Why do most maxi dresses look so terrible on?

[jenenberry]

They always look so good on the hanger.
But, get them on most bodies (mine included) and they make a person look

Frumpy.
Pregnant.
3 X the size they normally are.
A lumpy sack of spuds!
And all that material = A billowing ship in full sail.

Am I right in thinking that only a small minority of women can pull the look off.
and it's not me

Think you have to show a good bit of decolletage to balance out the rest of you being covered up...sort of high neck with a mini skirt in reverse.

I really like maxis and I definitely think they can be flattering on those who not tall and/or thin. In fact I can't really imagine them working on tall and thin that well. I think they suit a curvier figure, but if you're not tall you need to avoid - seriously run from- ones with loads of fabric in the lower half. Also go for ones that are quite delicate in the top half, and have a fitted empire line, so that it clings at the thinnest part of the body then skims. The trick is fitted on the top, then skimming but not full below that. It is the fabric as well as the cut, slightly heavier/thicker fabric can hang better without clinging.

I've just bought this in the blue for Summer holidays. I think I will either love it or hate it . I'm 5'9" and a size 12 so hoping it works on me. I've been eyeing it up for ages, it's like an itch I have to scratch!

Has anyone got one?

www.hush-uk.com/daywear/dresses_skirts/panel_maxi_dress_stripe_hibiscus_white.htm?nosto=productpage-nosto-2

"Think you have to show a good bit of decolletage to balance out the rest of you being covered up"

I have no decolletage , but get told I look good whenever I wear a maxi.

I bought this one recently and it looks far less frumpy on me than it does in the picture.

I would class that dress as a midi not a maxi Coconut

Newbie. I have big boobs and a saggy stomach and I.love maxi dresses. I go for empire line which is fitted to under the boobs then skims the not so good bits. I look for wide shoulders to cover my bra straps. I do not like my legs so I feel.much not relaxed in a long dress. I wear flats and a denim jacket for a casual look.

Bunbaker I used to have great arms when I played netball but the bingo wings,are coming. What do you do to get rid of them'?

I swim, but mainly it is because I had such skinny, stick like arms for so long that when they stopped being so skinny they look OK now.

Newbie I wear racer back maxis but with a vest underneath. The £4 long vests from Matalan are perfect for this.

I've got a couple of Mantaray ones and I love them. They are probably everything everyone else hates (patterned, jersey etc.) but they are comfortable and I've finally reached an age where I wear what I'm comfortable in!

My SIL is 5'8 and a size 4. She's also an ex-ballerina.

She is the only person i have ever seen who looks good in a maxi.

Combination of height, willowiness (sp?), skinny arms, small shoulders and a fair bit of grace.

30andtired jealous

I'm the same height and shape as deetz and agree with her
I have one Nomad's jersey (navy with white butterflies-it's really pretty) which has straps wide enough for a bra and is fairly ' slim' I wear a short slip under it..The other is a very vivid multi coloured pattern with'bra 'top(I wear a strapless bra) and well cut enough to avoid a bulge (monsoon I think) Very full but very thin cotton skirt , So it doesn't drift into my bum
I would generally wear only in the evening ,though I have worn the floaty one on a very hot day to a friends birthday 'garden party' .The other has been to the opera in Vienna .I get compliments every time I wear them .And I'm 65 , nearly .Fully intend to take to Italy in October .I feel quite (well a bit) glamorous in them

I'm 5ft and a size 6 and steer clear of maxis and midis. They just do not work on a petite frame in my opinion.
My pet hate are the bandeau style in cheap fabric and garish prints. They squish boobs in an unattractive fashion, create unsightly back flab overhang and emphasise large upper arms.

They can look great if you're really tall or really slim.

But - I'm 5'5 size 8 (6 in UK vanity sizing) but my boobs are 32E and they look ridiculous on me.

The only ones that work are spaghetti strap clingy ones.

I've seen them look great on other people.

I'm 5ft 11 and a 12 top 14 bottom; love my maxi dresses and skirts! Currently living in very hot place so they are my absolute life saver in the summer. Mostly mine are good quality, heavy jersey, cross/empire line and to the floor. Sandals, simple bangles and a denim jacket for indoors when the air con is on and I'm good to go.

They're so vile. And so fat making. And hot

Polyester prints. Fat fleshy upper chest things. Ew

Plus send huge ENGLISH PERSON klaxon

Lots of them seem to have extremely small bodices, considering the size of the person inside them. I tried a White Company one on (am a 12) and my norks wouldn't fit even in the large, but I needed an extra small on the skirt bit. Ridiculously designed.

I find the opposite is true for me.

MaryBerrysEyelashes you sound nice.

bunbaker I didn't mean cleavage by decolletage, just some of the skin around neck/shoulders/chest, otherwise it's too much fabric not enough person.

It doesn't bother me if people know that I am English.

There are an awful lot of assumptions on this thread.

For a start, not all of us are fat, or short, or have matronly bosoms, or have bingo wings.

And not all of us are English