Good afternoon, friends! Lately, I’ve been haunted. Not by ghosts or goblins, but something altogether prettier: maxi dresses. Everywhere I turn, there’s some cute lady wearing a swishy, flowy dress. After resisting their pull for the last few seasons, suddenly I am gaga over the long dress trend. This summer, my goal is to sew up a few maxi dresses of my own, so I can join the swish parade. Luckily, there are a ton of cute plus-size maxi dress patterns on the market. For every cute ready-to-wear design I find, there seems to be a pattern that corresponds to it pretty well.
In that vein, today we’re playing Make It Yourself. Or, if you prefer a more detailed title: Knock Off That Pretty Maxi Dress That is Way Too Expensive For What It Is.
I absolutely adore the “Coastal Cold Shoulder” dress, from Kiyonna, with its interesting sleeve detail and deep, plunging neckline. It’s both sexy and casual, especially in that tropical palm print above. Unfortunately, it’s also made out of polyester knit and has an asking price over $100. Yikes!
Luckily, Simplicity 1102 is newly on the market and echoes my favorite parts of this dress. Part of their “Amazing Fit” line, the main view of this pattern is a maxi length jersey dress, with a v-neckline, pretty waist pleating, and a similar “cold shoulder” detail. While a similar tropical-print knit was difficult to find, this dress would be stunning made up in a dark floral cotton jersey.
Sizing: Up to 50″ Bust
Next up on my maxi dress obsession list is this cross-front coral maxi dress from Little Mistress. That neckline is just so, so pretty, but once again we have a $100 polyester dress. Why would I ever buy that, when I can make one in a better fabric? I live in Texas, y’all. We can’t wear polyester after February.
This is where Lekala, with their custom sizing and stable of interesting designs, comes to the rescue. Lekala 5584 has a similar cross-over detail, but is actually a prettier overall design, with a banded waist and cross-over back. Made up in a pink rayon challis or coral cotton voile, this would be just as pretty as its RTW counterpart, but much easier to wear.
Sizing: No limit. Lekala patterns are designed to your specific measurements, using some nifty softwear.
Finally, we have my personal favorite design, this 70’s floral maxi dress from Asos Curve. This one really tempted me, y’all. Just look at those flowing sleeves and that lush floral fabric! Doesn’t this demand to be worn to a summer garden wedding? Unfortunately, our old friends–price tag and bad fabric–have returned to play with our hearts. Once again, this is a pricey polyester dress. Curses!
Even for this beautiful dress, though, there is a satisfactory pattern analogue. One of Burda’s newest patterns, the Cross Back Tunic Dress, has similarly elegant design features. The kimono sleeves and slinky fabric are both at play, even! Better still, this dress has a beautiful back detail and a defined waist. With some simple hem elongation, this could be the holy grail of maxi dresses! I’ll let you know, because I’m currently sewing this up in the second fabric above. Sizing: Up to 48″ bust
Do you have the maxi dress bug, my dears? Is there a favorite plus size maxi dress pattern that I didn’t mention? Let me know in the comment trail!
Im loving the Cross back Tunic dress this is definitely on my summer sewing list.
Hi Mary. I’m a long-time Lekala lover – LLL! – since well before
they had any English language access at all – and although I
recommend them (with caveats) and use them for myself and others, I
have to correct you on something.
You wrote, with reference to Lekala 5584, “Sizing: No limit. Lekala patterns are designed to your specific measurements …”
That isn’t quite true, there are indeed limits.The limits on 5584 are150 cm bust and 160cm full hip, (I think this is 59” bust and 63”hip) as for most of their patterns. There are also a few patterns which have been successfully tested to 170cm hip, I believe.
In addition, some users – large or small – might find their figures fall outside the parameters of Lekala’s software, which requires the bust measurement to be more than the underbust, the waist to be smaller than the bust, and the hip measurements to be more than the waist. That said, the difference need only be very small – 0.5cm – to be accepted. Frankly, the patterns are so cheap anyway that if I’m sewing for my neighbour who has had major abdominal surgery, I order two patterns with different measurements so I can blend a smallish top half with a very much roomier waist and hip.
Anyway, it’s very easy to check all this – simply order one of their free patterns with your own measurements, and see what happens!
One of the things I adore about Lekala – and did so even before the weight piled on me – is their proportionality – being barely 152 cm tall, I have spent most of my long life (I’m nearer 70 than 60 – when did that happen?) chopping chunks off hems, losing nuances of style and fitting, suffering oversized and badly-located details and trims, and altering the placement and proportions of everything from buttons to darts, gathers to pockets. Lekala does almost all of that for me – a dream come true! It also copes as
well with the straight-up-and-down blocky figure of a 178 cm friend as with my short fat hourglass frame.
By the way, you might like to look on the Russia-hosted site to see 5584
made up and worn by a simply gorgeous large blonde lady, who doesn’t look overly-happy here: http://leko-mail.net/foto.php?mod=5584
(scroll down past the line drawing). I think her fabric choice (isn’t it so often?!), while lovely, was not the optimum for this style; I would however bet money that it looks stunning when she’s moving around, dancing, whatever, rather than standing stiffly to attention.
You don’t know my ghosts, Mary Danielson! Honestly I liked the maxis from last year better. All the ones I find tend to look like nightgowns. However, I luuurve me a jersey maxi skirt.
You have impeccable taste. Those dresses are lovely. I found a plus-sized 70’s maxi dress pattern a couple of months ago and have the fabric washed and ready to go. Just don’t know if I have the bottle to wear one yet. 🙂
I’ve never been a big fan of maxi dresses for myself, but that Asos Curve dress is heavenly! I just love the sleeves and that neckline!
I live in maxi dresses – for the past few years only in summer, but this winter I’m going maxi winter style too. Because dresses rock the party!
I love Vogue 1379 which I picked up on half price offer lately – could easily be converted to maxi dress length. I certainly wont be having the high splits! Now to find the right fabric.
http://voguepatterns.mccall.com/v1379-products-47935.php?page_id=174
I have a fav shop brought maxi dress I’ve worn for a three summers now – black and whicte stiriped cotton jersey. Sadly the top has a hole in it and is looking a bit tired. So I am converting it to a maxi skirt.
Nice pattern choices! I made a By Hand London Anna maxi dress a while ago. Just dropped a pic in the CSC Flickr group to show a maxi on mature curves. My next maxi dress will be less formal and definitely more colourful!
Love these and the sewing options. A lot of curvy (and shorter) women think they can’t wear maxi dresses. I think it depends on finding the right style for your body type. The good thing about making your own is you get to customize your preferences. I prefer more of a slimmer fitting skirt (so you’re not floating in fabric) and a waistband (illusion of a waistline). Wearing bike shorts or knee length leggings underneath keeps me cool and smooth. There are so many beautiful fabrics to choose from. I’ll definitely be wearing maxi’s this season.
Those are all such great tips, Robin! Thank you! I swear by my bike shorts, under dresses, especially in the summer. There’s nothing more comfortable than a floaty dress and bike shorts, when the weather gets hot!
Bike shorts can be a curvy girl’s fashion friend. Under skirts and dresses. I sleep in them too.
I’d never thought of wearing bike shorts under a dress…….. bout time I crawled out from under my rock it seems! 😀
Melissa, you life is about to be changed! Bike shorts are the only things that get me through summer in one piece. My personal favorite under dresses are “Skimmies” by Jockey. They’re like a hybrid bike/slip short and they are amazingly comfortable, even in the summer: http://www.amazon.com/Jockey-Womens-Hosiery-Skimmies-Slipshort/dp/B00827RQPU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1432012450&sr=8-1&keywords=skimmies
Darn. Doesn’t look like they come in my size.
Also, I know a lot of people like wearing Bandalettes which are sort of like a garter belt which stops chafing. Also you can go the silicone gel route – Monistat has one
Silicone gel? That sounds… sticky. Or oily.
Not at all, it goes on like lotion and dries to a really soft finish, and reduces the friction as you walk. It’s the same stuff that marathon runners use to stop chafing.
Me either. Guess I’ll have to hack my own.
I LOVE Skimmies! They’re life-savers (and thigh-savers) year-round.
Go for it!
I love them! I’m just a bit afraid that the length is not for me. I better try at least once to be able to tell whether I like it or not, right?
🙂
Thanks for the advice Mary!
You should definitely try it, at least once, Monserratt! I felt the same way, but recently tried some on in store and was shocked how much I liked the length. 😀
That is a great idea!! I’ll probably go idea and style shoping! Hehehe!! 😉
Thanks Mary!
For my friend that I sew for I made the Moneta into a long maxi. And she loves it, and got a lot of nice compliments on it. It was an easy make, since we had made all the fit adjustments needed. So that is an option if you have a dress you love and have the fit good make it into a maxi.
Oh, that’s a great idea, Colleen! I think Jenny has made a maxi-Moneta, as well. It was just beautiful. I’ll probably give that one a go, as well.
Why yes I made three! Here’s my fave:
http://www.cashmerette.com/2014/04/moneta-to-max.html
I’m always on the lookout for a good maxi pattern intended for wovens. My fabric shopping choices are severely limited locally, and I am wary about buying knits online. There’s so much variation! Most of my local knit options are polyester or just not very stretchy or nice, but cheap but nice cottons, rayons, etc are easier to find. I suppose I should just work out what kind of bodice I want and whack a maxi skirt on it! I do have plans for a By Hand London Anna maxi in rayon but I could do with a more casual dress, too, perhaps one with a looser bodice.
Any woven maxi pattern recs out there?
I’ve heard good things about the Sis Boom Jenny dress, mentioned below, but I’ll keep an ear out for other good woven patterns! I’m in a similarly fabric-deprived area.
McCalls 6744 is a tried and true for me. I love the maxi version. I’ve blogged about other versions but not the maxi even though I have made a few in both jersey and a ponte de roma- it is a very versatile pattern!
I love that pattern too! Can’t wait to sew it up.
Oh, I love that pattern, Jewel! I definitely should have included it. View C, with the gathered shoulders, is such a lovely, interesting bodice variation.
Hey!
I think the sleeve detail from the pink dress could be interesting for you: http://www.simplicity.com/p-7495-misses-plus-size-dresses.aspx
Greetings,
Christin
Oh! Good catch, Christin. That pattern hadn’t even registered on my radar. I adore that sort of sleeve detail. Thank you for giving me the heads up!
I recently made the Sis Boom Jenny dress for an awards function for my husband. I did a pretty, lined cotton voile that feels amazing in this hot, humid North Carolina weather. I’m 5’2″ but in chunky sandals and some funky sunglasses I look like a long-legged babe in this dress!
gorgeous–you go girl!
Wow! Absolutely stunning. I have the Jenny somewhere in my pattern stash, but it needs to be pulled out quickly. The fabric you chose is such a lovely, chic floral, too. Love it!
I’ve actually decided that I need to make a maxi or two this summer also. I have a vintage 70s pattern I want to use and an OOP Vogue pattern. Maxis are definitely staying in style for a while so I need to add a couple more to my wardrobe.
Oh, Carolyn, I cannot wait to see your maxis! I bet they will look sensational on you.
LOVE maxis! I sew a few every summer, and this year I’m on the maxi-caftan bandwagon. My favorite fabric for summer maxis is rayon challis. It comes in so many gorgeous, fun prints, and is so flowy and cool to wear. I’ve seen lots of great maxi patterns, some that you’ve already noted, but BurdaStyle has put out some great plus-size maxi patterns in the past couple years, in addition to the one you showed. They’re all worth a look. I’m short-average height (5’3″), but I still love wearing them. I think they actually make one look taller, because they create the impression of a single long column, rather than breaking the figure up into sections.
I looove rayon challis for maxi dresses. It’s the perfect pairing of fabric and pattern! I’ll have to check our Burda’s other plus size maxi offerings. Thanks for the tip!
I’m in Houston, so I feel ya on the polyester! Most RTW maxis I have seen are WAY too long on me, and I haven’t the experience or the confidence to make one. However, I did pick up a pattern – Simplicity 1616, for a maxi skirt, that I am going to try and make with some sort of cotton knit. Can’t wait to see how yours turns out. Love your blog!
Thanks so much, Kathy! Let me know how your skirt turns out, as well. Simplicity 1616 looks like a fantastic pattern.
I started wearing maxi dresses last summer. I love them, but my legs never tan like that!
My legs rarely tan anyhow, Marije! This will cover them up beautifully! 😉
I have NEVER owned a maxi dress! Oh I’ve looked at them longingly hoping that someone may have designed one for a hobbitish woman but nope, they’re all for 7′ amazonian beauties!! I’ve always thought that someone my stature would look heinous but to hell with what others think, I’m all for comfort these days so I might just give one of these a whirl for the Christmas Hols 😀
Amen, Melissa! To hell with all those “fashion rules.” I hope you enjoy your holiday maxi!
Go for it Melissa!
I’m with you Mary! Summer and polyester just don’t mix. I love the patterns you picked. If I didn’t already have a long list of sewing to do I’d be jumping on the maxi-dress band wagon with you. Maybe I’ll just get the patterns…?
You should definitely get the patterns, Cathi! Give in to the maxi dresses with me! 😉
I do love a good long dress! I think I was wearing maxi dresses before they were a thing because I’m short so RTW is long on me. I’ve got my eye on some Art Gallery cotton jersey to make the Mission Maxi this summer. As you say, in Texas we can’t wear poly after Feb (although I don’t find it comfortable any time of year! Alas. If I did, I would make out like a bandit at Joann’s.) Can’t wait to see your maxi!
Annie, I’m with you. Rare is the garment I make from polyester! The only time in recent memory that I’ve given in to poly is with some beautiful flamingo-print crepe I stumbled across. It was too cute! I had to buy it, but I have no idea what to make with it now.
Also, let me know how the Art Gallery jersey works out for you! So many of their prints would be beautiful as a Mission Maxi.
Will do! I have heard good things about the quality of their fabrics on other blogs so I’m hopeful.