How to style a tiered maxi dress, day to evening

With a belt or without

Worn loose, a tiered maxi skims the body and moves freely, which for many people is the point of the design. A belt changes the outline completely, drawing the fabric in so the tiers flare from the waist.

• Place the belt at your natural waist, or on the first seam if that seam sits close to the waist. A belt competing with a seam a few centimetres away looks unsettled.
• On a dress that falls from a gathered yoke, expect the fabric above the belt to blouse a little. Ease it out evenly all round.
• A narrow or medium belt suits fine fabrics such as chiffon. A wide, stiff belt can crush light gathers.
• A tie belt in the dress fabric is the quietest option; leather in tan, black or a metallic finish is dressier.
• Belting lifts the hem by a few centimetres, so check the length in the mirror with the belt on.

Layers, shoes and the hem

Choose layers that end either at the waist or near the hem. A cropped denim jacket, a short cardigan or a neat blazer that stops at the high hip leaves the tiers clear. A long open cardigan, duster coat or open abaya that runs almost the length of the dress creates one long line. The awkward length is in between: a boxy layer ending across the fullest tier cuts the dress in half.

A floor-length hem hides most of the shoe, so comfort can win. Flat sandals, trainers with a slim sole, espadrilles and block heels all work, and ankle boots take over in winter. What matters is that the hem was set for the height of shoe you wear: a dress hemmed for flats rides up with heels, and one hemmed for heels trails in flats. If you are having a dress made, measure in your shoes, as our guide to measuring for a maxi dress explains.

Hijab-friendly styling

A long, sleeved tiered dress is already most of a modest outfit. These details finish it.

• A high neckline or band collar sits neatly under a scarf, with no gap to manage.
• If the dress is in a floaty fabric, a matte cotton or jersey hijab gives a steadier frame than a second sheer layer.
• Match the scarf to the dress for a tonal look, or pick a neutral such as ivory, beige or black. With a printed dress, take the scarf colour from the print.
• Sleeves gathered into a cuff stay at the wrist when you lift your arms.
• Light fabrics often need a lining or a full-length slip. The test for see-through fabric takes a minute.

One dress: day, office, dinner

The dress stays the same and three or four things around it change.

• Day. Unbelted, flat sandals or trainers, a crossbody bag and a denim jacket.
• Office. A belt, a short blazer, closed flats or low block heels and a structured bag.
• Dinner. A metallic or leather belt, heels or embellished flats, earrings and a small clutch.

If you would like one made

Our own tiered maxi dress is a floor-length chiffon dress with a split band collar, full sleeves gathered at the cuff and three tiers, offered in standard sizes or made to your measurements. For a different tiered dress, send a photo through Send Your Design and ask for a quote; we confirm the fabric, lining and length in writing.