Different types of dresses for petite women

If you are on the petite side and are looking for that dreamy dress to go with your frame and that can have that wow factor every woman is searching for, you are in the right place. We’ll share with you all the right types of dresses for the Petites and where to get them.

Not only dress versatile and classy, but they have the lengthening effect much needed by smaller chicks. Due to its continuous patterns of fabrics, dresses have the power to create the illusion of height. When buying a dress, petite women should keep some pointers in mind to present an unforgettable image that can best flatter your frame.

Sometimes it feels like the fashion industry designs clothing specifically for tall women. And if you’re shorter than average, you know how daunting it is to find the right dress only to realize it’s too long or boxy for you.
When you think you’ve found it, you forget that most pieces are made thinking about towering heights, models who average a height of 5-foot-10 and above. Fortunately, Petites ought to know all the techniques to shop for clothing that doesn’t make you feel uncomfortable. Knowing which areas to highlight and which one to downplay, you can give your confidence a major boost and stop thinking that you seem a little person in a giant’s world.

Origin of the dress

Apparently, the dress made its great entrance only when well-defined social organizations were established, and people began to live together in bigger groups. Evidence of this first happening was in the ancient world in Mesopotamia.
Some forms, structures, and elements appear in the dress of the different civilizations of the ancient world.
Historians mark a difference between draped and tailored dress. Draped garments are made from lengths of material that hug the body and require practically no sewing. The tailored costume is cut into shaped pieces, thus needing to be sewn together. Draped costume utilizes lengths of woven textiles and is typical of warm climates where a skater fit is more suitable. The tailored costume is believed to have its origin sometime around the time when used animal skins. Being smaller in size than woven textiles, skins had to be sewn together. Tailored garments, cut to fit the body more closely, are more common in cold climates where the closer fit keeps the wearer warm.
Women’s dress of this period covered the entire upper body. The most likely forms were a skirt worn with a cape with an opening for the head or a tunic.

Fast forward to the 19th century, lightweight and simple dresses began to flow around. After the evolution in women’s clothes in 1925, women ditched the longer hems and began wearing knee-length dresses. Dresses became more conservative again in the 1930s. Still, around World War II -when fabric was necessary to be saved during the difficult time, the less-conservative hemline made its way back. In the following decades, dresses remained feminine and the silhouettes full, and in 1965 the mini skirt dress made its entrance, becoming more relaxed and informal.

Types of dresses

Skater dress

Short women know that it’s of most importance to fill their closets with pieces of clothing that highlight their smaller assets. Skater dresses are a must in your wardrobe because they have the power to draw attention to your naturally tiny waist.

A skater dress does a fantastic job of cinching at the waist, then flaring out toward the bottom hem, making you look noticeably leaner. Opt for a short, colorful skater dress for the best results.

We like this Milumia Women’s V Back Fit and Flare Short Sleeve Stretchy Short Swing Mini Basic Dress from Amazon. It is suitable for spring, summer, autumn, casual, work, holiday, party.

Classy, short dress

One benefit of the great things about being petite is wearing shorter clothing without appearing too out there.

Since you can get away with a shorter hem, it’s always a good idea to own a classy and professional-looking dress that hits mid-thigh.

Trust us; you’ll find it makes you look much taller without looking too suggestive. We like this LIYOHON Women’s, Summer Short Dress. It is simple in design, but it’s enough to impress. Find it on Amazon.

Wrap dress

Wrap or gathered dresses are fantastic on petite women and are a fantastic choice instead of shirtdresses that can easily swallow you up. A wrap dress ensures that your look is falling just right.

A wrap creates a figure-flattering look for petite women, but since the dress isn’t broken up sharply or severely, it can still create a smooth silhouette.

We love this Lyocell Blend Wrap Midi Dress from & Other Stories. This rich hue is never out of style and is a great addition to your wardrobe if you are on the petite side.

Empire waistline dresses

Empire waist is a terrific design for smaller girls if you want to take your look to the next level. The empire waist is a dress where the waistline is high, and sometimes it is placed just below the bust line.

Because it raises the waistline a few notches up where your waist is, it perfectly creates the illusion of a shorter torso and longer legs. This high waistline followed by the dress’s skirt will create a perfect illusion of length, helping to ‘hide’ your midsection.

We like this PALINDA Women’s Short Sleeve Empire Waist Casual Swing T-Shirt Dress, and it is perfect for any occasion: Dance Party, Wedding, Dating, Dinner, Cocktail Party, Daily Wear. Find it on Amazon.

Belted dress

When talking about the best petite dresses, every petite woman needs a belted dress in their closet. This is because a belt can totally change the perceived proportions of your body.

That is when a belt can come into play. The key is to make sure the belt is positioned high enough to make your torso look shorter, and your legs look longer.

We like this SOLY HUX Women’s Ditsy Floral Print Flounce Sleeve Belted High Waist Elegant Dress. Find it on Amazon.

Maxi dress

Most professionals advise smaller women to go with short skirts because that is the most logical way to make their legs look longer. However, wearing a long dress is another way of effectively extending.

So maxi dresses can definitely flatter petite girls. Because of its continuous color and pattern, a maxi dress can effectively elongate your body frame.
Picking out the best maxi dresses for short women involves choosing the right length, the right fabric, and the right style.

We like this Milumia Women’s Boho Split Tie Waist Vintage Print Maxi Dresses, it has a loose fit but light weight fabric with a belt positioned high enough to flatter your frame. Find it on Amazon.

Vertical details dress

Stripes that travel the length of your dress or other interesting details that run the center of your garment create a taller appearance. Like the V-neck, this draws the viewer’s eye up and down.

Dresses with vertical patterns or vertical designs are tried and true most flattering dresses for short women. If you have a small body frame, going with something subtle is better than something loud and busy.

We like this Romwe Women’s Elegant Striped A-line Shirt Dress with Pockets, from Amazon.

V-neck

V-necklines are naturally flattering to many different body types and petites are also included in this group.

The vertical interest the V-shape creates; draws the eye up and down. It also shows off your neck, giving the illusion of a long, lean neck.

We like this Floerns Women’s Short Sleeve V Neck Twist Front Split Midi Dress, from Amazon.

Dresses to avoid for petite women

Different colors: Petite gals should stay away from dresses with one dramatic color on top and a completely different color on the bottom. Like the wide belt, this tends to cut the body in half. If you are in the petite range, be on the lookout for monochromatic patterns to get the best out of your small frame.

Wide belt: Now, don’t get confused; wide belts can be your friend, but only when their color is in harmony with your dress. Let’s say you are wearing a black dress and want to throw on a wide belt; make sure the belt is also black. A wide white or red belt will split you in half; in other words, you will lose the taller illusion you’re looking for.

Calf length: Pieces that fall in the middle of your lower leg, unfortunately, take away the long look petite women desperately try to convey.

Horizontal stripes: There’s only a select group of women who can pull this look off, and petite women aren’t in it. Small frame girls should avoid any designs with horizontal stripes. These side-to-side lines obviously draw the eye horizontally rather than vertically, which, again, is not a look petite women would want.

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