It's official: I'm a maxi dress convert. After years of being a midi loyalist, with the occasional minidress in the mix, I've decided it's time to expand my horizons (or my hemlines, at least).
I'll admit, Instagram has played a big part in opening my eyes to why maxi dresses are so great. Previously, I dismissed them as frumpy and unflattering, but I've now realised it's all down to the styling. And if anyone knows how to style something in a way that makes it appealing, it's fashion influencers.
My saved folder speaks for itself—IRL I dress pretty simply, but there's everything from vibrant suiting to low-slung jeans in there. Thanks to these expert dressers, I now recognise the power of the maxi. And just in time for summer. Phew! Not only are floor-sweeping frocks comfier than their shorter counterparts, but they're also more visually impactful. In other words, you can keep the accessorising to a minimum and let your dress do the talking.
Now that Instagram has just convinced me to give maxi dresses a go, naturally, I've already compiled a wish list as long as my arm. Shop my favourites below, grouped into different price points, if you too have noticed a maxi dress-shaped hole in your wardrobe.
The Best Maxi Dresses Under £75
Square necklines always win me over.
That colour! Expect to turn heads as you float around in this siren number.
This has a slight boho touch about it.
You can't go wrong with a lovely slip dress.
Such a pretty colour.
This one's selling fast, so don't sleep on it.
The Best Maxi Dresses Under £150
This effortless dress comes in white, too.
I swear I've seen this dress in a dream.
An easy style you can dress up and down.
This isn't the only dreamy dress in Other Stories's latest collection.
Tank-style dresses are really having a moment this summer.
Can you imagine a comfier option for heatwave weather?
The Best Maxi Dresses Under £300
Reformation's linen dresses are practically a must-have come summer.
With a print this eye-catching, you can keep the rest of the look simple.
A shirt dress is one of my most worn pieces in my year-round wardrobe.
There's something so romantic about this silhouette.
Leopard print never dates, so this is a safe investment.
The perfect holiday dress.
The Best Maxi Dresses Under £500
Crafted from organic cotton, this will be so easy to wear on hot days.
Dôen never lets us down.
Farm Rio is set to be the dress brand of summer ’24.
Wear it over swimwear in the day or with lashings of gold jewellery in the evening.
As comfortable as it is polished.
If you're looking to invest in one standout event dress this year, look no further than this gorgeous puff-sleeved style.
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I Love a Pretty Dress—This Classic Yet Trending Style Always WinsThe dress of the moment.
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Kate Middleton Wore This Flirty Summer Dress Years Before the Internet Caught UpAlmost two decades on, I still think about it.
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This Dress Trend Isn't New, But It's Blowing Up Again This SummerIt's too pretty to ignore.
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I Just Tried on Reformation's Best-Selling Dress and Now I'm 110 Per Cent ObsessedSo polished. So comfortable.
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Finally, the Elegant High-Street Dress I Want to Wear All Summer Is Back In StockI won't miss it a second time.
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So Elegant, So Effortless—This Expensive-Looking Dress Trend Is Taking Over Zara, M&S and MangoA capsule-wardrobe hero.
