Styling Summer Maxi Dresses for Tall Women

When it comes to summer dresses for tall women, many people assume that shorter dresses are preferred. After all, that’s what most mainstream manufacturers put on billboards and other advertisements. There are tons of amazing tall women’s dresses out there, which look amazing on tall bodies of every shape and size. However, even with all the options available, nothing can beat the versatility of a maxi dress for tall women.

Today, we’ll talk about how maxi dresses came into fashion, and how any tall woman can fit and style the perfect look using a simple maxi dress.

Tall Women’s Clothing History: The Maxi Dress
Maxi dresses came into vogue around 1968, when they were first introduced to the fashion scene by rising star Oscar de la Renta. Initially, they were a reaction against the short mod fashions of the early 1960s, which themselves were a rejection of the modest hemlines of the 1950s.

Although the maxi dress remained popular during the 1960s and 1970s, their popularity declined in the 1980s as grunge fashion became more popular. Their next resurgence wasn’t until the early 2000s, when they were introduced as both a high-fashion and casual choice, with hemlines resting just above the ankle.

To see the endless possibilities available for maxi dresses, just look at a few stills from the Sex and the City reboot, set in Abu Dhabi. Whether you prefer a flowing tiered dress or a more structured maxi, there are tons of options available.

Finding the Best Fitting Maxi Dresses for Tall Women
Finding clothing for tall women can be complicated, but a maxi dress offers endless possibilities, transforming itself based on the accessories you choose.

The only thing that makes a maxi dress a maxi is length – typically, it reaches either to the ankle bones or down to the floor. For taller women, finding a maxi dress that fits can be challenging, since their extended height turns the average off-the-rack maxi dress into a midi.

As with most pieces of tall women’s clothing, the best dresses for tall women often come from specialty retailers like American Tall, who design and manufacture them with taller proportions in mind.

Styling Maxi Dresses for Tall Women
Once you find a well-fitting maxi dress, the possibilities are endless.

For day looks, focus on maxi dresses made from cotton or a poly-cotton blend. These dresses breathe well in warmer weather and are soft and casual enough to be worn every day. They can be dressed up with formal accessories like a silk scarf or pearl necklace, or dressed down with a denim jacket or complementary cardigan. For evening looks, opt for maxi dresses in a more luxurious fabric like silk, satin, taffeta, or chiffon. Often, these dresses have multiple layers, with a base layer offering coverage while frothy layers of chiffon or lace add drama.

Here are some examples of a few great outfits you can make with a simple maxi dress.

Evening Elegance
For a casual evening look, opt for a black maxi. Even though it’s made of jersey (a more casual fabric) the black color lends it an understated elegance. From there, add on jewelry (there really isn’t anything that doesn’t go with black, so use your imagination) and other accessories.

Daytime
Looking for a daytime neutral? We love charcoal as a flexible alternative to black, which can look overly formal during the day. Pair this charcoal maxi dress with a flowy cardigan, chic wedge heels, or even sneakers or colorful flip-flops for an effortless summer look.

Looking for tall women’s dresses? Our dresses are always made using taller measurements, so you can be confident you’ll find the right piece in our online shop. Come visit us at American Tall to shop dresses, skirts, and all your other favorite types of clothes for tall women today.