I know I’m a little slow here, but I am officially on the maxi train. I’ve been obsessing over them for more than a year now and I’ve finally found a recipe that works for my body.

tee: Old Navy / maxi: Old Navy / necklace: Hive & Honey / bangles left: Tinley Road / bangles right: Hive & Honey / sandals: Forever21

First, it’s all about the gauze. Breezy and loose fitting, the pretty gauze skirts and dresses out there won’t cling to you (ie won’t show any lumps and bumps that you’d rather keep under cover). I had been drawn to cottony pieces but have found that they just don’t work for me. I bought the maxi skirt above at Old Navy last week and I am madly in love. I’m seriously considering heading back in and buying a few more.

The other thing I’ve learned is that I need something that can be nipped at the waist. I love the really loose and flowy looks, but I need something that has at least a little bit of structure. Whether it’s darting in the dress itself, the addition of a belt, or using separates to create a shape, I need something or I run the risk of looking larger than necessary.

I’ve also learned that lots of the dresses that are out there have tiers that create a sort of drop waist effect. This is a huge no for my body, as it does nothing but cling to my gut–something I’d rather not make the center of attention.

Now that I’ve perfected my maxi recipe, I’m pretty sure it will become my new summer uniform.

Is there a trend that you’ve had to fiddle with until you find the best way to make it work for your body? I want to hear about it!

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Written by Jennifer Garry
Jen is a freelance writer and girl mom from New York. When she's not knee-deep in glittery crafts and girl talk, you can probably find her sprawled across her couch in the middle of a Netflix marathon with dark chocolate smeared on her face. The struggle is real.