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Original poster

Can you wear maxi dresses if you under 5 ft 3"??

16 replies

TheMags · 11/04/2011 10:03

Hi I really fancy the idea of getting a maxi dress this summer but have always ruled it out as I'm only about 5 2". My question to you lovely ladies is can petite women get away with wearing maxi dresses? Also if so any ideas of where I can look to buy one?

OP posts:
paddingtonbear1 · 11/04/2011 10:06

I've got a few and I'm only just over 5 ft! You just need to be careful - too much material and it looks daft. Mine came from Wallis and Next (petite ranges).

ShowOfHands · 11/04/2011 10:10

I'm just 5ft 3" and love maxi dresses. I think whatever your height they can look billowy and ridiculous if they're cut that way. I have several jersey maxi dresses that hang better than loose cotton ones.

Original poster
TheMags · 11/04/2011 10:21

Sounding positive. Will take a look on the Next website and see what they have.

OP posts:
Clure · 11/04/2011 11:02

I'm 5'1 and tried this FC one on it was lovely, not to "swamping" or long. I just can't justify a hundred squid on a frock. I do have a cheap maxi I bought a couple of summers ago but I just haven't plucked up the courage to wear it.
However I have just bought this maxi skirt and actually worn it, its very flattering

blue2711 · 11/04/2011 11:04

I am 5ft 1" and ventured into maxi territory for the first time last summer and was glad I did. With me, the key was to choose jersey fabric and a slim shape so I felt slinky rather than drowned by it. And I put a brown leather belt round my waist and that looked much better. I got mine from ASOS petite and New Look teen range!

I think you should go for it. The joy of hiding my white stubbly legs is immense...

Glamomma · 11/04/2011 11:26

I am 5ft 2" and was always very weary of the Maxi as I always thought I was too short, but then I kept seeing images of Nicole Richie in Maxi dresses and she is shorter than us so I made it my aim to find a maxi dress, tried on loads and finally found a jersey fabric one in a boutique for just £20 quid, ended up buying it in Black, Khaki and Coral, I?m a quite curvy so I decided to go for plain block colours. Haven?t looked back!! so go for it! Just try on lots of styles and colours and you'll find the right one!

Original poster
TheMags · 11/04/2011 14:31

Right thats it I am going to be definitely going to get one. May have to venture into the teen section of New Look so I can try on! Thanks ladies for helping me decide.

OP posts:
Meggles76 · 11/04/2011 19:32

Definitely! I am 5ft and a size 8 - 10 and have one. Agree with others - go for one from a petite range - like Next, DP, Wallis etc... Also jersey fabric that skims is good.

planestrainsautomobiles · 11/04/2011 19:55

This from Next Petite looks really nice and I've seen it in a Grazia too as a pick of the week or such like.

HappyAsIAm · 12/04/2011 10:45

I have a fab maxi dress from www.petiteaffair.co.uk - its the black and white abstract maxi dress. I am 5 foot 1 inch tall, and I need to wear heels with it (or have it shorteneed I suppose). It is really flattering, and I am so looking forward to wearing it on a night out in the summer. Its like a jersey fabric.

Shhhh · 12/04/2011 13:43

totally agree with the above replies... Im 4ft 11 and only venture into maxi dress world late last yr! Wore my 1st maxi dress to a wedding and never ever worn a dress and got so many compliments..Smile.

I agree about choosing your fabric wisely, jersey type is best as it hangs really well.

I now have about 6 maxi dresses and have had to alter then all length wise but that the norm for me..!

Next is where about 4 of them are from, the next geri range are lovely.
I was a bit Hmm about them being designed by geri but they are really lovely.

I have both the black and leopard print ones. BTW, im a 12/14 and the 12 at next fits fine.Smile

here

Clure · 12/04/2011 16:22

I tried this from miss selfridge on today. The fabric was quite nice, and hung nicely and due to the "dippy hem" (whatever that is) I didn't trip over it. The only problem with was the elasticated band around the top was mahoosive (32A so nothing to hold it up!!) Worth a try though

Shhhh · 12/04/2011 19:01

dippy hem.. I assume thats where it is raised at the front compared to the back..??

looks lovely, but I never suit such dresses personally. Makes me look like a sack Hmm. You know they kind that holds spuds Hmm

nokissymum · 12/04/2011 19:06

yes yes yes! shorter than you and always have a few maxi dressess each summer, like someone already said beware of "big" dresses, unless is 3/4 length, for maxi's go for straight styles or fitted ones, You'll look fab.

Original poster
TheMags · 13/04/2011 08:49

Thank you ladies there are some fab suggestions here. I'm trying to find time to get to the shops without the DS' (damm school holidays!) so see if there are any petite dresses around I can try on. Have quite a big Next near me so will head there first as they seem to have a good range of petite maxi's. If not trailing the internet here I come....

OP posts:
moonmother · 13/04/2011 09:09

I too have some maxi's - I'm also only 4'11 Grin

I tried a lot on before I bought any, and agree that there is a certain cut of maxi that shorties can get away with, and as said before jersey ones are the way to go.

I'm no twig (12-14) with large norks but have had quite a few compliments when wearing my maxis.

This is a good site I found last year

yo-shorty.co.uk/2008/07/maxi-or-long-dresses-petite-friend-or-foe-2/

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