Why are they making dresses so LONG this season?

[JinglingHellsBells]

I saw this reported in one of the papers last week.

The average woman is 5 4"

I have looked at a load of dresses, such as HUSH and one listed as a midi dress is 49 inches long. The maximum I can wear is 44 inches and even that is almost ankle length.

Even on the model, who must be 5 10" it's almost ankle length.

Midi used to be mid calf.

I'm handy with a sewing needle but don't want to fiddle with dresses costing £100 for take off 5 inches.

Am I alone in this????????????

I had my eye on this:
www.evans.co.uk/plus-size-maxi-desire-205861seagreen?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI067ni5Tk9gIVwlPTCh32ZAVcEAEYASABEgKWnPD_BwE
And then noticed it's 57" long!
I'm 5'6" so apparently over average height but FGS!

ive noticed more maxi's popping up where before there were more midis!

I think it is a conspiracy between the clothing and shoe manufacturers to force us back into heels and platform wedges!

Anyone notice there's always some issue with fashion?
Like it can never just be simple and democratic. So many people were cool with midi's, they were a good length for many.
But no! ~ we have to create a problem, too many people are happy here! I know, let's make shorter and average height women feel the burn!

I'm 5ft 1 and looked at a skirt today that would have simply dragged on the floor. No point trying on. Its annoying. I do keep considering getting that sewing machine.

Are they extra long because more fabric has to cover girth or something?

Im 5'8 and went to try on a few things at Cos the other week that were just massive rectangles of fabric that needed a belt to have any hope of starting to look like recogniseable clothing units. I saw so many women in Scandinavia last year attempting that "overlarge floaty" look who were in the petite round category and it.... it did not look good.

I like dresses just below the knee - mid calf and I look ready for a Stasi unit and maxi I look like a pirate ship (as someone above noted!) and it hides my few best features.

The prairie dress needs to die. Bring back the v-neck, below the knee, nipped in at the waist with a fullish skirt!

@balalake

Fashion is designed to get you to part with money, largely for things you don't really need.

Perhaps the best response is to wear dresses you already have.

Why are you on the S&B forum if you don't like fashion and you want to shame people for shopping?!

I'm 5 ft 1.5 and this year and last are the first time I've really struggled to find dresses. I think there used to be much more choice of length in shops than there is now as I've never had this problem before - I've even bought maxi dresses from regular ranges.

I've a garden party event coming up in May and wanted a floaty modest dress to wear to it - I must have tried on close to 50 dresses at this stage, I've been completely swamped in most of them. I finally found a petite "midi" from Lipsy that I like and even that is not too far above the ankles.

Can't wait for the mini skirt backlash to happen!

I know, let's make shorter and average height women feel the burn!

It's their turn 😂

I'm also really pleased about this So fed up with waistbands in my armpits and everything being that bit too short.

@JinglingHellsBells

If they made clothes to fit women of 5ft4 then the petite collection would be redundant

No, if they made clothes to fit the average height, more women might buy more stuff.

I don't think you understand petite ranges. They are for women 5 3" and under.

I am just over 5 3" and find petite often too small and 'normal' lengths too long.

And it's not that easy to shorten things. As I said upthread it depends entirely on the fabric. It's very hard to blind-hem soft and silky viscose if the skirt part of a dress is full.

Easier to shorten than lengthen though, particularly if there's no hem to speak of

I agree. I tried on a lovely dress in Phase Eight and it would have needed me to wear heels to keep the hem from scraping the ground. I am 5'10".

I always feel very average at 5ft4. Equal amounts of people shorter and taller from my perspective.

I don't like dresses but trouser lengths are always too long.

I'm 5' 0". There is nothing out there for me at the moment at all.
Even petite ranges have got longer. I've entirely failed to find any petite/short length jeans that fit me this year. I think they've just upped all their length guides.

I’m 5”7 and a pear shape so am loving the longer lengths and the current fashions. For once, I’m finding it relatively easy to buy things (not good for my bank balance though!).

I'm 5 ft 3 and just not buying dresses and skirts at the moment. I don't suit maxi length anyway, even if it's the correct length for me. I'm just gonna wait until fashion moves on.

Luckily skinny jeans are finally out, so I have bought new jeans and trousers

The average height is still around 5'4". I'm almost 60 5'10", and have to say only know two women under 5' 4", so it is surprising (I know many over 5'7", so where are all these smaller women)?
Can you buy petite?

I buy petite, that's what it's for

As someone who is only 5'4 I find that most petite things are actually too short for me. Petite is often designed for women 5'3 and under. So 5'4 is just on the cusp.

I've just bought these from Zara - both described as culottes. The jeans fit me perfectly as regular length jeans I can wear them with flats. The black trousers however cut off at such an awkward length on me - right at my ankle I think. They just look really stupid. So even though things are longer, they can still work for petite people. I particularly like long maxi dresses so the dress thing usually works out well for me

I am 5'0" so nothing really fits. Even petite stuff is made for 5'3." I used to make a lot of my own clothes so I might go back to that.

Unless anyone knows of a website that caters for shorties - like a Long Tall Sally in reverse.

It's been at least 5 years since they seemed to decide that all maxidresses must be floor-scraping on a 5ft9 model, I have to get 6inches taken off them to wear one on the whole, albeit I am 5ft 1.

Well as a tall person Im happy! At least you can have opinion of hemming to make garments wearable I can’t add extra material to make my jeans or whatnot longer. I look ridiculous in Pjs as it’s so hard to find pj pants that are long enough.

Here for the list of shops designing for tall people like me. Please please name and shame!

@FrancescaContini

IDK but I am loathing the Little House on the Prairie look.

Heinous isn't it.

I'm 5ft and rarely find anything that is in the correct proportions. Brands like Dorothy Perkins and Debenhams used have lots of choice for petite so it's a shame that Boohoo took over. Everything is very Amish looking at the moment so I'm not really sure that I'm missing out!