Solace London Maxi, Midi and Mini Dresses: Lengths Explained

Almost nine in ten Solace London styles at Coveti are floor-length maxis: 301 of 343. The label’s 29 midis and midaxis fall between the knee and the ankle, and its 13 minis are a small, party-led edit. Every length comes in UK sizes 4 to 16, cut close to the body.

Length is the first thing to settle when you buy Solace London, and the hardest to judge on a screen. A gown that sits just right on a tall model can puddle on the floor for someone shorter, and a midi can land at a very different point depending on your height. Below, we go through what each length means in the label’s range, how to read it from the product page, and which length we would choose for each occasion.

The range by length

Maxi dresses

A Solace London maxi is cut to reach the floor. That is the label’s core, and it covers almost every shape it makes: strapless corseted gowns, one-shoulder columns, off-the-shoulder styles and long-sleeved covered dresses.

The Dandridge Maxi Dress in Black is a good example of the strapless gown: a boned bodice, a sculptural back with a fold and exaggerated pleats, in twill with a subtle sheen. The Kinsley Maxi Dress in Black is a strapless column with a softly pleated bodice and a wrap-around drape. Both fall straight to the floor, and both are meant to be worn with a heel.

The models on the product pages stand between 177 and 182 cm and wear a UK 6. If you are shorter, expect the hem to pool unless you wear a high heel and have it taken up. Our guide to Solace London gowns has the full evening range.

Can you shorten a Solace London maxi?

Usually, yes, and on a dress you plan to wear more than once it is worth doing. Choose the shoes first and take them to the fitting. A good tailor will pin the hem so it sits just clear of the floor in those shoes.

Some details make hemming harder. A centre back split, which many Solace London maxis have, has to be shortened in proportion. Trains and sculptural drapes, as on the Winslow, are part of the design and should not be cut. Pleated skirts need the pleats re-pressed after the hem is moved. Ask the tailor to look at each of these before you agree the work, and keep the cut fabric in case you need it later.

Midi and midaxi dresses

Solace London calls some of its below-the-knee styles midis and others midaxis. A midaxi is a longer midi: it falls somewhere between mid-calf and the ankle. Of the 29 shorter-than-maxi styles at Coveti, 13 are named midaxis.

The Kiki Midaxi Dress in Lavender is a strapless midaxi, and the Renee Midaxi Dress in Oyster has a clean strapless line. Among the midis, the Edison Midi Dress in Black is strapless with an asymmetric boned bodice and a flared skirt with laser cut panels, and the Mansfield Midi Dress in Black is a sleeveless, body-conscious midi with a satin scarf and a cowl back.

A midaxi is the most useful length for a daytime wedding, since it looks formal without trailing on grass. It is also the length to choose if you want to show off a pair of shoes.

Mini dresses

The label makes only 13 minis in our range, and they are mostly party dresses. The Gardner Mini Dress in Allium Purple is a one-shoulder, body-conscious mini with a draped neckline and an asymmetrical tie, in lightweight textured crepe. The Bessette Mini Dress in Black is a minimal mini with adjustable spaghetti straps and a detachable wrap, boned and fully lined. Our guide to Solace London Christmas party dresses has the full short edit.

Which length suits a petite figure?

If you are under about 160 cm, every Solace London maxi will need hemming, and some of the more dramatic styles, with trains and voluminous skirts, can swamp a petite frame. The cleaner columns, such as the Lang and Kinsley, are easier to take up and keep their line when shortened.

Midaxis can be tricky on a petite figure, because a hem that sits at the ankle on the model may land mid-calf higher up, then fall awkwardly at the widest part of the leg. A true midi, and a mini, are more predictable. Our Solace London size guide has the body chart and the model heights.

Which length for which dress code

For black tie, go long: a maxi is always right, and a midi rarely is. For black tie optional, a maxi is safest, though an elegant midaxi can work at a less formal evening. For cocktail, a midi and a midaxi are ideal, and a maxi can look overdressed. For a daytime wedding, a civil ceremony and garden party, a midaxi is the most useful length. Our Solace London wedding guest guide works through every dress code in more detail, and our signature styles guide explains what each named style is.

A mother of the bride will usually want a maxi. Our guide to Solace London mother of the bride dresses picks out the best of them.

How to judge a hem from the product page

The product photographs are your best guide, as long as you read them against your own height. Many Solace London product pages give the model’s height and the size she wears, and on every one we checked the size was a UK 6. Measure from your waist to the floor in the shoes you plan to wear, then compare it with how the dress falls on the model. If she is 180 cm and you are 165 cm, a maxi that just touches the floor on her will run about 15 cm long on you.

For midis and midaxis, look at where the hem sits on the model’s leg and move it down by the difference in height. A midaxi that falls just above her ankle can reach the floor on a shorter wearer, which turns it into a different dress.

Shoes by length

A maxi needs a heel, and the heel needs to be chosen before the hem is set. A slim stiletto suits the columns and the strapless gowns. A block heel is kinder on grass and at a long wedding. A midaxi shows the shoe, so treat it as part of the outfit: a simple strappy sandal in summer, a closed pump in winter. A mini can take almost any heel, and a slim knee-high boot works for a casual winter party.

Travelling with a maxi

A floor-length gown is the hardest length to pack. Roll it in tissue rather than folding it, keep boned bodices flat on top of the case so the bones do not bend, and hang the dress as soon as you arrive, with a steamer if the hotel has one. Heavy satin creases most and stretch knit crepe least, so for a wedding abroad the knit columns are the easier travellers. A midi folds far more neatly, which is one more reason to consider one for a destination wedding with a relaxed dress code.

Lengths for the races and day events

At the races, a midi and a midaxi suit the day better than a maxi, since you will be on your feet and on grass. A sleeveless midi such as the Mansfield, worn with a jacket and a hat, works for a members’ enclosure. Our guide on what to wear to the Melbourne Cup has more on day dress codes.

You can shop each length in the maxi dresses, midi dresses and mini dresses categories, and the full range on our Solace London brand page.

Frequently asked questions

How long are Solace London maxi dresses?

Solace London maxi dresses are cut to reach the floor. The models on the product pages are 177 to 182 cm tall and wear a UK 6, so shorter wearers should expect to hem the dress to the height of the shoes they plan to wear.

What is a Solace London midaxi?

A Solace London midaxi is a longer midi that falls between mid-calf and the ankle. Coveti stocks 13 midaxi styles, including the Kiki and Renee, and they suit daytime weddings and cocktail dress codes.

Does Solace London make mini dresses?

Yes, but only a few. Coveti stocks 13 Solace London minis, including the Bessette with a detachable wrap, the one-shoulder Gardner and the crystal embellished Allyson. Most are party dresses.

Can you shorten a Solace London maxi dress?

Yes. A tailor can hem a Solace London maxi to sit just clear of the floor in your shoes. Centre back splits need shortening in proportion, pleats need re-pressing, and trains and sculptural drapes should not be cut.

Which Solace London length is best for a petite figure?

Petite wearers will need to hem every Solace London maxi. Clean columns such as the Lang and Kinsley shorten best. Midaxis can land awkwardly on a shorter leg, so a true midi and a mini are more predictable.

Is a Solace London midi formal enough for a wedding?

For a daytime wedding, a cocktail dress code and a civil ceremony, a Solace London midi and midaxi are formal enough. For a black tie wedding, choose a floor-length maxi instead.

More Solace London guides

Every Coveti guide to the label, plus the full Solace London edit.

• Is Solace London a Luxury Brand? Quality, Fabric and Fit Assessed
• Solace London Size Guide: UK, US and EU Sizes with Body Measurements
• Where to Buy Solace London in the US, UK and Australia
• Solace London Gowns: The Evening Styles Worth Knowing
• Solace London Wedding Guest Dresses for Every Dress Code
• Solace London Bridal: Wedding Dresses, Reception Looks and Civil Ceremony Styles
• Solace London Modest Dresses: Long Sleeves, High Necks and Full Lengths
• Solace London Dresses by Colour: Black, Red, White, Pink, Green and Blue
• Solace London Strapless, One Shoulder and Off the Shoulder Dresses
• Solace London Signature Styles: Kinsley, Lang, Kira, Olivia and the Icons Explained
• Which Celebrities Wear Solace London? Every Verified Look
• Brands Like Solace London: 6 Alternatives We Stock
• Solace London in Dubai, Riyadh and the Gulf: Where to Shop and What to Wear
• Solace London Long Sleeve Dresses: Columns, Blouson Sleeves and Covered Gowns
• Solace London Mother of the Bride Dresses: Elegant Styles for the Whole Day
• Solace London for Winter Weddings and Black Tie Galas
• Solace London Christmas Party Dresses: Minis, Midis and Party Maxis
• Solace London Rental Versus Buying: When Each Makes Sense
• Solace London Resort 2027: The New Collection
• Solace London Real Versus Fake: How to Check Your Dress and the Site You Buy From
• How to Style Solace London: Shoes, Bags, Jewellery and Cover Ups