I asked a little bit ago about
work attire and explained how I sit criss cross applesauce* for the majority of my day, and I got a lot of people saying maxi dresses were the solution to my problem. I've never owned a maxi dress, mainly because they are all spaghetti strap, and I refuse to wear a shirt under my dress. Well, ahem, I used to refuse, because apparently I am now doing it. and I don't know how I feel about this. (Well, I feel great about the Maxi because it was only TWO DOLLARS. boo. ya.)
When I put a cardigan over the maxi dress my husband said, "It looks like summer and winter are fighting". I didn't even ask him, so I knew it must be bad if he felt compelled to give me some advice. So then I tried a shirt over, with a little belt and it was all types of bad. So here I am, with a shirt under the maxi dress.
 |
| shirt: TJ Maxx dress: kohl's (they were having some weird promotion and I went in to buy goggles and got this blue number instead) |
Guys, what else can I do besides wear a shirt under?? How would you style this sucker?
*I once told my students to sit "indian style" and they all looked at me SO confused and one kid said, "I don't know any indians".
51 comments:
I think the shirt underneath is cute! And ah, good old "criss cross applesauce"... I never heard that expression as a kid, but when I became a substitute teacher it was all over the place.
I'd say go for a bolero jacket. The short sleeved/cropped style won't make it look like winter and summer collided :)
xo L.
I like the shirt underneath! This maxi is so cute I wouldn't want to cover up the lace on the dress. But if you need to make it work appropriate I would try a cropped short sleeve blazer.
And criss cross applesauce, love it. We used to say "indian style" growing up too.
Heather
I think you styled it well here. It's cute. I have many maxi's that I love, but the spaghetti straps always give me grief. I often wear a t-back tank underneath or a short sleeve, cropped cardigan over.
I've been looking for the answer to that question for a while...maybe a silk blouse? I really dont know..
I love this!
I love how YOU styled it. I wouldn't change a thing. But I'd might also try it with an unexpected small patterned or colorful tee underneath, or maybe a chunky necklace if it didn't compete with the cool lace detail.
I think it looks cute with a shirt under it! But I usually wear a short sleeved cropped cardigan. I never thought that it made it look wintery, but now I'll have to take a 2nd look... Hmmm...
I don't usually like shirts under dresses like that, but I think that totally works! Cute!!
It looks good on you this way; the t-shirt was a good idea. There are enough cardigans in very thin summer tissue that you could try over this dress, maybe one that is as long as the dress itself.
~Avalon
i think this looks adorable
i like to use a big drapey scarf
looks cool and you can drape strategically
i agree a cardi just doesn't work with a maxi
brett
I have had this issue forever! I also sit cross legged at work. It's like this post was made for me! Thanks! I like the shirt underneath. I wish there was another magical solution though
I am clueless on maxi dresses! I have been struggling in the same way. I thought about a flowy/silky blouse under it, but I also think a short sleeve cardigan OVER it with a belt would be cute!
ill admit, im not normally a tshirt under a maxi fan... but i love this! the color and the lace detail are fabulous.
Girl you own this outfit :) that's how I used to pair my Maxi's and it always looked good.
It you liked the cardi look but didn't want to look like 'summer and winter were fighting' maybe you could try an ivory lace bolero? I'm sure TJ Maxx has a couple :)
Nicole
my-hearts-corner.blogspot.com
Love the look. Also, what about a vest? I layer vests over dresses in the summer to change them up a bit, it keeps you cool and adds a unique touch.
BTW, this color blue looks great on you!
Aesthetic Lounge
I think you are lovely, and the color/style of the dress is great. But I am anti-white-t-shirt-under-spaghetti-strap solution. Sorry. :-/
I like the idea of a color or a pattern tossed in the mix, and I think a short-sleeved cardigan, or a tissue-weight one would be a good alternative. Also, what about a button-up shirt worn over and tied at your waist? I like this styling for a maxi dress.
(I don't mean to offend, I just don't like the white t-shirt solution for, well, anything.)
This is exactly why I don't have any maxis. I desperately want to hop on the maxi-wagon but don't know how to get around the modesty issue! My problem with sticking white shirts under spaghettis is that it usually doesn't look like part of this outfit--and almost always takes away from it. But there's something about this look that just works! I can't explain it. But you look good.
I used to balk at the shirt under the strappy dress thing too... but maxi dresses are so comfortable I've started to embrace it. Maybe a different color though? Navy would look cute. I also liked another commenter's idea of a blazer - might look more professional.
I laughed out loud at the Indian style comment - that's what we called it growing up. Never realized how un-PC it is. Funny.
I teach preschool so I don't often wear spaghetti straps either....so when I DO want to wear a maxi dress I often put a shirt over it and knot it at my waist....sometimes I add a belt. It works for me! I actually wore this look the other day as part of my 30x30! Check it out...
Julie Del @ J.Bird
I like the dress it looks good this the shirt under.
You look BOMB!!! I don't understand why you don't love this look?! It's so awesome! AND the fact that you got the dress for TWO DOLLARS?!?!? Hello, SCORE! Also, I'd be curious to see a picture with a cardigan over the dress. I disagree with your husband about that. I know that the maxi dress IS a summer type thing.... however, why is that? The dress is floor length, so how does that work? Summer usually means all the skanky girls come out with as little clothing as possible. I don't think that summer and winter would have any conflict with you wearing a cardigan over the dress. I can kinda understand why you never wanted to wear a t-shirt underneath the dress because sometimes it just doesn't work. However, in this case I think you pull it off magnificently! Now, if you were to be wearing a t-shirt under a strapless dress... that'd be a different story altogether!
Hooray for a great find and the t-shirt was a good idea. Even doing a bolero, light knit cardigan (3/4 sleeve) or even wearing a tank top instead.
I think what you wearing looks perfectly fine and cute!
i've never been sure about it, but i wear a shirt under too. in the spring or fall i'll do a cadigan, but it's too hot in the summer. i think it looks great on you and love the lacey touch!
Cute maxi! You could wear a tank or tee over it or a short sleeve jacket/cardi.
A over at academichic tied a button down over the top of her strapless dress, and I actually really like the way it turned out (http://www.academichic.com/2011/07/12/diy-summer-shirt-dress-more-blue-and-white-stripes/). I'm not certain if it'd work with the maxi proportions, though. Worth a look-at-yourself-in-the-mirror try, though, right?
Cute dress, I really like the lace details :) I think the shirt looks pretty good under it. Maybe you could also try a short sleeved cardigan or a scarf.
Also, I just saw this post on Academichic which has eight different maxi dress styles - http://www.academichic.com/2011/07/21/e-on-a-lot-and-a-little/ (they're waaay down at the bottom) :)
I love that look! You could also wear a cropped shirt over it; that's one of my favorite looks actually.
I think it looks fine with the shirt underneath. Another reader suggested a bolero jacket and that would be nice when the weather cools down. I tell mu students criss cross applesauce all the time too and said it to my daughter one day. My mother looked at me like I was insane. I had to explain that we don't say Indian style anymore. She shook her hear and walked away muttering something about political corectness.
I think you look tres cute with the tee underneath. I know you tried a shirt on top, but would you try a white button-down? You could knot it at the bottom and leave a few buttons open so that it looks like the top of the dress is a "tank".
Again, though, you look adorable!
ummm well a mini cardigan orrr you could wear it with a thicker strapped tank top? thats all the input i got! :) but you look good as is girly!
the style projects
Hahaha, okay first, I've had the same experience with my students. All they know is criss-cross applesauce. And my kids do know Indians. We have an "Indian Education" room at our school (which I though was a way non-PC title, but whatev). Anyhow, I LOVE the shirt under the maxi. It's super cute. I've worn maxi's with summer button ups underneath and I like that. I've also worn button ups over top and knotted, but I think that works better when the top goes straight across, otherwise you also need a cami...
I personally don't mind shirts under spaghetti strapped shirts/dresses. You could always try a patterned shirt underneath or a lace one. I also like the bolero jacket idea or 3/4 length cardigan.
You look very cute in that dress dear, and also the Indian sitting photo :)
xoxoxo
Bahahaha! "I don't know any Indians." I love it. I too sit criss cross applesauce everyday but rarely wear a dress so I don't have that problem. Sorry!
I love sitting crisscross applesauce in my maxi. It's one of the best things about a maxi! Haha.
As for styling it, I have the same issue as you. I have found that besides a basic tee, a cropped slouchy shrug is the perfect cardi look without looking too layered.
I am hosting a super fun giveaway on my blog! Would love for you to come by and enter!
♥Abbey
Along Abbey Road
haha little kids are so funny! Love that dress total score! I love a maxi with a denim or light weigh plaid or ginham shirt :)
Cute pics! I enjoyed watching them! I am in love with the outfit you put together!
hugs and kisses by Mani.
you could wear a cute little shrug or a wifebeater tank under the maxi. but i think it looks great the way you put this together!
spinning-threads.blogspot.com
I have the same problem with maxi's (aside from the fact that I look so short in them). I think the tank top underneath looks great!
I think the dress looks great. I like the way the shirt looks under it. I like to wear maxi skirts when I have to run after the kids and sit on the floor to play. I have the same problems with maxi dresses...need to wear a bra, so I need something under the dress!!
Such a beautiful shade of blue!! Looks great on you!
I always wear a pashmina over mine. It keeps me cool from the freezing AC at work or if you get a fancy pashmina, it can really dress it up!
I like a blazer over maxi look! AND I've recently found I love maxi skirts! You get the awesome length, but don't have to worry about the spaghetti strap issue :) I've found them at TJMaxx, Old Navy, Forever 21 etc!
I would def wear that.
You look presh---and criss cross applesauce? Never heard that before!!
:D
--S.S.
I think that the top underneath looks cute! doesn't look bad at all. and I always sit criss cross applesauce at work too..thank goodness my desk faces a wall so that nobody can see up my dresses ;) and the Indian comment made me laugh out loud!
Libby on the Label
LOVE your dress! It looks just fine with a shirt under it. I actually wear a tank under mine. Great deal.
-FringeGirl
I saw someone wearing a tank under their thin strapped summer dress and thought...good idea. But I like the tee even better!
I LOVE maxi dresses, but also had a hard time finding a good shirt to wear underneath. Then I discovered the Wonder Tee at Downeast Basics! Now I can't get enough of them and the maxi dresses! http://www.downeastbasics.com/wondertee.aspx
$2 for that super cute dress?!?! Can you be my personal shopper??
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