When I see the words “Midi Dress” I expect that on my 5’4″ frame it will come to at least below my knees.
I own 3 lovely body con midi dresses from New Look, in a Pow Print as well as plain Black and Green, and they’re all about that length. So when I ordered that striped bardot body con midi dress from this post I didn’t even bother to try it on. Then someone saw I had ordered it, and told me they did the same and that it was SHORT. Like above the knee short.
I immediately panicked and tried it on. Fortunately they are 5’9″, so I have a good bit of extra space that means this hits my knee, but it’s really not a midi dress.
Allegedly the model in the pictures on the New Look website is 5’8″, but all I can say is that she’s either got HELLA short legs, or she’s not wearing the same dress. As a dress it is gorgeous, the fabric is really thick and non lump and bump showing, but I ummed and ahhed for ages over the length. There’s something about knee length that just feels really grown up, and I’m not entirely sure I’m ready to be a grown up just yet.
It got the thumbs up from Mr Chick, and in the end I decided I kinda liked pretending to be a grown up occasionally, so I kept it. I’d originally planned to wear it with some super bright colours. I was thinking pink lipstick, maybe a pink ribbon hair band, or some splashes of bright green, but it didn’t feel right now I had decided it was a grown up dress.
After much trying on of every pair of shoes and accessory in my wardrobe I decided it felt like it had a bit of a bardot 60s sex kitten vibe, so I went with tousled, slightly bouffant hair, a vintage brooch, shades and grown up nude courts.
By the time I’d spent a few hours swanning round town drinking wine the length had really grown on me. Maybe not enough that I will actively seek out dresses in this length, but certainly enough that I am now christening this my grown up dress and I will wear it on all occasions when I want to feel like a grown up, but also just a little bit sexy with bare shoulders and body con styling.
This one might have won me over, but I still, reserve the right to be irritated by Midi dresses that are really knee length dresses as it’s becoming disturbingly common. Get it together retailers, at 5’4″ a Midi dress shouldn’t show my knees!
♥ Dress – New Look ♥ Shoes – Nine West ♥
♥ Hair Band – Probably Primark! ♥ Sunglasses – Ralph Lauren* ♥
Linking up with Turning Heads, Style Swap Tuesdays, Dallas Style
Comments
10 responses to “The Dress That Isn't What it Says it is…..”
Love the dress. It fits you perfectly and I like the knee length hem. You look fabulous in it. Cheers, Michele
Nice styling and the dress looks fabulous on you, but indeed: a midi dress it isn’t.
It really looks good on you – whole outfit put together really well. Linda x
I agree, a midi dress is not a knee length dress. What is considered a “long” dress is anything not showing the crotch area when you lift your arms up apparently.
I adore this dress and the length on you. Va va voom baby!
bisous
Suzanne
Love the dress! 😉
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I do want to start out by saying that the dress (length included) looks fabulous on you. You are working the whole body con thing, especially with the walking away view! 😛
But yes, it’s incredibly annoying when you get something and it’s not as described. I tend to assume that dresses will be a bit longer on me, at 5’6, than they would be on a model, who is usually 5’9 or 5’10, so when something knee length turns out to be mid-thigh or whatever it’s a total wtf moment. I do sometimes think they photograph samples, then change the finish product in ways that cut costs.
It is a gorgeous dress. I know the panic every time I order a midi dress. They have to put another measure on tag. Length.
I get this ALL the time!! I have worked out that most shops think ‘midi’ is ‘knee length’. I’m always scrutinizing the height of the models pictured. Anyway, it still looks fab on you! x
Gorgeous dress! I love the off shoulder detail and the length!
xo,
Abby of Life in the Fash Lane
I think the dress looks fab on you (and hot when you see that back view). Sometimes it’s good to be pushed out of our comfort zone. As I’m new to your blog I don’t have an idea as to what your normal look is therefore this looks great and normal if you get my drift. Bright red shoes and matching lippy would have been awesome x
Anna
Anna’s Island Style