Friday, June 14, 2013

Frock Fridays: Max It Out

Okay, dear readers, I'm going to make myself very unpopular with thousands of teenage girls and, probably, plenty of fashion and lifestyle bloggers.  Ready?  Here goes:

I don't like high-low skirts or dresses.

Even more, I cannot stand those skirts (and dresses) that are sheer to the ankles or floor but have an opaque mini underneath.

There are so many lovely maxidresses out there - proper maxidresses, with hems all at the same length and that actually provide maximum coverage of your legs!  It can be tricky to find ones that are flattering, but I promise that looking good in a maxi has everything to do with the fit from hips up rather than from hips down.

I own three maxidresses: one is only appropriate at the beach, the second is breezy and casual, and the third is slightly more modest and can be dressed up a bit.  I have to be careful when buying empire waist dresses because they can make me look pregnant, so two of these three nip in at my natural waist.  Also, I have to be judicious about prints on maxidresses; geometric shapes and patterns seem manageable, but anything too explosive (like the floral maxi below, unfortunately) can make me appear much bigger than I actually am.  Finally, I have to make sure that the neckline balances the long skirt to accentuate my shape, and so I almost always go for v-necks and slim straps.

These five options below, at totally different price points, are gorgeous.  I'm not sure I could work the one from Mango, but it is so pretty that I had to include it!  Of course, I'm always on the look out for others - where are your favorite maxidresses from?




MAX IT OUT

[ from left: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 ]

linking up with {long distance loving}

46 comments:

  1. I love maxi dresses! Though short skirts seem like they'd be cooler in summer, sometimes having light fabric swishing around my legs is actually more refreshing. I'm with you on prints- the MANGO dress is gorgeous but would probably swallow me up.

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  2. I own one high low dress and it's okay. I don't think I'd buy another. And those sheer ones? Not a fan. I do need to get my hands on a maxi dress though, but finding one that's not too long is proving to be a challenge. I think I'm just going to have to suck it up and get one hemmed.

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  3. I'm so with you, especially on the love for maxi dresses and the dislike of the high-low thing. As a big chested girl, I've had that problem with dresses forever - rising up in the front - so I don't understand why someone else would WANT their dresses to look that way!! xo

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  4. Also don't get the sheer maxis -- especially not on the red carpet!!

    I generally don't like maxi dresses, but this one from Monsoon wears beautifully, and I'm so happy with it: http://uk.monsoon.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/mon_1,mon_1.2/3532380808

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  5. When I wear maxi dresses I look like a baby potato playing dress up in her mother's potato sack.

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  6. Like mullet dresses? Yeah, not for me. However, I do not have the legs
    for a maxi dress. Number one, I need to cut off enough fabric to make a
    shawl. Number two, it makes me look even shorter. Number three, I did
    not earn these calves for nothing. That said, my skirts should reach
    my knees and be even length all around. And I will likely wear shorts
    underneath them because I am a 7-year-old at heart.

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  7. honestly? I'm not a big maxi dress person. I'm not a big person in general, and I feel like all that fabric is just overwhelming. I think there are plenty of gorgeous maxis out there [like this one from Ruche that I've been drooling over: http://shopruche.com/classified-tiered-floral-maxi-dress.html - those tiers kill me!) but I just don't have the frame for them.


    I do actually kind of like the high-low trend, but only to a certain extent. like, the optimal difference in hemlines should be maybe 6 inches? then I can get on board with it. anything else is just too extreme. also, if you're going high-low, the lining of your skirt/dress should also be high-low. I HATE that mini liner with the extra-long skirt. just no.

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  8. I'm pretty sure I'm too petite to wear a maxi dress. Also, my legs are killer, so I'd rather not cover them up unless it's a formal occasion! I think the sheer maxis are weird, but I think if I had the right high-low dress, I could rock it. My senior prom dress was kind of a high-low, I guess, well before that was a "thing." It was floor-length in the back, with a ruffled hem, and then gathered above one knee. The woman who sold it to me told me that many girls had tried it on, but it was too short on them because they had all been tall. It wasn't inappropriate on little me!

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  9. EEEEEEEPS! Don't look at my post from today then :P

    Also, I would totally wear ALL of those dresses! (2 and 3 being my absolute faves)

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  10. I really love the look of maxis, but it has been incredibly hard for me to find ones that are affordable AND long enough for my 5'10" frame. All of the dresses that are long enough are also usually ridiculously expensive!

    Funny though that you say that the teenage girl crowd will hate you for the high-low comment, but most of my 8th grade girls had that type of dress for their 8th grade graduation ceremony. You hit the nail on the head! ;)

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  11. Mullet skirts/dresses make me want to take scissors to the back and do the wearer a favor. Same thing with those sheer curtain skirts. Nope.
    I am torn on maxidresses... I finally bought a couple last year, but they make me feel short and troll-like. It didn't help that I had to have them hemmed up about 5". And supposedly I'm exactly average height.
    My two are the kimono-style. I actually have a strapless one as well, but I grabbed it on clearance and when I finally got to putting it on it looks TERRIBLE on me, so I'll give it away I'm sure.
    The J. Crew dress wouldn't suit me; I think it would widen my already quite comfortable hip/muffin top... and the Mango one honestly looks like a fitted version of a gaudy grandma muumuu... sorry.
    I love the color on the Marsha one, though!

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  12. I love the one on the far right.

    And apparently, you aren't going to like the dress I bought for a wedding at the end of the month. I don't take offense to it though ;-)

    http://www.shopbop.com/cross-front-maxi-wrap-dress/vp/v=1/1558554912.htm?folderID=2534374302063657&fm=other-shopbysize-brand-viewall&colorId=48833

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  13. I agree! Maxi dresses make my proportions all wrong and I just look strange. I think this type of dress requires a certain body type.

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  14. Finding a good maxi that doesn't make me look short and dumpy is on my to-do list. I love them, but I can never find one that looks right on me! These are great options though!

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  15. I am a recent maxi dress convert (as of last summer), but they don't all work for me. I'm short (5'3'') so I always have to get them hemmed, but let's talk about love. Here is my favorite: http://www.modcloth.com/shop/dresses/summer-night-stroll-dress. I have it in both blue and green and have been seriously tempted to get the red as well. I pretty much switched off the blue/green every day I wasn't at work last summer. You can dress it up or down. I think I'll wear it this weekend in fact, at least when I'm not killing myself painting the house.

    I also hate hate hate those sheer dress things. In general I don't like the extreme mullet dresses, however, I do have one mullety dress--don't block my comments! I actually did not know it was two different lengths when I ordered it (Anthro--major sale last year: http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/24183998.jsp?null) and loved it too much to return it. I say it's more "angled" than mullet b/c there's probably only an inch max of difference. :) It's also mildly ruffly and reminds me a bit of a a salsa type of skirt. So there you have it.

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  16. So, so, SO with you re: high/low dresses. Although I've seen some people pull them off, they'er so few and far between. Augh. So much hatred of them.


    On a more positive note, I have that River Island maxi in coral and looove it. Super comfy and cool.


    Have a great weekend!


    xo
    Erin

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  17. I am with you on the high/low dresses too! They're just kind of weird, plus why not use that maxi to your advantage - that long column makes me look soooo much taller than 5'2", which I love. That JCrew one is so elegant.

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  18. I don't like high/low dresses either-- I look ridiculous in them! Made that mistake with a skirt one, now it is all full maxis from here on out for me! Love your sweet picks!

    xx, Emily
    shell chic'd

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  19. SO TRUE! also, it's protection against mosquitos :)

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  20. I think high/low skirts can work if the "high" part isn't so high. I think the big contrast is what makes them look a little off. Love the Reiss and Mango maxi.

    Allie | A Song to Pass the Time

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  21. haha the exact opposite problem I have! I wanted to get this today but am afraid it would be too short :( http://www.jcrew.com/womens_feature/vacationpicks/PRDOVR~01174/01174.jsp

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  22. the Monsoon link doesn't work for me because I get redirected to the US site!

    and forget about sheer maxis with miniskirts underneath on the red carpet... what about sheer maxiskirts with basically high-waist hotpants underneath?!

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  23. THERE IS ONE OUT THERE FOR YOU! I KNOW IT.

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  24. haha yes exactly. but psh you show off those calves girl!

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  25. that isn't a mullet dress! it just has a slit up the side - right? you look so happy though that I'll make an exception :)

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  26. UGH true - I'm 5'10" and a bit and I have that problem too :/


    (see? I know what's cool with the kids.)

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  27. haha I knew it would have both :) post a photo of you having a FAB time in the dress and I'll change my mind!

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  29. HAHAHA! We might have to go shopping together to find it, then :)

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  30. okay, I have NEVER seen a high-low dress that doesn't have the high part at (or above) the knees and the low part to the ankles (or below). I could be interested in the ones you're talking about...

    but I have to admit I can't get into dresses with big tiers like that one - they have to be like this one (first image on the page http://blog.jaclynday.com/post/24001735198/favorite-white-dresses-under-100) or smaller or I feel like I'm frothing :)

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  31. my feeling about stapless maxidresses is that if they're not gowns - like, potential black-tie outfits - then they shouldn't happen unless you're at the beach and they're made of something SUPER casual.

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  32. YOUR INSTAGRAM MADE ME SO HAPPY. so happy. thank you :)



    and I love that blue one! sometimes I'm afraid my arms aren't toned enough for racer backs, but what the hell, right? we only live once!

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  33. OH that's good to hear! that's actually my fave of the five. do you belt it?

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  34. exactly! that's the reason I kept the mango one up there - it would make you SO long and lean if it worked for your body :)

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  35. I really haven't seen high-low dresses like that! you HAVE to show me an example.

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  36. I'm right there with you. I don't like the high/low skirts or the opaque mini ones. I keep seeing both of those everywhere and I'm not a fan! I do love a good maxi dress, though.

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  38. My arms aren't really toned, and I think the dress actually makes them look more toned. Then again I pretty much think it's the perfect dress so there's that.

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  39. I'm in love with the J. Crew dress! I can do high-low if it's a small difference. But mini skirt to maxi skirt? No thank you!

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  40. I haven't yet, but probably will at some point. I've only worn it once on a super muggy day, so the thought of a belt was just too much.

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  41. I hate high-low dresses. They're schizophrenic, it's like, "pick a personality already!" Maxis however I totally get. They're the perfect summer staple.

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  42. aha! look what I just found: http://shopruche.com/sigh-no-more-embroidered-dress.html

    granted, the dress is still sheer with a lining, but the difference in hemlines is only 8 inches! they do exist!

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I love reading your thoughts and suggestions! Please do leave a comment so we can get to know each other better.