!!WARNING WARNING WARNING!!!:

This is a severe bump, bulge and any other unsightly body part warning for all you ladies out there who are not a size 4 or below….

     BEWARE OF THE CHEAP MAXI DRESS:

Don’t do it ladies….. sure they look soooo tempting with their low price tag of $20 or $25.  but once you get them on, its not a pretty sight. Get your spanks and all other fat and roll hiding undergarments ready, these cheapos are about as forgiving as the white leotard we wore in our early ballerina days before before body image mattered.

Here’s a cheap maxi dress that I am regretting in my closet.  I know I know…. I shoulda tried it on and actually took into account more than the cheap price tag…but alas I was gotten…ughhh

Forever 21 Racerback dress

Check out how this girl’s knee even sticks out.  The photographers cleverly positioned the dress to look as it falls like that…. WRONG, once you get this body hugger on.. out comes all your curves and bumps and bulges, and not in a good way.

      After self inflicting these fashion wounds to myself mutiple times this summer, I ve decided to save other girls out there from making this monstrous mistake… Check out some tips for maxi-mizing your maxi selection.

1)  Check out the material- What’s it made of? Sure cotton jersey material is good and all, but make sure the concentration is a thick and bouncy material thats going to flow nicey over the body, not stick to it. Most of the cheapy’s are made of polyester.

Brown Maxi dress made of Modal

“Modal” which is a rayon and cotton combination. Modal is a thick and bouncy material that falls beautifully on the female figure and doesn’t lay inappropriately on the wrong areas. These maxi dresses are by Frenzi, a fabulous designer named Jully Kang is to thank for these.

2) Avoid the Solids-  I immediately was drawn to the solids of this summer must have. However the prints really take the focus off your body and give the dress all the attention.

Blue palm twisted Bust Maxi

Red Camel® Maxi Tube Dress

3) If you have a larger chest avoid the smocking tube top: This can tend to make your chest look even larger and sometimes it looks like one big boob =p

Lavender Purple Shoulder Strap Maxi Dress

           Bevello provides a fun option if you have a larger bust and don’t want to miss out on the strapless version. This one shoulder dress shows the sexy shoulders while offering an adequate amount of coverage. I love this maxi because I haven’t seen another style of unique maxi out there like this!

4)  Check for extra details:  A ruffle at the bottom and an empire waist at the top with pleating. These lead to a more diverse fit. The maxi dress tends to be a straight up and down style with no other cuts or silhouette.  Ruffles and pleating help the silhouette lay creatively and flatter the body!                 

Black Old Navy Ruffle Tiered Maxi

This old navy find has a ruffled and tiered ruffle bottom that flares away from the body

5. When all goes wrong… go chiffon:  Yup, i’ll admit it, baby got back…and boobs and gut and extra flab where it shows most. But hey I can still sport this style with the rest of those tiny girls out there.  What I’ve found works best for a curvier body type is chiffon maxis, these are so flowy and fun. I feel like a princess and it slenderizes me instantly.

Peek a Boo Chiffon Maxi Dress by Nine West

With summer season coming to a close you will be tempted to snag a horde of these markdown maxi’s loading up the clearance rack.  Be level headed and force yourself to the dressing room and apply these rules to keep a style you will wear into fall and next summer!