Measure yourself before you buy, not after, and measure with shoes on, the actual shoes you intend to wear, because an inch of hem is the difference between a dress that skims the floor properly and one that frays through at the back within a month of pavement contact. I've sent two back for this reason alone, both lovely on the model, both a trip hazard on me. That warning aside, there's nothing else that does what a floor length dress does. It makes an ordinary Tuesday feel considered without any extra effort beyond putting it on.
It doesn't want fighting with heavy boots or anything too clumpy underneath, the whole point of the length is a long clean line and a boot sole changes the proportion completely, so flat sandals or something slim works better than you'd expect. Avoid piling on a cropped jacket that cuts across the midpoint too, it chops the dress in half visually and undoes the reason you bought it. As for wear, a well chosen one softens with washing rather than going limp, the fabric should relax into the body after a few wears instead of clinging stiffly like it's still on the hanger, and a hand wash or a cool gentle cycle in a bag keeps the hem from fraying at the point where it meets the floor, which it will, eventually, no matter how careful you are. I've had one go soft and lovely after a summer of wear and another turn into something resembling a tea towel after a single hot wash, so read the label and believe it.
The difference between a good one and a disappointing one is mostly in the weight of the fabric and how the seams sit. Cheap floor length dresses are often cheap because they've skimped on fabric width, so the skirt doesn't move, it just hangs there looking a bit sorry for itself, whereas a proper one has enough fullness that it swings when you walk and pools slightly rather than clinging to the legs. Check the hem is actually finished, not just overlocked and left, and have a feel of the fabric between your fingers, it should have some substance and drape rather than being thin enough to show every seam of your underwear in daylight. Zips and poppers should sit flat, not pucker the fabric around them, because that's usually the first sign of corners cut elsewhere too.
This suits anyone who wants to feel dressed without being fussed over, whatever her age or the occasion in front of her.
Yellow DressesYellow Floor Length Party Dresses Actually Worth Buying
Cocktail DressesA Closer Look at the Best Wrap Floor Length Cocktail Dresses
Wrap DressesWrap Floor Length Evening Dresses on Our Radar
Party DressesWrap Floor Length Party Dresses Edited Down to the Best
Wrap DressesWrap Floor Length Satin Dresses: Our Current Favourites
Summer DressesWrap Floor Length Summer Dresses for Sunny Days Ahead
Blazer DressesWrap Floor Length Blazer Dresses: The Edit
Bridesmaid DressesOur Top Wrap Floor Length Bridesmaid Dresses Right Now
Slip DressesWhite Floor Length Slip Dresses: Our Current FavouritesAlso worth a lookMidi DressesI used to think midi dresses were what you wore when you'd given up on deciding whether to…See the collections →
Work DressesWhite Floor Length Work Dresses Edited Down to the Best
V Neck DressesV Neck Floor Length A Line Dresses: Our Current Favourites
V Neck DressesEffortless V Neck Floor Length Lace Dresses We Love
V Neck DressesV Neck Floor Length Party Dresses for Your Next Night Out
V Neck DressesV Neck Floor Length Satin Dresses That Tick Every Box
V Neck DressesStandout V Neck Floor Length Wedding Guest Dresses to Shop
A Line DressesTulle Floor Length A Line Dresses Worth a Closer Look
Tiered DressesTiered Floor Length Evening Dresses Actually Worth Buying
Tiered DressesTiered Floor Length Party Dresses You’ll Want to Live InAlso worth a lookMaxi DressesA maxi dress is only as good as its hem, because that is the part that catches wind,…See the collections →
Tiered DressesFinding the Best Tiered Floor Length Summer Dresses
Tie Waist DressesEffortless Tie Waist Floor Length Satin Dresses We Love
Tie Waist DressesTie Waist Floor Length Summer Dresses We’d Happily Wear on Repeat
Tie Waist DressesEffortless Tie Waist Floor Length Wedding Guest Dresses We Love
Tie Waist DressesTie Waist Floor Length A Line Dresses You Can Dress Up or Down
Bridesmaid DressesEffortless Tie Waist Floor Length Bridesmaid Dresses We Love
Tie Waist DressesThe Tie Waist Floor Length Cocktail Dresses Shortlist
Tie Waist DressesTie Waist Floor Length Evening Dresses We’d Buy Again
Tie Waist DressesThe Tie Waist Floor Length Halter Dresses We’d Wear AnywhereAlso worth a lookMini DressesThe thing nobody mentions about a mini dress is what happens to the hem after the third wash and the fifth wear.See the collections →
Tie Waist DressesOur Shortlist of Tie Waist Floor Length Lace Dresses
Tie Waist DressesOur Top Tie Waist Floor Length Off Shoulder Dresses Right Now
Tie Waist DressesTie Waist Floor Length Party Dresses for Your Next Night Out
Prom DressesTie Waist Floor Length Prom Dresses We Can’t Stop Looking At
Tiered DressesStrappy Floor Length Tiered Dresses You’ll Want to Live In
Velvet DressesStrappy Floor Length Velvet Dresses Actually Worth Buying
Wedding Guest DressesStrappy Floor Length Wedding Guest Dresses You’ll Want to Live In
Work DressesThe Strappy Floor Length Work Dresses Shortlist
