How to Make a Maxi Dress Shorter Without Cutting
- 1). Check the tag on your dress to see if it can be machine washed. Cotton materials will naturally shrink as a result of washing them in hot water and then drying them on a high heat cycle. Do this and you'll see your maxi dress shorten almost instantly. If it's still not short enough, you can use other methods in combination with this one until you're happy with the results.
- 2). Pair your maxi dress with platform shoes or wedges. These types of shoes can add inches to your height and keep the long dress from sweeping the floor when you walk. The dress itself won't get any shorter, but at least you'll be able to walk without tripping over the hem.
- 3). Shorten the length of a maxi dress by wearing a belt around your waist. Cinch the belt in tight enough so that some of the fabric is caught by it. Pull the dress fabric slightly upward and let it drape casually over the belt until the hem is at a place you're comfortable with.
- 4). Use iron-on hem tape to take a few inches off the length of the dress. This works especially well if you're pressed for time and would like to avoid the method of cutting and sewing a new hem. To use the tape, flip the dress inside out, fold the hem up as many inches as are necessary, apply the tape, and then iron over it so that it adheres to the dress. Of course, if the label on your maxi dress forbids ironing, this method should not be used.
Source...