Midi dresses - how to make them look good?

[Jellybel]

Hi ladies ....I'm looking to buy some dresses to wear to work in the summer and thought to maybe get some midi dresses. I'm almost 6ft tall and a size 12/14 and when I try these dresses on I just look frumpy with a gianormus bum! I also only own flat pumps (not keen on heels with my height and obv can't wear with boots because it's summer) so struggling to find shoes that would work with them . Any ideas on how to pull these off? Esp wrt shoes as I have no fashion sense at all and always ruin my outfits with my flat pumps

Put dress on, add necklace or bracelets and wear converse or other pumps (I’m favouring sparkly carvela) add denim jacket and optional lipstick - tell yourself you look fab and wear the dress!!
your bum does not look as big as you imagine, nobody is looking at it in terms of size anyway either they are butt lovers or they are checking out if yours is perkier than theirs.

I wear midi dresses with Converse or biker boots.

But if you think they make you look frumpy, why would you buy and wear them?

Flat pumps never, ever look good with anything. I would so put ballet flats into room 101.

I just bought some flatform converse and they are really nice. They make the dress/trainer combo look slightly more dressy.

I know what you mean! They look nice in everyone else but feel frumpy on me too

but they do look much better with a pair of sandals and a denim jacket.

Also prefer skirts and tops which is not as much of a popular opinion!

Unless it's actually hot, I'm a big fan of chunky ankle boots even with bare legs.

A light jacket or just the right cardie can help break it up a bit so it's not such an enormous expanse of arse (I'm not making assumptions about your derriere - I'm just going on the size of my own backside 🤣🤣)

Thanks for all the suggestions!

@Spitescreen - I should rephrase my question....how can I accessorise to make Midi dresses look less frumpy on me ?🙂

@cherrypiepie - yes they look really good on others and I feel that at 6ft tall I should be able to pull these off (usually I struggle to find dresses that aren't too short on me) but they don't so I wonder if I'm doing something wrong!

By pumps do you mean ballet pumps or lightweight trainers?

I wear sandals, Supergas, Converse or a random unbranded pair of canvas shoes that I love. Or cowboy boots even in summer.

@WalkerWalking 😂

@Harissa - yes at work I wear ballet pumps with everything. Or ankle boots. Literally own no other shoes for summer

I'm tall too and have concluded that midi dresses look shit on me. I think its because technically it could be a maxi dress that I've outgrown. It's either mini or maxi for me now.

How to make them look good? Leave them in the shop TBH.

All I can think of when I see people in those floral ones is my old history teacher from high school. Stylish, she was not.

@Northernsoullover - yes!!! This is what it is! I have the same issue with cropped trousers ...I look like I've outgrown them 😂

@Neoandtrinity - and yes I feel like I look like one of my old teachers too when I try on a Midi dress or maxi dress

I’m also close to 6ft and I would only wear a midi pencil dress or shirt dress, so something fitted or with structure .

Those floral floaty ones or ones with a full skirt that shirt arsed wear with trainers just look like way too much material and extremely frumpy on me , especially as am also a 12-14 hourglass with a big bun. They just aren’t flattering.

short arses! 😆

Midis look frumpy on me too. I’m 5’9, size 10/12 but they manage to make my hips look wide and my legs look short. So odd.

Yes I feel shorter and wider in them too! Really thought all that extra material would look good on tall women. Glad to know it's not just me! I usually lean towards more fitted dresses too

I hear what everyone’s saying about ballet pumps… but struggle a bit for an alternative for work in the summer, I don’t think I can wear trainer pumps to work, can I?

@User0610134049 - I have the same problem. Can't find any flat shoes for work so I end up wearing pumps with everything and look so frumpy

I agree. You need to wear tall range and go for either midaxi (hate the name) or buy a maxi and have it shortened to the right length. Midi’s look frumpy on most people, it’s the funny length.

i would wear with trainers. I go for silver for work as it’s a bit smarter or western style ankle boots

I wear these instead of ballet flats...

I bloody love them - they go with jeans, trousers, dresses.

More support than ballet flats.

I've now got them in about four different colours

They're not cheap but they last really well

www.cocoroselondon.com/products/clapham-tan-woven-leather-loafers

Hey! Love a midi dress and timelessly always on trend so you're good!! I've seen them on varying body shapes and they look great! You're likely imagining that your bum looks big!

Also, to mix it up or try and fit your shape..are you hourglass shape? If so a wrap dress in my opinion is very flattering, synching you in at the waist and it's adjustable usually with a tie.

Shoes that aren't pumps...anything chunky is in at the moment and I love a chunky shoe as I find it balances out the leg more! (I've got Kankles so anything with ankle strap/dainty looks ridiculous on me)

Can't go wrong with a wedge either, and they're very comfortable in comparison to heels. Birkenstocks again very comfy and looks good with dresses.

I've attached a few photo ideas ☺️

I’m short and prefer to wear heels with a midi dress so I go for wedge sandals in the summer.

5'9 here and I cannot wear a midi dress. Maxi's look much more flattering on me. I also can't wear wide leg crops. I have quite wide calves which I don't think really helps.

First of all, I bet you look better than you think in them, its just not a look you are used to on you.

Maxi lengths are much more flattering on most woman than midi. Midi cuts most of us off at a difficult point and so doesn't flatter. You have to make shoe effort and you want to wear ballet pumps. Go longer or shorter.

Pick something fitted at the waist or add a belt. Cardies /jackets need to be shorter as well, nothing that goes below your natural waist if you are going midi or maxi (or that weird inbetween one).

I look like a medieval bloody serving maid in anything remotely floaty/frilly/tiered/floral due to my bust. I'm hour glass 5' 5''.

Every summer without fail i get all inspired and i go into a shop and try on that year's version of 'nice summery dress' and every year without fail i look at myself in it and come out depressed.

I've already done this year's stint. I looked like a ship in full sail. My (early 20s) daughter encouraged me to try it on this time. ''Try mum - everyone looks good in these. They're so easy''. I put it on and she stood there with her head on one side opening and closing her mouth trying to find the words bless her 😂

I stick to smooth straight or A line skirts sometimes with a high split, with tucked in vest top and white trainers or sandals or vest dresses/shift dresses of varying length. Tan leather sandals go with everything too.