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Knee length? Easy! Mini? Can do! Maxi? All over it! Midi length? A slightly tricker proposition. I am the first to admit I used to think the midi was an unflattering length (especially if you&#;re on the petite side). I just saw it as an awkward length that wasn&#;t particularly wearable.
But the thing with fashion is even if you&#;ve discounted something once before if you see a trend often enough you start to think that it could be worth another try&#; And I&#;m so glad I gave the midi another chance. With a little experimentation on how to style it, it&#;s now a go-to length of mine and I often favour it when it comes to skirts and dresses. Here&#;s how I&#;ve made it work&#;
If you&#;re going to rock a midi length skirt or dress the most flattering footwear option is a pair of heels. It gives added height which elongates the frame. As the midi lands below the knee to mid calf it can cut you off at an unfavourable part of your leg so the best way to combat it is to add a few inches in the form of a heel. That said, I&#;ve been wearing it a lot with flats and sandals and I think it also works, so go with what&#;s more comfortable.
Keep proportions in mind and ensure that you have the right balance. For example if you&#;re wearing a voluminous midi skirt then make sure your top is fitted whilst it would be the reverse with a slimline skirt. If you&#;re too top heavy or bottom heavy it can throw the entire look off.
Interesting details such as a bold print or pleats are one way to make a midi length skirt or dress stand out. The midi makes a strong sartorial statement so why not allow it to really make its mark by choosing impactful elements.
The thing with the midi length is that it can come across as frumpy if you don&#;t have the right silhouette. You want to have a cinched in waist to give the look some shape, otherwise just having a long dress or skirt end halfway down your leg does not make for the most flattering look.
Wearing a dress or a skirt that ends mid calf means that the dress cuts off at the thickest part of your leg. Often, this isn&#;t the most flattering length for a woman so I would suggest going for something just slightly below for a better effect. It shows off the ankle and generally makes for a better finish.
Being a whopping 5&#;3&#; on a good day, sometimes shopping can be a little difficult. I am sure all my fellow short girls completely understand me. Pants being too long, skirts too long, and dresses and skirts that make you look like a Catholic school girl. For this exact reason I have always stayed away from long dresses.
However, I feel like this year more than ever, longer hems have been everywhere. Of course mini dresses will always have my heart, but midi dresses are popping up everywhere! They are so cute, classy, chic, I just love everything about the look of a midi dress!
I was so hesitant to buy a midi dress because I feel like it is an awkward length, especially for us shorties. I felt like since I was short, it wouldn&#;t hit me at the right spot, it would make me look like a potato sack, and I just didn&#;t think they were for me. But I finally ordered a few, and I am sold!!!! Not only are they flattering, they are probably some of the comfiest dresses in my closet now. You will be sure to find me in all of the lightweight midi dresses this summer!
Before we jump into midi dress shopping and styling tips lets define what is a midi dress first. A midi dress or midi skirt is where the hem ends halfway between the knee and ankle. Traditionally speaking a midi dress ends mid-calf but you never really want it to end right at your mid-calf as you&#;ll read in the midi dress styling tips below.
Spring is when dresses come to play full force. Paisley, floral, polka dot, gingham, and so many other beautiful prints hit the stores. Look for dresses in beautiful pastels, lively prints, and bright spring colors.
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Look for spring midi dresses with side slits and interesting necklines. The sleeves can be off the shoulder, spaghetti strap, puffed, short sleeve, whatever you fancy!
Once summer hits you&#;ll want to wear a mid-length dress that is lighter in fabric and in color. Think dresses white, cream, and of course pink! Summer midi dresses are flirty and show off more skin! They are more often spaghetti strap, off the shoulder, or no sleeve at all. I also love a midi length slip dress that you could wear to the beach or a relaxing dinner.
Pair your summer midi dress with your hair in a bun wrapped in a scarf, your favorite summer sandals, a crossbody handbag, straw hat, or your favorite sunglasses!
There are a variety of ways to style a midi dress, but there are some general rules that I follow no matter the occasion or season. Since I am a shorter gal, I make sure the outfit is stylish and looks great on my petite figure.
Here are the 5 style guidelines I follow when wearing a midi dress.
1. Select a length that is slightly above or below mid-calf: You don&#;t want the midi dress to end exactly at mid-calf, which is the thickest part of your leg. Look for a midi dress that is slightly above or below.
2. Wear heels: To elongate the leg and combat the stumpy look that a midi dress might give, wear a heel. A wedge, sandal, strappy anything works. Heels help make you look like you have legs for days! I have not given the midi dress and sneaker combo a try yet. I see girls pull it off all the time- maybe this summer I&#;ll give it a try!
3. Look for a midi dress in lighter fabric: For your midi dress look for a fabric that is light and doesn&#;t add much weight to your figure. Search for a layered dress, or dresses with little added details or slits. This helps me avoid looking short and stocky.
4. Cinch in the waist with a belt: Y&#;all know I love an easy breezy look, but some women like to create more of an hourglass figure. The best way to do this with a midi is add a belt. Even if the midi dress you buy doesn&#;t come with a belt, add one. Unless of course, you&#;re going for that easy, breezy summer look like me!
5. Opt for a solid color or same pattern from head to toe: This is not a dress you want to color block. Buy a midi dress in a solid color or one that has the same pattern from top to bottom. If you do want a dress with a little bit of pattern look for a dress with a small pattern to start. By small pattern, I mean a small floral pattern, tiny polka dots or something along those lines. You know I love bold patterns, so I am all for the fun spring and summer prints!
There you go! Now you know what is a midi dress, how to style it, what to wear with a midi dress and what to look for when shopping for midi length dresses!
I hope this has helped my petite girls feel confident to give midi dresses a try. Don&#;t be afraid to try a style out and make it your own, even when most say you should avoid it.
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