I hoped this day would never come…I think the midi dress is actually over

[Bringinguptherear]

I know it’s been known for quite a some time that the midi / midaxi dress has past it’s style peak. But until now I’ve still felt very comfortable with my wardrobe full of long dresses (so easy to wear!).

But yesterday, wearing a long shirt dress which felt totally chic a couple of years ago, it felt a bit dated, a bit bland, a bit boring. I felt everyone who looked cool was wearing something different and the (many) midi dresses being worn all looked a bit sad.

I am devastated. I’ve been a fully signed up member of Team Midi Dress and I’m not ready to give them up!

@Bringinguptherear stuff the trend! I wear whatever I like, I’ve had some of my dresses for years and there’s no way I will stop wearing them xx

Is this an ad??? And was it written by AI?

When I was in the office the other day I didnt see a single midi dress. All the younger lot were wearing loose linen trousers and a vest top. The other week they were all in satin midi skirts and vest tops with trainers.

I can't wear midi anything as it makes me look frumpy. So I'm either maxi or above the knee.

I don’t see how ‘wear what you like and you feel good in’ translates into grab the nearest animal, skin it and slap it on your frame.

Provided I can move freely in them, I like the long pencil skirts that a pp mentioned. (Sorry I can't see the post now or I'd quote you.) I bought a really nice vintage Next one last winter, dating from the days when it was a great shop: 100% fine wool, tiny dogtooth print and most importantly, a deep pleat at the back so I can walk in it. (Note: pleat, not split which is a completely different look.) It finished at the very top of my ankles - I'll leave people to argue about whether this makes it midi or maxi - and I wore it with flat boots and will be doing so again.

Sorry op, this isn't much help in the middle of summer but the signs are that there might be more of this type of thing around in the autumn.

All this talk about autumn and winter is killing the lovely summery vibe! I don't want to be reminded that I spend half the year shivering, wearing woollen tights underneath my fleece-lined trousers....

It'll never be over. It's practical and lots of women don't want to flash their thighs all the time so there will always be a market. There will be new fresh ways to do midi/midaxi. Maybe that's all you need?

Spanx arm tights you say? Hmm interesting. Do you match them to your skin tone so they blend into your wrist and hands? And I assume they slim down the arm? I've genuinely never heard of them.

At a recently family gathering I was at the cool young things were wearing wide leg trousers of one variety or another and a waistcoat or short top. The over 40 women were in midi dresses. Also was in Oliver Bonas and the women inside at the time were all 50ish. Everyone of them was in a midi dress with a short denim jacket over the top and the mannequins were dressed exactly the same way.

So is it possible that the midi dress is still in for older women but less so with younger women?

I've never been keen on the midi length. Maybe it's because I'm 5'4 or just my body shape but they really don't suit me.
I prefer shorter or maxi length. I also wear a lot of trousers.
I see a lot of dresses of all lengths on other people which look great. I really don't care what's in though. I prefer to choose things I feel comfortable in and think I look good in.

I did have the legs for minis...In the late 1970s, when the midi was in.

I'm now 65 with footballer's knees. I'll be sticking to jeans, methinks.

My recollection is that one or two designers have floated some leggings-with-knee-boots in a few collections and the fashion press have gleefully jumped on a jeans shape story. Remember how long non-skinnies were on the catwalk and “skinny jeans are over” articles went before anyone normal actually bought a wide or barrel leg? It was probably ten bloody years.

I expect skinnies will next be ubiquitous again in 2033., when GenZ has finally got over being dressed in them by their mums. (Much like millennials and boot cuts/flares!)

But what do you do in the scorching heat?! I can’t do jeans over 25degrees. I’m still in mini-ish (about mid thing usually) at late 30s but I know it won’t go on forever. I guess I need to look for a more loose fitting trouser.

Yes just trying to unpack it a bit, I think a few years ago the hip young things were wearing midi dresses so I felt hip and young wearing midi dresses. And I think they've basically clung on with the middle-aged mums while the hip young things have moved on. And I don't like feeling like a middle-aged mum. I quite clearly AM a middle-aged mum and not in any way a hip young thing, but a bit of self-delusion goes a long way.

And yes I'm quite aware of the internalised ageism there!

Yes exactly and I am in denial about being in my late 40s.

The online retailing thing is such an interesting point.

Though I'd also attributed the shift away from black (which photographs horribly) towards more pattern as being a consequence of the shift online, but we seem to be boomeranging back.

Therein lies the problem. On warm days, I'll be ignoring fashion and sticking with my midi dresses.

Remember the maxi dress … took too long to die.

So is it possible that the midi dress is still in for older women but less so with younger women?

I was out at a big summer event yesterday where those attending were mostly in the 30+ age bracket and the dress code was smart day wear. Countless midi dresses were being worn (including by me!). So yes, ubiquitous, but not going anywhere for a while yet.

And no, they are not an edgy choice, but they probably never were!

Well, I'll still be wearing mine. Non-patterned & in largely neutral colours & natural fabrics thank you. As a 5 ft 3 61 year old I look silly in minis & I trip over maxis. So what's the alternative?

I'm very fussy about my dresses, and only ever wear midis as maxis and short dresses don't suit me.
Flowery dresses are out as well as patterns.
I have a few uniqlo plain colour midis and they never fail to get admired and they look up to date for any age witha nice blazer or crochet shrug style cardigan.
I do mostly wear trousers though.

My dresses, I like the skirts that are about now and loose trousers, I can't wear wide legs, I'm not tall and willowy enough even though I'm slim, but I try and find a loose fitting trouser in linen or cotton.
I never wear anything with a loud pattern or flowery. There is nothing more ageing.

Hmm, I’m not particularly tall either. I wear a baggy-ish jean but that’s about as far as it goes. I’m a bit rock/goth so nearly everything is black anyway!