Dress lengths just keep getting longer and longer.

[NaturalScone]

I thought about splashing out on a new dress for summer, as only have the one, but I am discouraged by the growing lengths since the past year or so.
I do recall midi used to actually mean midi (looking at you, M&S!), but now they have definitely grown. I wonder why, if the average woman is 5'4?
Why not offer 2 lengths or just opt for the middle ground?
And seeing as every damn ting is 'tiered' it isn't even easy to shorten them.

I am 5'5 and struggle so god knows how people shorter are getting on.
And yes, I know tall people will be thankful, but it is definitely at the exclusion of all others now, which is typical of the high street I know

Here are just 2 samples from Hush. I just picked them at random. If they are that long on a model, I give up! it's bordering on ludicrous..

Anyone else had enough of dresses and their lurid patterns? I was so happy when they first came back, but they bury or defy the lines of my shape and look like giant curtains now.

Unfortunately it is now rather difficult to find a dress that isn't tiered, especially in the stores that I like. I love the current linen and cotton gauze summer dresses at White Company and all of them are far too long. If I tried to shorten them the lower tier would look ridiculous, or else theres an asymmetry, or just a style that won't be easy to alter.
Next length up is usually the 'White Stuff' type knee length that looks awful on me.
Same for skirts, ALL the White Co skirts are ridiculously long.
And then there's the billowing, with bodices so wide I look swamped, or the armholes are so oversized you'd be able to see all the way down to my underpants if I lifted an arm.

I do have several dresses from around 4 years ago, all gorgeous, mostly lines with pockets and go in slightly at the waist so that they flow nicely. They were from Hush, Zara and M&S. All gone the way of the prairie now though :(

Example of dress I love from White Co..just can't imagine being able to shorten it.

It is described as a 'Midi dress'. Model is 5'9.

I'm the same height as you OP and I love the dress lengths atm. Both of your examples look great to me

I'm 5'9 and tbh 90% of fashion is designed for people shorter than me so it's nice to have something!

Most tops just look ridiculous.

I’m old enough to remember the 80s when skirts and dresses sat just above the knee. It was, and still is, the most flattering length for me. If I try one of the current floral, long, voluminous creations I look like I’m in fancy dress

Shortening a hem is an easy alteration, you don't even need a sewing machine just needle and thread.

It is a bit more difficult if there is a tier and you need to shorten it significantly but it isn't that hard.

I really doubt that you need to shorten things so significantly it is a problem if the petite range is too petite for you. You could try sizing up in the petite section or down in the main range to see if that helps the overall fit too. Belting dresses can lift the hem and stop them being too billowing.

Obviously nothing can fit everyone and shops have to work out what works for the majority of their customers.

I spend the summers wafting around in long, Moroccan-inspired dresses so am pleased that maxi dresses are now in fashion. At just under 5’5” the length is always perfect. I’ve bought a long dress from Peacocks of all places, with a black background so the floral print definitely isn’t overwhelming and love it. It has a tie belt at the back at bust level to give shape, while the rest of the dress flows over my bumps and lumps!

i really love the maxi dresses in the shops. I have knobbly knees so hate the just-above-the knee look!

The problem is that shortening things to any great extent changes the whole look and fit of a dress. I tried on a Hobbs dress today - it was lovely. Plain navy, long skater style - with a fabulous broad pink piece round the hem. The pink piece was about 6 inches broad - and I'd have needed to have shortened the dress by at least 6 inches, thus losing the loveliest bit of it...

You'd shorten that at the seam where the pink and navy join so you wouldn't lose the proportions.

I can sew well enough to make my own clothes, @JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon (nice username, btw), and I would not do this as it would fuck up the proportions of a beautiful dress. It is a dress made for someone who is 5 foot 9. My DD is over 6 foot, and it would be calf length on her, and would look rubbish for completely different reasons.

I agree, because the shortening would have to happen somewhere around mid-thigh for it to be flattering. I feel your pain.

What’s happened to a knee length fit and flair style dresses, at the moment they are either so short you can nearly see your knickers in them (lovely on young girls with lovely young legs) or long and shapeless. I have given up and I am going to shop my own wardrobe this year as nothing in the shops for me and I fed up looking online .

That's always been an issue, my Mum is short, I'm not, we generally can't wear the same clothes and don't find the same shops make stuff to fit us both, back in the 90s she loved Wallis but even their petite range was too long so she had to buy strategically, alter things or not buy at all. I found principles was always too short, and M&S often was too.

It isn't even just a women's clothes thing, my husband is only 6ft2 but there are very few places that do trousers long enough.

A short leg length for trousers and a slim fit for jumpers is not the same thing as having a proper petite range.

I'm above average height, though not tall, and find the maxi dresses too impractical to wear for long periods.

The fabrics are horrid as well

It's not so bad if they were cotton like in the 90s

This is my preferred length, on or just above the knee, but difficult length to find at the moment. I think people have said similar on other threads.

I was looking at Boden dresses the other day - a nice just under the knee came up. Unfortunately I left it ONE day, and bang, all gone. Loads of midi left. Suprise, suprise. I bought the midi anyway, IN A PETITE, thinking I was being clever, but will have to have it shortened anyway. I wish "fashion" would follow what most people want, rather than what they think we should have. I am a standard size 12, 5'5", which is pretty run of the mill...... I think!?

I wish "fashion" would follow what most people want, rather than what they think we should have.

l love the current lengths. Just above ankle is best length for me! I’m quite tall, don’t like minis as the proportion d look wrong and loathe knee length for the same reason.

l spent years in the dress wilderness. Looking for longer dresses. I’m so glad they’ve returned.

I’m 5’11 and a lot of dresses in the shops right now are too long for ME?!

i wish this trend for ghastly floral calf length dresses would just fuck off!

I love the trend for longer dresses at 5'3 I get them shortened from the waist. The patterns this year tho are something else!!

Amen to that!

well 5'5 isnt short...

@SonicWomb

Absolutely!

Im 5ft 9. Hate minis and really really hate knee length🤮🤮🤮 The most unflattering length ever!

*well 5'5 isnt short...

no! I'd love to be 5ft 5....actually I'd settle for 5ft! 😂
It's not obvious who the clothes appeal to, since people of all different heights on here are complaining about them!