OMG just tried a maxi dress on

[miche8]

and fell about laughing, i just look so funny.

I can wear pink girly flowery tops and feel fine, but when it come to dresses and skirts just cant pull the look off.

I'm a size 14/16 and most of the weight is round my middle, my arms and legs are skinny, i can even wear shorts and look fairly good, so the problem isn't my legs. I even down sized on the maxi dress so there wasn't excessive fabric flapping about. I've even seen other women of my size and i think they look really good. My mum and partner agree it wasnt a good look so its not just in my head.

Anyone else have this problem, really wanted a cool summer dress.

scratchmyback I love that Firetrap dres from Next

I have seen a lot of people in a variety of shapes and sizes in my home town looking amazing in maxi dresses recently.

I think you need the right dress. I tried on a Gap one at the start of the season and recoiled in horror, then a few weeks later I got inspired by everyone looking so good in the street and tried on some more - now I have 2 of them and both are gorgeous. I am 5ft 6 and I am no rake!!! Both my dresses are made from viscose mix jersey fabric but I also have my eye on the silk ones on the M&S website...

Nicole Ritchie looks great in them, she's short and thin, and a bit hippish.

well, I'm a size 18 and recently got this and I love it - I don't care if I look ridiculous in it - which I don't think I do as long as you don't look at me sideways

You see, that Next/Firetrap dress sums up my problem....its exactly the sort of dress I want to wear but I look appalling in anything like that - my boobs are far too large and so the whole thing looks shocking

Self-knowledge is definitely the critical factor when maxi-dress shopping - they all feel lovely and swishy on, but you need to be aware of what works for your body shape rather than what looks pretty on the hanger/model/everyone else....

Lal - I bet you look lovely in it.

Just because we're not all model proportions does not mean we shouldn't have fun and experiment with clothes.

And god - I'd rather see a maxi dress than an empire line tunic with leggings which is my personal bugbear

I am short and I look good in a maxi dress. I think the key to them is having a proportional body. YOu also need a flat stomach. I am hourglass size 8 and they suit me.

YOu know it is hard being short , people forever saying you can't wear this and that. I can lose weight but I can;t grow and I have to wear something!!

filly, what size/shape are you.
Honestly, I had tried loads on that I looked terrible in (i am large norked too) and this one fits so much better.

Quite Bish!

Its shortism - thats what it is

I know tracey..I am not one for fighting but it really annoys me..all this you can't wear this and that unless you are tall. I work hard to have a good figure and there is feck all I can do about my height!..ok rant over.

Me too bish - me too

i bought a fab maci dress from asda yesterday, am wearing it now here and it looks great. im only 5'1"

Lal123 I have the Namibia dress too - love it!!!

i really hate most of the maxi dresses about atm. they are far too flouncy and purty. really like the new look ones, tried one on though and it was just a bit too long