Maxi Dresses

What is a maxi dress?

Maxi dresses are long, one piece styles that fall to the ankle or all the way to the floor. The length is the whole point: it creates one uninterrupted line from shoulder to hem that reads elegant with almost no effort. Because the dress does the work, a maxi can be as easy as a jersey column for the beach or as considered as a slit satin gown for a wedding. It is the piece most people reach for when they want to look pulled together and still move freely all day.

Maxi vs midi vs mini

Length changes the mood of a dress more than any other detail. Here is how the three main hems compare.

• Maxi vs midi: the maxi runs to the floor, the midi stops at mid calf for a slightly sharper, more formal line.
• Maxi vs mini: the mini bares the leg and reads playful, the maxi covers up and reads serene.
• Slit vs full hem: a high slit adds leg and ease of movement, a full hem keeps the drama and the drape.
• Column vs tiered: a straight column skims down the body, a tiered or ruffled skirt adds volume and swing.

Who suits a maxi dress

The myth that maxis only suit tall figures does not hold up. What matters is where the waist sits and where the hem lands. A defined waist seam and a hem grazing the floor in your chosen shoe lengthen any frame, which is why petite shoppers do well ordering with heels in mind or having the hem taken up. Fuller figures are well served too: our plus size maxis are graded to skim the waist and hip rather than cling. For a floaty warm weather version, the summer dress edit leans into breathable cotton and print.

How to style a maxi dress

The same maxi can carry a beach day or an evening reception depending on how you finish it.

• Daytime: flat sandals, a straw tote and sunglasses for a warm weather day out.
• Evening: a heel, a slim clutch and gold jewelry turn a slit maxi into occasion wear.
• Weekend: a denim jacket and white sneakers keep a printed maxi relaxed for markets and brunch.

Getting the fit right

With a maxi, hem length is everything. Measure from your shoulder to the floor in the shoes you plan to wear, then check that number against the size guide listed on the product page. A hem that pools drags the look down, while one that floats just above the floor is the sweet spot. For the bodice, take your bust and waist and size up if you are between sizes in a fitted style so the seams sit flat. Adjustable straps and smocked backs give you extra room to fine tune the fit at home.

Shop the full maxi edit

From vacation column dresses to floor length florals and lustrous satin gowns, the full maxi dresses range sits within our wider dresses collection, refreshed weekly. US orders over $75 ship free.