If you are in the market for a comfortable, pretty summer maxi dress, it can be pretty tough to find one that fits perfectly if you have a curvy figure. If you are top-heavy, for example, many maxi dresses simply don't fit the chest area well. Some dresses also don't lay on the hips well or sit perfectly on the waist. Here are some of my tips on finding the perfect summer maxi dress for curvy figures: 

1) Don't just buy off the rack: Maxi dresses are everywhere during the summer (from your department store to local street fairs), but don't just buy it off the rack (no matter how much it calls your name). I've done that before, only to try on the dress at home and realize that there is no way I would actually walk out in public with it on! I am all about trying it on to figure out: 1) does it fit me well; 2) if it doesn't fit me perfectly, is there any slight tailoring that can be made to the dress to make it perfect for me?, and 3) am I comfortable in this dress? Ultimately, you want a maxi dress that not only fits you well, but also makes you feel really comfortable, especially in hot summer weather. The last thing you want to think about when it is already steamy outside is an uncomfortable outfit. 

2) Test for comfort: Definitely test for comfort around the bust area, the waist, and the hips. While you probably won't be pulling any gymast moves in your dress, you certainly want to know that your bust fits well in the dress (and looks good in the dress), and that the waist and hip area on the dress fits your body well. Since I have a fairly large bust, I prefer maxi dresses that either allow me to wear a strapless or regular bra and/or have a bust lining for support. 

3) Test for aesthetic appeal: If you have curves, it is important to think about how the dress will fit your curves. Prints today can be quite loud and exciting, but if the dress doesn't fit right, then the prints just make the overall outfit ten times worse. For example, I recently tried on a dress with horizontal black and white stripes. It was a size too small (they didn't have one in my size), but I tried it on anyway because it was hard to pass up. As I slid the dress over my body, I realized that the stripes were literally "maxed out" when they hit my hips. They stretched and simply made my hips look way bigger than they actually are. Needless to say: I didn't buy that dress! I want to make sure that a dress and all its flair compliment my figure, rather than take away from the beauty of my curves.

4) Tailoring is your friend: I bought a maxi dress that was a tad too long, but fit me perfectly in the bust area, waist and hips. I simply could not pass up this dress simply because of a length issue, so I had it shortened by about 2 or 3 inches. I recommend similar treatment for a maxi dress that you have your eye on that doesn't fit absolutely perfectly. If you can get it tailored (and it won't require any major tailoring work, but a simple snip or two or a slight adjustment), then I highly recommend making the purchase and making a trip to the tailor. For the right dress, it is definitely worth it! 

Hopefully these tips will help you find the right summer maxi dress for you! 

-Written by: Cafe Belle's Fashion Barista