Ah, summer is here. Well, it’s not officially here and it’s been a little chilly and gloomy in NYC lately, but summer is just a few weeks away. That means it’s summer style season aka maxi dress season. Yay, right?! But if you’re anything like me, then you might dread shopping for a maxi. My specific dilemma is that I’m short. 5’2″ to be exact.
But I’ve found a few ways to embrace my love of the maxi dress without dragging the hem on the ground or tripping over it. And of course I’m sharing them with you!
Wear a Heel
This sounds obvious right? If you feel like wearing a heel, the great part is it won’t really show from under your maxi so you have the freedom to choose a shoe, any shoe, that makes the dress the perfect length for you.
But what if you don’t want to wear a heel or wedge? And you still want the maxi to look figure flattering {without swallowing you up!} and you don’t want to trip over the super long material?
Knot the Dress Hem
I shared this style hack on Instagram last week. It’s been something I’ve been doing for years, but I was surprised to see it’s new for many of you! I simply take a bit of fabric from the hem of the long maxi dress and make a knot. This gathers the material so it’s not dragging on the ground or a tripping hazard. You can knot it in the front or even on the side to give it a fun look. I scored this black maxi dress from the Salvation Army one or two years ago, and I wore it so much that I feel the material started to stretch out and down a bit. My knot method fixed that with no problem!
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This tip doesn’t make your maxi dress shorter, but it’s a way to look tall{er} and lean. A single color creates the long line that makes anyone look taller. Also, a big bold print {especially one from head to toe!} can look overwhelming on a smaller frame. Instead, try a smaller print. And by “smaller,” usually one that’s no bigger than your fist.
Shop the Kids Section
For my ladies who are petite height and weight wise, you can try hitting up the children’s section for a maxi dress. And the great thing is, a lot of children’s and junior styles are just as stylish as the adult stuff! You’ll get the benefit of a small size, plus no excess fabric at the hem. Perfect for the 5’4″ and under crew. Target usually has a lot of great options.
5 Tips and Hacks for Short Women Who Love Maxi Dresses
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Belt It
I always say that belts are one of the most underutilized accessories. And you can actually use one to shorten the hem of your dress. Tie the belt snug around your waist and then neatly lift some of the material over the belt {basically a fold over method}. You can watch this hack in one of my YouTube videos. It’s super simple and can be done in seconds. This tip easily makes any dress a few inches shorter.
Short or tall, we can all enjoy the comfort and easy breezy nature of a maxi dress!
