, $32.99.
Jersey knit fabric is a must, and we love the delicate ruffle front detail.
Dress by Dorothy Perkins, $59.
The faux wrap skirt and ruched waist, this is a bombshell dress!
Dress by Garnet Hill, $98.
We really like this wearable Grecian style maxi with twisted shoulder straps.
Tip: If you’re of shorter stature like myself, don’t believe the misconception that maxi dresses are only for tall girls. If you’re petite, search for a maxi dress that doesn’t have a empire waist. Instead, pick out a maxi that actually has a defined waist, it will elongate your torso, and the dress won’t swallow you up whole. Also try on a few “mullet” style maxi dresses, they might surprise you. These dresses are shorter in the front, longer in the back. You will get the feel of a long maxi, with a little less of the fabric bulk.
Emily Elling is a corporate interior designer who lives in central Indiana with her 4 rugrats and drug making husband of 9 years. When she’s not taking care of the monsters, she can be found barefoot in the kitchen or hiding in the isles of her favorite thrift store buying other’s peoples crap. You can read more from Emily on her blog, DesignHer Momma.
I wish I was tall enough to wear some of these.
Great picks!
I LOVE that teal maxi dress. OMG. I *need* it.
I bought a really cute one last summer in purple from Target, but I still haven’t had the guts to wear it anywhere! This summer, I SWEAR it will see the light of day.
And I love your comment about them not just being for tall girls. Literally this was my thought process the day I bought the dress: “I LOVE that girl’s maxi dress. I need one. I’m not tall enough. Oh screw it, I’m going to rock it out anyway.” Then I marched all 5’4″ of myself over to Target and bought one.
Hmm, for being the Curvy Girl Guide, I sure would have liked to see a few more plus sized options!
I have to be honest, I’m to short for them no matter the waist style. I’m 4’11″ tall and there are no maxi dresses that don’t end up with a few feet of extra fabric plus them make me look even shorter! Wish I could wear them though, they always look so pretty and cool for the summer!
I love maxi dresses and I do own one because it was so cute I couldn’t resist. However, I’ve got a pretty big belly (to the point where I look pregnant, which is super awesome and fun) so the empire waist makes me look even more pregnant. Any ideas how to wear a maxi dress as a bigger girl and not look pregnant?
I’m also busty so I MUST wear a bra. Any ideas on a good bra to wear with these? This is the one I have, so the back is pretty open: http://www.lanebryant.com/striped-halter-maxi-dress-by-seven7/p132301/index.pro
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