Maxi dresses

Full-length dresses, one of each. Our maxi rail is built from single finds, so every piece here is the only one in that size and print. You'll see floaty summer styles, printed holiday dresses and longer evening pieces, sizes UK 8 to 30. Each one is checked, graded on our five-step scale from New with tags to Fair, and photographed as it actually is. When it sells, that's it.

18 products

Buying preloved maxi dresses

What turns up on the rail

The mix changes constantly, but a few names come round regularly: Shein Curve, ROMAN, New Look, Primark, TU, Stradivarius, Debenhams and the occasional Scamp & Dude. Prints do most of the talking here.

  • Florals, animal print, abstract designs and stripes are the usual suspects.
  • Styles run from sleeveless and summery through to bodycon and evening cuts, with plenty that sit happily in occasion territory only as far as the cut allows, so check the photos.
  • Sizing usually spans UK 8 to 30, with a decent showing across plus sizes.
  • Condition leans heavily to Very good, with the odd New with tags piece and the occasional Good.

If you're shopping for a specific trip or season, it's worth also looking through Summer dresses, the Holiday shop and our floaty, free-spirited prints and tiered shapes, where shorter and lighter styles sit alongside these. The wider Women's dresses collection holds everything in one place if you'd rather browse by size than length.

What to check on a preloved maxi

Length is the thing people get wrong most often. A maxi that skims the floor on one person will pool on another, so read the stated length rather than guessing from the photo. We can send full measurements on any item before you buy, including hem to shoulder.

  • Check the hem. Long skirts pick up wear at the back where they've caught underfoot, and we note any thinning or marks in the grade.
  • Look at the bust and waist seams on bodycon and jersey styles. Stretch fabrics can relax with wear, so the measurement matters more than the label size.
  • Straps and zips on sleeveless and evening styles get the most use. We photograph fastenings up close.
  • Lining is worth a look on printed and occasion pieces. A lining that has shrunk slightly can pull the outer fabric.
  • If you plan to wear heels, factor the extra height in. Some maxis are cut long deliberately.

Why buy this one preloved

Maxi dresses are often bought for a single event or holiday, then hung up. That means a lot of them come to us barely worn, which is why so much of this rail sits at Very good or better. Buying one that already exists keeps a lot of fabric out of landfill, and long dresses use a lot of fabric.

You also get prints that are no longer in the shops. A floral or animal print maxi from two summers ago won't turn up again on a high street rail, and nobody at the party will have the same one. Delivery is tracked, we dispatch within 2 working days, standard delivery is free over £50 and you have 14 days to return anything for any reason.

Common questions

How do I know a maxi will be the right length for me?

Ask us. We take a shoulder to hem measurement on request for any dress, and that's far more reliable than a size label. It helps to measure a maxi you already own and like the length of, then compare the two numbers.

Are the plus sizes on this rail cut generously?

Not always, and this is worth being honest about. Brands like Shein Curve can run smaller through the bust and hip than a UK high street size 22 or 24 would suggest, and older stock varies more again. Message us for the actual across-the-chest and waist measurements before you commit rather than trusting the tag.

Can I wear these dresses to a wedding or evening event?

Plenty of them work for that. The rail regularly includes evening and occasion cuts alongside the casual summer styles, and the product photos show the neckline and back detail clearly. Filter by the style words in the listing title if you're after something dressier.

What does Very good actually mean on your scale?

It means the dress has been worn but has no flaws we'd expect you to notice in normal wear. Anything we do spot, a small mark, a loose thread, a slightly worn hem, gets written into the listing and photographed. Our full five-step scale runs New with tags, Like new, Very good, Good, Fair.

How should I wash a printed maxi I've bought here?

Follow the care label if it's still attached, and we mention in the listing when it isn't. As a rule, cool wash and line dry keeps prints from fading and stops long skirts from creasing badly. Hang maxis rather than folding them where you can, so the hem doesn't set a crease line.

There's nothing in my size today. What now?

New pieces go up most days and each one is a single find, so the rail looks different by the end of the week. Drop us a note through the contact form with your size and the sort of maxi you're after, and we'll keep an eye out when we're listing.