The Must-Have Summer Staple: Maxi Dresses (Dressing for Less)

Bonjour, dear readers, today I will be addressing maxi dresses. What is a maxi dress? According to Wikipedia (yes, they have invalid sources, but they can be right half the time!) a maxi dress is:

A floor or ankle length informal dress. Maxi dresses are formfitting at the top and loose flowing at the bottom, cut to flow over the body. They are usually made out of cotton or polyester and come in a variety of necklines, colors and patterns.

They are so gorgeous! They are mainly used to create a boho look, but can definitely create a different vibe if used right. See how after the jump.


Different people should wear different maxi dresses according to their body. As most things, not all clothing is flattering on everybody. The same thing goes for maxi dresses. You have to be careful when buying these, because if not careful, you can just be overwhelmed in them, or they can look just plain weird.

For petite bodies (like me!): If you're petite, then I think that you need to be 5'4" or shorter. Some things that are flowy and gorgeous on tall people totally overwhelm us not-so-tall ladies. To be able to pull off a maxi dress, try to go for dresses with a tighter fitting on top. You don't want to look saggy or poofy anywhere, so try to go for the snugger (is that a word?) fit. Also, try to use the right print for your body. Basic colors are good for us fun-sized gals, but if you want a pattern, try going for a simple and not overly large pattern. For example, multiple small flowers would look better than giant hibiscuses adorning your body like an XXXL muumuu. And remember, vertical stripes keep the eyes moving, so they lengthen the appearance of your body.

For plus-sized gals: For you curvy ladies out there, you can go for the medium-larger sized prints. Also, darker colors are good for slimming, as most of you should know. Colors such as black, brown, navy, etc. Also, along with petites, try not to go for those dresses that completely flow everywhere. Try a tighter one, but not too tight, or else you might show something that you don't want to.

As for the accessories: Go simple with these. Let the dress speak, and try not to be too dressy. Maxi dresses give you the loose, laid-back feel. So, if you want to add an accessory or two, your best bet would be wooden things, and woven things. If you go for wedges (which I highly recommend, especially espadrilles), then go with the woven or cork kind. If you're going out, I love pairing these with cute hobo bags, or a big floppy hat. It just makes it that more relaxed. :) Sometimes these dresses can make you look like plastic bags flowing in the wind, so if you'd like, wear a belt around your waist to cinch it.

I've put together a little shopping box below for you guys, since I did say dressing for less in the title. So, these are maxi dresses that are under $50.

More Anama...

Thanks for reading, I love you all! Until next time /salute

Your rambling beauty addict,

Mai