Maxi Dresses- Appropriate for an afternoon wedding?

I have an afternoon wedding on the 25th of this month, and love the look of the Maxi dress, but have no idea what kind to choose. Also, I’m 5’3 and wonder if this style would even work for me?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Melissa

Hi Melissa,

Yes, A maxi dress is a wonderful choice for an afternoon wedding, but here’s the catch. You have to be careful you don’t pick a maxi that is too casual for the affair.  Some of the maxis out there look like they belong lounging by the pool. You are best to choose a maxi in soft fabrics like silk, jersey or chiffon, rather than cotton or linen. Also solid colors are more formal than prints- not to say you can’t wear prints, but be mindful the pattern is not too funky or  beachy.

Also, since you are only 5’3″  avoid maxis with little or no shape because they will drown you. Petite women need to choose maxis that sit closer to the body  and have a defined waist. The defined waist can even be a higher one – i.e. empire waist.

Here’s a few maxis we found that illustrate these points and reveal some other Do’s and Dont’s …

DO wear Dresses with a bit of Bling This beaded jersey dress has a bit of sparkle up top which makes it appropriate for a fancy occasion like  wedding. Some skin is revealed up top, but  not too much. Still, for the church part of the ceremony we’d recommend a pashmina wrap for your shoulders to be respectful. (Nordstrom)
DON’T wear Plunging Necklines All eyes should be on the bride, so don’t try to upstage her by wearing a dress as low cut and revealing as this sexy, red halter,no matter what your age or how good it looks on you. (Nordstrom)
DO wear Feminine dresses that move We talked about soft flowing fabrics. This pretty Shelly Laundry empire maxi dress is chiffon will make you look like you are floating on air. The vibrant painterly print pattern is so in vogue at the moment. $385 (Nordstrom)
DON’T wear Animal Prints This leopard Rachel Zoe maxi is great for a Saturday evening out with friends, but too edgy for a family event like a wedding ceremony. (Nordstrom)
DO wear Florals Florals are always appropriate for a wedding and this Donna Morgan Chiffon maxi is  pretty and appropriate. This is a big busted gal, but her dress covers her well while still revealing her figure.$142 (Nordstrom)
DO wear Caftans This Rachel Pally caftan with butterfly sleeves  is elegant, appropriate and perfect if you have a few pounds to cover up.  Solid purple is elegant, a busy patterned can also work, (Remember Hillary Clinton) or sometimes it can be too much.  Keep in mind that smaller women need smaller patterns and full figured women need bigger patterns to balance them out. $131 (Nordstrom)

DON’T wear Casual Maxis! Don’t wear maxis that are so casual, there is nothing you can do to dress them up. Some Maxis like this sporty striped Donna Karan maxi were meant for the beach! $59( Nordstrom)
DO wear Black and White White by itself is a no-no for weddings, black can work for a formal or evening wedding. For a summer afternoon wedding we prefer the combination of black and white in a graphic print to look modern and chic.( Saks)
DO choose a dress that sits close to the body if you are Petite We talked about this earlier and here’s a good example. If you are tiny a big flowing maxi can overwhelm. This dress has a defined waist and sits close to the body so it won’t overwhelm you. The ethnic print gives it a more casual vibe, and would work best at a more relaxed wedding.(Nordstrom)
DON’T wear flats unless… A flat sandal, preferably metallic,  is fine for a backyard or outdoor wedding , but for an indoor wedding we’d suggest that you wear some pretty heels or wedges to kick the look up a notch.  photo look too Don’t forget a pretty necklace or earrings to also raise the elegance level. (Nordstrom)
DO embrace Color Don’t be afraid of color no matter what your size. The right colors will make you look wow! This Donna Morgan chiffon maxi with empire waist looks fab! Notice the sexy heels too. Dress is $142 (Nordstrom)

How to wear the belted long cardigan

Need a new idea for dress casually, especially if you are petite? The Glam Gals are here to prove that once again, looking good after 40 can be a reality!

One of our loyal readers, Lisa Richey is a prime example that dressing well on a regular basis is doable and can even be comfortable!

Here is how she does it:

• Vince wool pants (not leggings) are her secret weapon! You can wear these pull on flat front pants day after day and they won’t stretch out.
• Lisa wears only colors that look good on her. This purple sweater is gorgeous on Lisa and it brightens up her day!
• Great stretch belt. Here, once again, is a Suzi Roher belt. At least one of these belts should be in every woman’s closet!
• Leather flat boots that fit her leg. No gaping here… these boots are a great fit and make her look polished!
• Handbag is the right size for her. Lisa is a 5’2 petite and her handbag does not over power her outfit!
• Oversized sunglasses. That is the ticket to looking up to date!
• Silver cuff. Notice that all her hardware on her purse, belt and accessories are consistent (all silver). This is a little detail that can help your outfit look harmonious!
• A touch of animal print. This leopard scarf is one of her “go to” pieces. If you can find a long skinny scarf that you love, it will be an easy way to tie an outfit together.

Check out JoJami’s scarf tying demonstration for a new way to tie a scarf!

What’s a Petite pear shape to wear?

Hi Glam Gals,

I still feel young and I’m 5′ tall with a pear-shaped body but I’ve been like this almost all my life!  I search a store full of clothes, but even with tailoring they make me look like I’m playing dress-up. I want a bit of sexy/sensual, a bit of classic and a touch of inner spitfire. Can you help? Glad to have found you.

Janice

Hi Janice,

Our first thought is what is your hair and make-up like? Maybe the clothes aren’t working because you are wearing grown up clothes, but you are tiny and your hair is too girly and  sweet . Have you updated your hair lately? Also, check to make sure your make-up is not overdone like a little girl playing dress-up. Keep it subtle and soft.

If that’s not the problem, then maybe you just aren’t wearing the styles that reflect the true you. You say you want sexy, but it sounds like you’ve been wearing boring. We’ve looked around and here are some classic, sexy looks, and the reasons they suit a pear’s body type.

Don’t wear jackets that end at your widest part Why draw attention to the widest part of your body- your full hips? Pear have nice nipped in waists, so it is better to wear a shorter jacket that just touches the top of the hip and nips in at your waist to show it off. This mustard yellow pea jacket  is bold and exciting.
This can sometimes work too If you are not too bottom heavy you can also wear a long jacket that covers your hips-just make sure it isn’t tight. This lightweight hooded Cayenne jacket by Eileen Fisher is sporty but sexy because of the way it wraps at the waist and gently falls open at the neckline. It is also a great length for petites- not so long as to drag you down. (Nordstrom -Petites)
Play up your shoulders and neckline: When you are bottom heavy a good way to balance things out is to create more of a shoulder. How do you do this? Instead of halters or sleeveless, choose  clothing with shoulders such as jackets, or this Merino wool boyfriend cardigan by Halogen. (A little shoulder padding helps too, and be sure to leave the cardigan open to create a nice long lean line!) To draw attention to your neckline, and not your hips, choose tops with interesting beautiful necklines like this sparkly t-shirt. Don’t forget to push up those sweater sleeves for a cute, sexy look.(Nordstroms-petites)
Choose accessories to point attention to your face: Similar to what we just talked about great jewelery, hat and scarves like this  new ruffle wrap one will put the focus where it should be- your top half. Some scarves can overpower petites because they are so big, but this is more controlled yet still soft and easy looking. (Nordstrom)
Wear lower cut boot leg jeans Too skinny pants will make your hips look larger than life, and too wide legged pants will maker you look elephant like ( and in a petite’s case- drown you). Boot cut are just the right amount of flare to balance you out. Low rise jeans, or these Not Your Daughter’s midrise “Denim Trousers” with the wide waistband,  can make your rear look shorter and yoour torso longer. A dark wash also helps make your bottom half look smaller and the built in stretch is perfect for women with hips. Don’t buy jeans with big pockets, stuff hanging off them etc. as they will only draw attention to your hips.( Nordstrom-Petites)
The right skirt makes all the difference: Short, tight are the worst because they emphasize the tights. Try a gentler wrap dress or A-line skirt that softly falls over the hips but isn’t too voluminous. Wraps are always sexy. To spice this up more add some gold jewelry or a leopard print handbag or shoes. (Nordstroms -petites)

Finally don’t forget this cardinal rule for pears: Wear darker colors on your bottom half, light on top:Color can do magic tricks on your body. Black and dark colors will make your bottom half look smaller. Light colors will make it look bigger, so wear dark on bottom and light on top to balance yourself out.