to think that Maxi dresses are 'orrible and make everyone look like a cross between Mama Cass and her from Abigail's Party

[GetOrfMoiLand]

They are awful.

I am very tall and thin and they make me look like a chubby shortarse.

Plus (and this is the real point I think) I remember wearing one walking tipsy up some stairs and trop on the front of the dress, causing me to stumble and headbutt my own knee.

So, if you want to wear one and look like a boho throwback, be careful.

I am in 100% total and utter agreement with you!

They make all women look fat and/or pregnant!

Yes! I am tall and thin too and STILL make me look fat. I think they might be ok if you belt them in, and don't move. Ever. Which is why they look good on shop dummies but no-one else!

The jersey sort are a bit more flattering, but I understand what you mean about the big, billowing empire line monstrosities.

Haven't seen a Mama Cass reference for years - she makes me be very careful when eating bacon sandwiches!

YANBU

specially when biffers wear em

Especially with their summer bra straps showing, Mike!!

Well they must be fine if you happen to be short and fat then.

Cattleprod... I believe the Mama Cass/ham sandwich thing is an urban legend alas...

They are awful aren't they.

I tried one on a couple of weeks ago - it was a great big 70s style one, so I should have known, but it made me look huge. It's not good to have that much material billowing around anyway. What happens when it pisses down? Or in high winds (lol at mental image though).

I have also tried on a grey marl jersey one, it just looked as if I had a cheap Asda nighty on.

YABU, my 10 yr old looks lovely in them

I had one a couple of years ago (the self knee headbutt dress) but I was a bit bigger then, so now I am thin (thank ye gods and illness) I thought I would try again. STILL make me look fat.

Whats a 'biffer'? Could someone enlighten me please?

Bollocks.

I love them.

I will not be persuaded otherwise, no matter what insults you throw at me.

Well I'm already a shortarse so I wouldn't bother.

I love them! Really got into them on a hot holiday last year. Even light knee-length dresses felt too hot; maxis were the only thing to keep the scorching sun off my skin and let air circulate.

OP, I'm also tall (5ft 10) and thin, and I don't feel like, or feel as if I look like, Mama Cass in them, but maybe I just love them so much that I don't care.

In all but really really hot weather though I prefer knee-length or a bit shorter. I like to get a bit of sun on my blue corpse-like pale English-rose legs.

Think you have to have big boobs to carry it off

yabu It depends on the style and the cut. I have three and am of average height and am thin. I have always been complimented when I wear them.

You could get three normal outfits out of that material

I went to one of those outdoor concert/picnic things once, a woman in a maxi dress was doing a Dervish-type thing to Elgar and caught the dress on a flare.

It wasn't a tragedy, she managed to put it out, so I felt quite ok about laughing.

That's where I fall down then, being flat chested.

My wife has just bought one and she looks sexy as hell. I like them

Yanbu.

I quite like the idea of long evening dresses for a posh grown-up evening do.

But not for the school run or schlepping around Tesco.

I just can't be doing with all that billowing ship in full sail feel.

Agree long dresses are lovely for the evening when all dressed up. I just can't equate long dresses = casual.

Too try hard.

I've never seen one that looks good, not on any shape. Despite what you may think. A bit like linen trousers.

I'm flat-chested too. I like to think I look elegant and racehorse-like/sporty in a 20s-flapper way . I get loads of compliments when I wear a maxidress too. But frankly, even if I didn't I'd still wear them, on the aforementioned hot holidays and when it's warm but I haven't waxed my legs/I just feel too pale to get my calves out/I know I'll need to sit down on the grass and get up again and don't want to flash people.

I look amazing in them.

or so everyone i meet, when I'm wearing one, tells me.

I like the idea of maxi dresses. In my head I am all Elle Mcpherson long limbed and elegant.

Then I look in the mirror and see Eric Morecambe in drag