How to Pick the Best Maxi Dress for Your Body

I vote the coolest way to beat the heat this summer is the new fashion main-stay: the maxi dress.  This summer, the most comfortable way to look stylish while doing everything from a beach trip to drinks out to running your Saturday errands, is the maxi.  Here are my tips on choosing the one that works best for you.

How to Pick a Peach

Since the maxi is the hot thing, that means there are almost too many choices to choose from.  To help you narrow it down a bit, look for these three keys to fitting a maxi: top shape, color and length.  First, let’s talk tops.  The top shapes of these dresses come in everything from totally strapless to a wide strap, perfect for a bit of camouflage.  Those of you summertime gals who are of a dainty build on top, pick a spaghetti strap, smocked, or strapless option to accentuate your curves.  For those who are more blessed up top, a plunging neckline with thicker straps will give you maximum impact, as well as maximum comfort.

The high empire waist that is a feature of many maxis is flattering on almost everyone, hitting as it does at one of the smallest points on most figures.  The trick however, is to look carefully for the amount of gathering right under this band, as it will affect the amount of “billow” you will get right above the stomach and hips.  Many gathers or pleats will give more flow, which can be very forgiving to those who like to keep the emphasis off the lower half of their figures.

Print Out

One other fun aspect of the maxi dress is the wide variety of options you have with a dress that is essentially nothing more than souped-up nightgown.  A choice of solid color will emphasize the elegance of the long silhouette.  Solid black, purple, teal or white will allow you to wear the dress poolside with flip-flops, or out for cocktails with a jeweled sandal or flat.  A bright print or color blocked stripes give a fun “let’s go surfing later” vibe and might be further funked up with a straw fedora and dark gladiator sandal.

So Long

The last element to examine when choosing a maxi is length.  But wait, it’s supposed to be long, right?  Unfortunately, there is a bit more to long than just… long.  Petite women should look for a length that hits just below the ankle and is narrow in shape to keep from being overwhelmed by the look.  Taller women can take the length as far as is practical, even down to the instep, to prevent that outgrown look.  Use caution however, as the just above the ankle length in a print or tiers can shoot off a 70’s pot-luck vibe.  Unless of course, that’s what you’re shooting for…

Once you have a length and shape that works for your figure, you can add and subtract accessories at will.  Perhaps you would like to work an updated boho feel with an armload of sparkly Indian bangles and gold hoops.  Or, how about a hyper-feminine version with a long necklace of charms and some delicate but casual flats.

One dress, many moods; perfect for sunny weather and a cloudy economy.

Photo info:
Black maxi dress by Nicole Miller $330.00, found on www.thefind.com
Embroidered maxi dress by Juicy Couture $398.00