Maxi dresses are one of those pieces that reemerge every summer without fail. As soon as the days start getting longer, so do the dresses—they will simply always be a thing. Despite this, it's not the easiest of dress styles to wear. Certain maxis are decidedly more flattering than others, and some pieces and shoe styles are decidedly more successful than others when paired with them.
Curious as to what the single biggest maxi dress styling mistake is, we reached out to someone who would definitely have an answer: Cristina Ehrlich, whose impressive client list includes Priyanka Chopra, Allison Williams, Anna Kendrick and Alison Brie. So what's Ehrlich's expert opinion on the subject of maxi dress styling? She told us, "The one thing most women overlook with maxi dressing is making sure they use the proper undergarments. The fit of the dress should still draw in the high waist, and a well-fit strapless bra is what makes the difference between a poor or perfect fit."
There you have it: Exposed bra straps and a maxi dress without a defined waist are apparently a recipe for sartorial disaster. So naturally, we did a little scouring to find the best strapless bras and the most stylish waist-defining maxi dresses on the market, along with our favourite recent street style examples of flawless maxi dress styling.
Keep scrolling to see and shop them all!
Shop Flattering Maxi Dresses:
This new arrival is from Reformation's ballet collection.
We recommend wearing this perfect dress on repeat.
This on-sale dress is perfect for a daytime wedding.
Related: Summer Is Back! 16 Chic Dresses That You Can Wear Now And Well Into Autumn
We can't get over how beautiful this fabric is.
Found: the perfect pink maxi dress.
Just add silver shoes.
Shop Strapless Bras:
Next, 12 wedding guest outfits you can rely on.
