Linen Midi or Maxi Dress: How to Choose the Length
Choose a midi if you want a dress that is easy to walk in and shows your shoes, and a maxi if you want more cover and a longer line. The name is the least reliable part of the decision. What matters is the length in inches on the product page, compared with your height and the shoes you will wear.
Here is how each length wears, why the names overlap, and how to check a length against your own body before you order.
The names overlap more than you would expect
A midi is meant to fall between the knee and the ankle, and a maxi at or near the ankle. In practice, brands apply the words loosely, and ours are no exception. Across the examples below, the dresses called midi run from 40 inches (a knee length) to 48 inches, and the ones called maxi run from 48 to 51 inches. The two overlap: the green midi and the blue maxi are both 48 inches long.
Read the length on the page, not the word in the title. Then ask where that length lands on you.
Midi: easy and adaptable
What it does well. You can walk, climb stairs and cycle without gathering the skirt. You can see your shoes, which makes the dress easier to dress up or down. It suits a wide range of heights.
The honest limit. On some heights a midi hem falls across the widest part of the calf. If you do not like that line, ask for a shorter or longer hem.
A few examples:
- Knee length: the blue relaxed fit linen midi dress is 40 inches (102 cm) long, with short sleeves, soft drop shoulders and side pockets.
- Below the knee: the white linen midi dress with a mandarin collar is 45 inches (114 cm), with bracelet-length sleeves and deep side slits.
- Long midi: the green sleeveless linen midi dress is 48 inches (121 cm), with a scoop neck, buttons and patch pockets.
Maxi: cover and a long line
What it does well. A maxi covers the legs, which helps in strong sun and in places where you want modest cover. It reads as more formal, and a loose linen maxi is comfortable in heat because the cut stands away from the body.
The honest limits. More fabric means more weight, so a maxi in linen hangs and moves differently from a midi. It needs the right hem for your shoes, or it drags. Stairs, wind and wet ground are all more of a negotiation.
- The relaxed maxi: the blue relaxed fit linen maxi dress is 48 inches (122 cm), loose through the chest and waist, with a side seam pocket.
- The wrap maxi: the washed linen maxi dress in a wrap style is 50 inches (127 cm), with half sleeves and a side seam pocket.
- The empire maxi: the linen maxi dress with an empire waist is 51 inches (130 cm), with a gathered waistline below the bust and short sleeves.
How to check a length against your own body
The simplest method is garment to garment. Take a dress you own and like the length of. Lay it flat and measure it from the top of the shoulder to the hem. Compare that number with the length on the page. If you are standing in the shoes you will wear, hold the measuring tape from your shoulder to the point where you want the hem to land, and use that number instead.
Also check the model's height, which is listed on each page, and compare it with your own. A dress that ends mid-calf on a model 5'6" tall will end in a different place on someone 5'2" or 5'10".
Petite and tall
If you are petite: a long maxi can overwhelm a short frame, and a hem that touches the floor in flats is a hazard. Ask for a shorter hem. If you are tall: a midi may end at the knee, and a maxi may sit above the ankle. Ask for a longer one.
We can change the length on most dresses. Tell us your height, the shoes and the length you want before you order, or send your measurements through the custom order page. We cut to them at no extra cost. The size guide lists bust, waist and hip for XS to 3XL.
Fabric and heat
Our women's dresses are cut from medium weight OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified pure linen, which means the cloth has been tested for harmful substances. Medium weight drapes without going sheer. For how linen behaves in a hot climate, see is linen good for hot, humid weather?, and for how the made to measure process works, linen dresses made to your measurements.
The verdict
If you are unsure, choose a midi in the length that sits just below the knee or at mid-calf on you. Pick a maxi when you want cover, formality or a long line, and set the hem for your shoes. Browse the full range in linen dresses. If the dress is for an event, our guide to wedding guest linen dresses covers length and colour.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a midi and a maxi dress?
A midi falls between the knee and the ankle, and a maxi reaches the ankle or the floor. Brands apply the names loosely, so rely on the length in inches.
Which is better for hot weather, a midi or a maxi?
Either, as long as the cut is loose. A loose maxi covers the legs from the sun, and a midi is easier to move in. The fabric and the cut matter more than the length.
How do I know where a dress will end on me?
Measure a dress you own and like, compare its length with the listed length, and check the model's height on the page.
Can you shorten or lengthen a linen dress?
Yes. We can make the hem shorter or longer. Tell us your height and the length you want before you order.
Does a maxi dress suit a petite person?
It can, with a shorter hem. A standard maxi cut for a taller person can overwhelm a short frame, so ask for the length to be adjusted.