Dress Empress: Can I Wear a Maxi Dress?

Dear Empress,
 

I am dying to try the Maxi Dress trend, but am hesitant. I am 5'4" with an hourglass figure, not heavy but quite curvy. Can I pull this off? which style would suit me best?

Missus Melissa
(Recipes)

length

Make sure your diurnal gown is cut to the appropriate height.  Most maxis are designed to skim the ankles.  Therefore, if the hem trails your terrain, add some espadrilles or hem it.  Conversely if it's shin grazing, replace it on its hanger home.

prints 

Patterns need to be in proportionate to your posture.  A delicate ditsy print on a full figured amazon appears puerile.  While an electric, over sized print on a pocket person may lead others to assume a dress devouring disaster.   

shape

Upper Figures

Dorothy Perkins Blue Ikat Print Dress
A v-neck cuts into the volume of a full bust while thick straps ensure coverage of a supportive lady egg nest.  Paneled volume billows from below the ribcage, balancing the lower half, while elongating the leggers.

Middle Figures

Shop Ruche Twilight Grace Maxi Dress
Draping from an empire waistline hides any areas of insecurity while a solid monochromatic color maximizes the length of the figure.

Linear Figures

ModCloth Good To Be Tier Dress
Layers of volume add flirtatious dimension ensuring straight silhouettes are neither boxy nor waifish.

Hourglass Figure

Debenhams White Striped Rope Maxi Dress
If you don't want the eye to measure it don't stripe it. But if you intend to dramatize a differentiation, stripes are strategic.  As an hourglass you can amplify your narrows by drawing lines and cinching belts around them. 

Lower Figures

Warehouse Shield Print Maxi Dress
Clean minimal pleats create a tidy space for the hips without adding unnecessary volume, while a high halter neckline maximizes the upper half.

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