Maxi

A maxi reaches the ankle or the floor in daytime materials: jersey, cotton, linen, rayon prints. Register, not length, separates it from a gown. The two share a hemline, but the maxi keeps flat sandals, unstructured bodices and casual fabric where the gown brings boning and silk.

Full length changes how a dress works day to day. Coverage becomes effortless, sun protection comes built in. The long line adds drama to even a plain knit; in return the hem enters your life. Walking, stairs and wet pavement all involve it. The fabric near the ground collects what the ground offers, so washable fibers earn their place here more than anywhere.

Clearance is the fitting rule. With the shoes you will actually wear, usually flats, the hem should skim just above the ground. Aim for about half an inch to an inch of daylight. More and the drama shrinks to an awkward ankle length, less and you step on it. Height drives this hard: petite ranges shorten the body of the dress, not just the hem, so the waist lands where yours is. Buying a standard length and cutting off six inches moves every proportion, which is why the petite cut beats the scissors.