3 Striped Maxi Dresses That Make You Look Taller

Short ladies may have a slight abhorrence for maxi dresses. I don’t blame them. The long and flowy silhouette of maxis always look so much better on the tall and slight of frame. But as proven by celebrities like Nicole Richie (who is an avid maxi dress fan), that is hardly the case. An easy trick is to employ the use of patterns, like stripes! Here are three striped maxi dresses from Shopbop that promises to raise you a couple of inches off the floor in more ways than one!

Style Advice #1: Use vertical stripes.

Simple facts of illusion with geometry: horizontal stripes make you look wider, vertical stripes make you look taller (and slimmer)! Add a long slit to show off some leg, a technique that also lengthens your silhouette.

Madison Maxi Dress, $196, Charlie Jade

Style Advice #2: Stripes on the skirt.

Actually, this refers to using separates. You can use a plain top and match it with a striped maxi skirt or pick maxi dresses that only have stripes (or any pattern) on the skirt itself. This lengthens your torso while giving it good proportion with the striped skirt. A wide belt or band that sits on the waist (not the hips!) creates a lovely shape.

Wade Belted Maxi Dress, $440, Alice + Olivia

Style Advice #3: Show some leg.

Don’t be silly now, maxi dresses DO show legs. Pick ones with slits, or with the hi-lo skirts or hemline. Asymmetrical hemlines are also good. Just make sure that their shortest part will end above the knee and not mid leg or mid calf so you’ll look statuesque rather than stumpy.

The Truth Of It Long Dress, $450, sass & bide

Now these aren’t the only solutions out there. Research if you want more, or even experiment! That’s the best way to see how to highlight your best features and to be honest, short or tall, it shouldn’t stop you from wearing what you want. ‘Til the next one!