i saw about half a dozen maxi dress wearing women yestserday.. of all

[SlartyBartFast]

shapes and sizes.
but they STILL look ridiculous.

prove to me they dont

can someone define a maxi-dress for me?

I have a dress - probably about 10 or more years old now, from Jigsaw. it's silk, dark brown, bias-cut, (so with 2 or 3 diagonal seams) floor length, round vest neck with spaghetti straps.

over the years I've worn it at weddings, at evening dos and on the beach (and also when working in conservative countries, with a loose shirt over the top).

I'm wondering whether to dig it out and start wearing it again. I'm short and slim and have always felt that plain, long lines are lengthening and suit me. but lots of people say maxis do nothing for the short.

so do you reckon this dress is a "maxi" - and is that good (I can wear it again)( or bad (it doesn't suit me and never did)

A few things:

1. There is nothing wrong with rocking a bit of Margo Ledbetter

1. Some maxis do indeed look like this

1. but if the cut and the material is right they can look lovely. I've bought 2 from wallis online in the past month and, against the odds (size 16). Low V necks, wide at the shoulder, gathered just under the bust and drapey, heavy fabric. Got lots of compliments wearing one the other week for my friend's wedding, one from a passer-by. (Not a wino.)

looks like maxi just means long. and just read some tips on what kind to wear if you're short and it would seem the brown one's ok. I'm off to check out my wardrobe. I spent quite a bit of time in the 90s wearing what I believe would now be called maxis - in part because I spent quite a bit of time doing work stuff in the middle east. I had a gorgeous black empire line one that always got me compliments, but I think I've thrown it away. damn.

my friends who wear them look marvellous
i don't wear them because i am opposite of pear shaped and it just doesn't work
but i think they are beautiful piece of clothing

Yes hat, it sounds like a maxi.

I wore maxis in the 90s too, although mainly skirts rather than dresses. It was part of my hippy phase

i owe thanks to TSC not only for making me laugh about her 'vacuum wrapped fanjo' but because it turns out i too can claim a surestart grant...which makes £500 for spending on ....

boring stuff, that is not the fantastic maxi-dress i am perving over online.

definitely.

agree that maxi seems to be applied to any floor-length dress, and things that used to be called 'empire line' 'column' 'bias-cut' etc now are called maxi too.

just tried it on. and am convinced it looks great. wouldn;t wear it to the school gate (or dog walking as one article I just read suggested). but would wear it to a summer party/barbecue type thing. it feels lovely too. oooo I am pleased. a whole new outfit on one short wardobe expedition.

i had loads of floor length skirts in the 90's...not great for dog walking though unless you want half the field on your hemline...

I wore maxis between 1971- 1976

I won't go there again.