How To Style Maxi Dresses For Any Occasion

If you’ve been wondering if you should participate in this fun and feminine trend, take this as a sign to add a few new maxi dresses to your cart. These effortlessly pretty dresses are easy to style (with the right pieces) and are a great way to spice up your summer outfits all season long. From special events to beach vacations, the maxi dress is a must-have silhouette to make room for in your closet. 

And yes, even short girls can wear maxi dresses when they shop smart! Stores with length options (petite, regular, tall) are great places to shop because the petite sizing will take a few extra inches of fabric off the dress. Or get your dresses altered for a made-for-you fit that will elevate timeless pieces for years to come. 

From spontaneous brunches to wedding receptions, the maxi dress has you covered with versatile looks. Here’s how to style one for any occasion! 

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Daytime Casual 

Our ideal look for a beach day or running errands, a flowy maxi dress makes an easy outfit with sandals or sneakers! The key to the daytime casual maxi is a lightweight fabric, a looser silhouette, and dressed-down accessories. Think floppy hats, straw bags, and soft colors to keep your look low-key. This look is ultra-feminine for everyday activities and will be a closet staple all summer long. 

Wondering how to capture this style inspiration in your own closet? Here are our picks! 

Free People Dahlia Embroidered Maxi Dress, $168

Free People La La Maxi Dress, $98

Steve Madden Maui Tan Sandals, $80

Madison West Stella Straw Satchel, $78

Terrain Raffia Sun Hat, $88

Evening Casual 

Running out of summer date night outfits already? Enter the evening casual maxi dress! The perfect look for catching up with your man over a delicious dinner or meeting friends for happy hour, the evening casual maxi dress is the right combination of laid-back but sexy. For this look, opt for a tighter, form-fitting maxi in a softer color. Darker tones tend to create a more formal look when it comes to longer dresses, so a lighter neutral shade or dainty floral print is perfect for an evening casual look! Also, look for a dress with special date night worthy details, like an open back or a bow. 

If you need to spice up your evening casual looks this summer, we did the work for you! 

Abercrombie Premium Linen Bow Back Maxi Dress, $150

Onia Linen Maxi Dress in Natural, $150

Abercrombie Strappy Flat Sandals, $60

Free People Collection Little Sparkle Clutch, $68

Gorjana Lou Huggies, $45

Daytime Fancy 

If your schedule is packed full of showers (baby showers, wedding showers, bridal showers, etc.), then you need a few daytime maxi dresses with an elevated, dressier touch. The fancier daytime maxi is subtly significant: bold colors, silkier fabrics, and lots of details. This dress style also makes an adorable birthday look if you’re celebrating another year around the sun with your closest friends and family! Take this opportunity to find a maxi dress with some personality – all colors and silhouettes are fair game for this occasion. 

Ready to plan your next look? Here are the pieces you need! 

En Saison Puff Sleeve Tiered Embroidered Dress, $178

L*Space Zuri Dress in Lily, $165

Jeffrey Campbell Socialize Heels, $140

Anthropologie Mini Knot Satchel, $68

Free People Petite Bow, $12

Evening Fancy

Along with those wedding showers, the summer wedding season requires a fancy evening dress collection for attending those sweet ceremonies! Wedding guest looks are so fun to put together, and you have a lot of freedom in choosing a fabric, silhouette, and color scheme for this look. Darker hues and patterns are perfect for adding an evening touch to your outfit, but you can also find delicate patterns in shiny fabrics that are just as stunning. Carefully curated accessories will also help dress up your look for the occasion. 

Here are some of our favorite wedding guest looks for an evening ceremony!

Abercrombie Cowl Neck Maxi Dress, $130

ASTR The Label Monroe Dress in Slate Blue, $128

Tony Bianco Alexa Mule, $150

Loeffler Randall Clutch, $195

Anthropologie Double Layer Pearl Chain Necklace, $48

Closing Thoughts

There is a gorgeous maxi dress for any occasion you have on your calendar! Don’t be afraid to try out new colors and silhouettes this summer. 

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