Flowy dresses with lots of movement are the best, especially in hot and heavy summer weather. I love dresses (that’s nothing new to anyone who has been reading my posts) and I would describe my style as feminine, leaning more towards classic looks. Bohemian style dresses are not something that I usually associate with my sense of style, but with the right dress, the sky is the limit. I am fully behind trying new styles and breaking into new trends, if it looks good. That’s how we grow and build our confidence. Clothing is a reflection of who you are and the way you dress mirrors how you feel about yourself. I’m here for the maxi dress and this is why.
This is the Shimmer Floral Flutter Sleeve Maxi Dress and I LOVE IT. I was skeptical when I purchased it because the shimmer and ruffles do add a lot to the dress. It actually fits really well and doesn’t overwhelm my frame. It actually works because the bodice is fitted and the sleeves ruffles are drawing your upward and outward (it’s all about illusions). The shoulder ruffles are also smaller and that makes a big difference when dressing a smaller build. There are also some ruffles along the torso and they hug the body which makes the dress flattering.
Let’s also talk about fabric for little bit.
The other takeaway when looking at maxi dresses, and all clothing for that matter, is fabric. If you are petite, DON’T GO TOO HEAVY. Pick a lighter fabric like a linen, a silk (talking about silk midi skirts again), or polyester. A lot of women don’t look at fabrics and this is a huge no-no. Fabric content is important because fabrics can impact the way you look just as much as the style of dress. This AT dress is 98% polyester and there is a reason a lot of clothing like workout wear is polyester based. It’s breathable and wicks way better than cotton. Polyester is also considerably lighter than cotton and won’t look as heavy or dense on a petite frame. I really do love cotton, but if you’re looking to dress up, cotton just isn’t the best fabric to wear. You’ll also sweat less in polyester, big bonus! I paired my look with my Steve Madden Karolyn Sandals and opted for a small crown braid to pair with the boho style of this maxi dress.
The other maxi dresses that I recommend are this Petite Strappy Ruched Maxi Dress from Banana and the Eliza J Pleated Chiffon Maxi Dress. The Ruched Maxi is light and flowy with a spaghetti strap top. I love that it is ruched because it’s flattering to the tummy area and covers an area that a lot of women are self conscious about. It’s gorgeous in the White Floral, as well as in basic black. The Eliza J Dress is made of chiffon, so it goes back to the airy feel of summer dresses. It’s cinched at the waist with a gold belt for a little sparkle and structure. This dress has a halter style top which is flattering on petite frames and the floral pattern is perfect for summer days out and about.
Have a wonderful start to summer!
-xo
Darcy
