Max Mara Dresses: Day, Work and Evening Dresses and Gowns

A Max Mara dress is usually a clean, long line piece in a natural fabric: silk crepe de chine, wool flannel, cashmere knit and satin. The house cuts day dresses, shirt dresses for work and full length gowns for evening, and the Max Mara collection at Coveti holds more than 80 across Max Mara, Weekend Max Mara, ‘S Max Mara and Max Mara Studio, from $500 to $6,270.

Key facts

• House: Max Mara, founded in 1951 by Achille Maramotti in Reggio Emilia, Italy, and still family owned.
• Lines with dresses at Coveti: Max Mara, Weekend Max Mara, ‘S Max Mara and Max Mara Studio.
• Signature fabrics: pure silk crepe de chine and satin, wool flannel, wool and cashmere knit, cady.
• Prices at Coveti: Weekend Max Mara dresses from $500, Max Mara Studio from $1,060, Max Mara from $1,050, runway pieces to $6,270.
• Sizing: Italian. IT 40 = UK 8 = US 4; IT 42 = UK 10 = US 6; IT 44 = UK 12 = US 8.
• Shapes: shirt dresses, slip dresses, knit dresses, wrap dresses, bustier gowns and column gowns.

What kind of dresses does Max Mara make?

Max Mara is best known for coats, and its dresses work best under them. That explains the shapes: long, narrow and uncluttered, with the detail kept to a neckline, a cuff and a back cut out. Colour follows the coats too, with camel, mud, tobacco, ultramarine, bordeaux and black appearing across the season. If you are new to the house, our guide who is Max Mara explains the lines and the history.

Dresses fall into four families. Day dresses are cotton poplin, printed silk twill and jersey. Work dresses are wool flannel shirt dresses, cady and fine knit. Knit dresses use wool and cashmere for winter and viscose rib for warmer months. Evening dresses run from silk satin slip dresses to cady and satin column gowns.

Max Mara silk dresses

Silk is where the main Max Mara line is strongest. The Acino Silk Crepe de Chine Dress is long and slim with a boat neck and a georgette flounce over a back cut out. The Gambero Silk Polo Dress takes a polo collar into a long fluid silk line for daytime. Printed silk shirt dresses, such as the Faraone Long Printed Silk Shirt Dress, are the easiest way to wear silk to the office. At Weekend Max Mara, the Edile Silk Shirt Dress in habotai silk gives the same idea at a lower price.

Silk crepe de chine has a soft, matte surface and a little weight, so it skims rather than clings. Most silk dresses on Coveti are lined, which helps them hang well and makes them less sheer in daylight.

Max Mara work dresses

For the office, look at the shirt dress and the wool dress. The Dalmata Wool Flannel Shirt Dress in wine comes with a leather belt and has a little stretch for comfort at a desk. Max Mara Studio, the line built around tailoring, makes the Pagella Woollen Cloth Shirt Dress in navy and the Sala Cady Princess Midi Dress in black, both easy under a blazer. For tailoring to wear over them, see Max Mara jackets and blazers.

Max Mara knit dresses

Knit dresses are the winter answer. The Fragore Wool and Cashmere Knit Dress is long and dark brown, made for a camel coat and boots. Studio’s Grado Cable Knit Dress in wool and cashmere is warmer and more casual. At Weekend Max Mara, the Goccia Tweed Knit Dress mixes wool and silk at a more approachable price. For the rest of the knitwear, read Max Mara knitwear.

Max Mara gowns and evening dresses

Max Mara gowns are cut long and clean, with the drama kept to fabric and back detail. The Maroso Silk Satin Slip Dress is a long washed silk satin gown on thin straps with a cut out back. The Dream Long Stretch Satin Dress has an asymmetric neckline and a draped bodice, and the Opera Long Cady Dress fastens with a chain jewel at the back of the neck. From the runway, the Sport Silk Satin Bustier Dress is boned and finishes in a small train. Studio’s Fumi Envers Satin Bustier Gown gives a column gown for black tie at a lower price.

For black tie, choose a full length gown. For a cocktail invitation, a short dress such as the Bellico Satin Dress with Oversized Bow is a better fit. Wear any of them with a wrap coat; the long, clean lines sit well under one.

Max Mara dresses by line

How do Max Mara dresses fit?

Max Mara uses Italian sizing. IT 40 is UK 8 and US 4, IT 42 is UK 10 and US 6, and IT 44 is UK 12 and US 8; the UK site runs from UK 2 to UK 18. Silk and knit dresses are cut with some ease, so most women take their usual size. Bustier gowns and princess line dresses are fitted through the bodice, so choose by your bust and waist measurement. Long dresses are cut for a heel; check the length if you wear flats. Our Max Mara size guide has the full conversion.

What to wear over a Max Mara dress

A long dress needs a long coat. Over a silk maxi, the Manuela Icon Coat is the natural partner: pure camel hair, belted, and long enough to cover the hem. Over a knit dress, the Madame 101801 Icon Coat gives more volume, with kimono sleeves that leave room for a thick sleeve underneath. For evening, a black coat over a black gown keeps the line unbroken. Shoes follow the season: knee boots with knit dresses, slim heels with satin and loafers with shirt dresses. For the full coat line up, read the Max Mara coats guide and our pick of the best camel coats for women.

The best Max Mara dresses to buy now

1. Maroso Silk Satin Slip Dress in Black

A long washed silk satin slip gown. The most versatile evening dress in the edit. From $2,960.

2. Acino Silk Crepe de Chine Dress in Ultramarine

Slim, long and sleeveless, with a georgette flounce at the back. From $2,760.

3. Dream Long Stretch Satin Dress in Antique Rose

Heavy stretch satin with an asymmetric neckline, for weddings and black tie. Also in dark green. From $2,530.

4. Dalmata Wool Flannel Shirt Dress in Wine

The work dress, belted in leather. From $1,840.

5. Fragore Wool and Cashmere Knit Dress in Dark Brown

A long cashmere blend knit for winter, under a camel coat. From $1,540.

6. Max Mara Studio Miss Satin Wrap Midi Dress in Black

An envers satin wrap with jewel buttons at the cuffs, from desk to dinner. From $1,440.

7. Weekend Max Mara Edile Silk Shirt Dress in Light Blue

Pure silk habotai with mother of pearl buttons. The most accessible silk dress here. From $850.

8. ‘S Max Mara Wally Organza Fit and Flare Dress in Moss Green

Silk blend organza in a full skirted shape, for daytime occasions. From $1,650.

9. Diadema Printed Poplin Wrap Dress in Ultramarine

A long cotton poplin wrap in the collection print, for summer and travel. From $1,630.

Browse all designer dresses, the evening gowns edit and shirt dresses.

Where can I buy Max Mara dresses in the US?

Coveti stocks Max Mara dresses and ships to the US by DHL Express and FedEx International Priority, insured and signed for on delivery. Prices are in US dollars and duties are usually payable on import. Shop the Max Mara collection; we also ship to the UK, Canada, Australia and the UAE. For every market, see where to buy Max Mara.

More Max Mara guides

• Max Mara outfits
• Max Mara knitwear
• Max Mara jackets and blazers
• Max Mara trousers and suits
• Max Mara size guide
• Weekend Max Mara
• Max Mara bags

Frequently asked questions

Are Max Mara dresses true to size?

Most Max Mara dresses run true to Italian size. IT 40 equals UK 8 and US 4, and IT 42 equals UK 10 and US 6. Silk and knit dresses have some ease; bustier gowns and princess line dresses are fitted, so choose by bust and waist if you are between sizes.

What fabric are Max Mara silk dresses made of?

Max Mara silk dresses are mostly pure silk crepe de chine, silk satin and silk twill, often lined in an acetate, silk and polyamide blend. Weekend Max Mara uses pure silk habotai. The composition is listed on each Coveti product page.

Does Max Mara make evening gowns?

Yes. Max Mara gowns include long silk satin slip dresses, stretch satin and cady column dresses and boned silk bustier dresses from the runway, some finishing in a small train. Max Mara Studio adds an envers satin bustier gown at a lower price, which suits black tie on a tighter budget.

How much is a Max Mara dress?

At Coveti, Weekend Max Mara dresses start from $500, Max Mara Studio and Max Mara from about $1,050, and long silk gowns run from around $2,500 to $4,290. Runway dresses reach $6,270. Prices are in US dollars, and import duties are usually payable on arrival outside the store’s home market.

Which Max Mara dress is best for work?

A wool shirt dress is the most practical choice. The Max Mara Dalmata in wool flannel and the Max Mara Studio Pagella in woollen cloth both sit well under a blazer and a coat, and neither needs much ironing. Add a fine knit in winter and a leather belt to change the shape.

What is the difference between Max Mara and Weekend Max Mara dresses?

Weekend Max Mara dresses are more relaxed, with cotton, jersey and silk habotai, and start from $500 at Coveti. Max Mara dresses use heavier silks, satin and cashmere knit and include full evening gowns, starting from about $1,050. Both use Italian sizing.

See the full Max Mara at Coveti edit, then read Max Mara outfits and the Max Mara coats guide to find the coat that goes over your dress.