The Ultimate Guide to the Best Dresses for Petites

All girls would agree that finding the perfect dress is not an easy task because you have to mind the fit, length, color, and design, among other things. There are a ton of factors to consider in finding the best dress for your figure, and the job is only harder for petite girls. 

If you are petite, you are probably all too familiar with the feeling of finding beautiful dresses that end up being too long. So we have to take that extra trip to the alteration shop to have it shortened. But even so, you can’t seem to find a dress that fits your figure perfectly.

Petite girls have a very beautiful and unique body structure, which can be highlighted with the right dresses. It’s true that shorter girls are underserved when it comes to fashion and clothing, but brands are beginning to recognize the need to create designs and sizes to suit petites. 

To help you find the right dress, we’ve compiled the best dresses for petite girls in 2021. With this guide, you can save yourself the trouble of finding flattering and stylish dresses that are also the perfect fit.

Sheath Dresses

Sheath dresses are the most ideal, and the perfect dress type for petite women. Their fitted, straight and tight silhouette removes the unwanted bulk and focuses on highlighting the shape of your body. It perfectly adheres to fashion’s “rule of thirds,” which requires that the division of spaces is 1/3 at the top and 2/3 at the bottom. Sheath dresses can achieve this, making it the most aesthetically pleasing attire for petites. Not only does it create the perfect proportion, but it can also make you look as if you are taller and leaner.

What to avoid:

Form-fitting clothes are the best choice for a petite girl. At all costs, avoid bulky, loose, and puffy clothes as these will only make you look smaller and shorter because they tend to hide and overpower your natural structure.

Belted Dresses

All of us have different vertical body types. Some women have longer torsos, while others have longer legs. Petites tend to have a longer torso ratio, but you can improve this proportion with what you wear. Belted dresses are the key to changing how your vertical body ratio looks. Putting on a belt high enough to make your legs look longer than your torso will go a long way in making you look taller than you really are. Manipulate your perceived height and dress to impress with these belted dresses.

What to avoid:

If you are going to use belted dresses, make sure that the belt is high above your waist. Avoid putting the belt directly on the waist because then it won’t be able to do the magic of shortening your torso. And much so should you avoid wearing the belt below the waist. This will make you look even shorter because it’s going to elongate your torso instead of your legs, putting your figure severely out of proportion.

Wrap Dresses

Wrap dresses are definitely a trend. Every woman, both tall and short, would look great wearing one, but it looks especially flattering for petite women. Wrap dresses help define your waist and showcase your body’s curves. It hugs your body and decreases unwanted bulks, thereby elongating your figure. 

Wrap dresses are a universal favorite because they can highlight your body’s best features and are appropriate for any occasion! You can wear wrap dresses in a formal event, a date, or even as office attire. Every woman, whether below or above 5 feet should definitely have a few wrap dresses in their closet.

What to avoid:

Some wrap dresses do not effectively hug your body and showcase your form and features. There are those that are too loose at the top and slim at the bottom, which are the types you should avoid wearing. They can make you look stout and shorter than you really are, so you should always choose form-fitting wrap dresses.

Vertical-Patterned Dresses

Stripes are definitely one of the most common prints used for clothes. They can be vertical or horizontal — and each of these has a specific effect on how you look. Horizontal stripes tend to stretch the body horizontally, which makes the wearer look a little stout. For the girls who are less than five feet in height, it’s ideal to avoid horizontal prints at all costs. The best choice is to opt for vertical stripes instead. These are perfect for petite women as they create length, and the pattern gives the illusion of being taller.

What to avoid:

Because you want to highlight your figure, you’ll want to stray away from clothing with loud and complicated patterns. With too much going on in terms of structure and print, it will look too overwhelming and fail to do its job at highlighting your body. Keep it simple so that all the attention is in your physique. And make sure the patterns bring the eye down when you’re looking at it. This will help elongate the body and make you appear several inches taller.

Slit Dresses

If you are looking to be a little more daring, slit dresses are a perfect choice. For the petite girls out there, you should know that dresses with too much fabric can make you look too covered and swamped with clothes and layers. But dresses with a side slit can do the trick, showing off a part of your legs and making you look taller.

And slit dresses make it possible for the petites to wear maxi and midi dresses. It’s true that these types of dresses are not very flattering for a shorter woman, but you can definitely make it work as long as you choose the right style. When you wear maxi or midi dresses, opt for those that have slits so you can showcase a little more skin. 

What to avoid:

Wearing slit dresses is tricky — both style and comfort-wise. There are those with slits at the back, and the others in front. The position of the slit will help create a continuous vertical line that will do a lot in making you look taller. For petites, it would be best to have the slit at the side. 

Shirt Dresses

For something a little more casual, go for something that doesn’t look put together (but really is). And the best outfit for that is shirt dresses. Shirt dresses are quite common nowadays, and they’ve become a fashion staple. It’s not necessarily very formal, but it definitely pulls off the casual and laid-back vibe. 

One perk of being petite is actually being able to look great in shirt dresses without looking like you are coming undone. Plus, you don’t have to put much thought into it. You just need to throw it on, match it sneakers or a pair of sandals, and you’re good to go! You definitely need to add these to your closet.

What to avoid:

Be careful about wearing t-shirt dresses that are too baggy or huge. If you do, make sure they fall above the knee so that it doesn’t look as if the shirt overpowers your frame.

Empire Waistline Dresses

Empire Waistline dresses are tight-fitted in the upper body and flowy at the bottom. The waistline falls just below the bust line, helping the lower body look longer than it is and maximizes the proportion of the legs. With this, you are adhering to the rule of thirds, with 1/3 of your upper body covered with a slim-fit dress, and 2/3 showcasing your legs.

We really can’t stress enough how amazing empire waistline dresses look on short women. It’s the perfect outfit for the “sexy but sweet” style factor. Go for a simple and solid color — you should never say no to classic little black dresses. 

What to avoid:

There are empire waistline dresses that have long, flowy skirts that touch the ground. These, you can wear for formal, long gown events. But you have to make sure they’re the right length. If there’s too much fabric on the floor, it’s going to look too long for you and will emphasize your actual height. 

V-Neck Dresses

As a woman with a petite frame, remember that verticals are your best friends. As much as possible, you should be creating verticals with what you wear. This helps give the illusion of length, so the more verticals you make with your clothes, the taller you look. 

V-Neck dresses always do the trick since they open up the neckline and show more skin, adding more length to your upper body. If you want to maximize your perceived height, choose V-neck dresses that fall 3-4 inches above the knees. 

What to avoid:

Always consider the length of your dress when wearing a V-neck. A bigger opening will go well with long, flowy dresses. But it’s going to be too revealing when paired with a short dress that’s above knee length.

Monochromatic Dresses

Monochromatic clothes will make the clothing transition from your upper body to your lower body seamless. It noticeably lengthens the silhouette and goes great lengths in adding a few more inches to your perceived height. Opt for a monochromatic or single-colored dress. Pair it with shoes of the same color to create more emphasis on elongating your legs.

What to avoid:

If you want your clothing to make you look taller, you should stay away from bold, contrasting colors. It might be tempting to wear that bright neon orange top and match it with a black skirt. But pairing two very contrasting shades will separate your figure in half and create a horizontal boundary line across your body, which will emphasize your lack of height.

Button-Down Dresses

Button-down dresses are highly versatile attires. They’re perfect if you’re after a conservative, covered-up look, but can also be styled to look laid-back and playful. If you’re going for a more daring, sexy look, you can just undo a few buttons and you’ve got yourself a lower neckline or slit! 

Buttons on a dress also create a vertical line. And at this point in the article, you know that vertical lines are the secret to an elongated and taller figure. That means you can pull off a buttoned maxi dress or midi dress! Button-down dresses are proof that anyone can wear maxi or midi dresses, regardless of their height. 

What to avoid:

Most types of button-down dresses are not very form-fitting because they’re usually straight and the fit is a little loose. This is where finding the right size becomes crucial. It has to be of the perfect fit to become flattering on the body.

Laced Dresses

If you want to wear a midi dress, you can. Don’t even worry about your height, as long as you make sure to choose the right style. For long dresses, it would be ideal to go for lace. Of the several different kinds of fabric, lace is one of the few that does not cover and hide your features. Its thin and airy characteristics still allow your legs to be visible despite its length. 

Lace dresses are the best combination of simplicity and beauty. Its intricate and elegant designs add a little more spice to your dress without it being too loud and complicated. This is ideal to help highlight your physique while still showing off a little skin to make you look taller. Plus, you can wear a lace dress for any occasion, whether it be a formal or casual event.

What to avoid:

Avoid lace dresses with a lot of layers and fabric. When you choose to wear lace, stay simple and opt for a plain dress that doesn’t have any big structures and unnecessary ruffles. 

The Golden Rules

From this collection of dresses, you’ll notice a pattern that will tell you what petite women should wear. The golden rules in choosing a dress that would look great on petites are simple. Number one, choose vertical. Second, follow the rule of thirds and elongate your legs instead of your torso. Third, you can never go wrong with form-fitting clothing. And last but not the least, simplicity is beauty. Remember these rules the next time you go shopping for dresses to wear on any occasion.

Chrizelle Diaz

Chrizelle is a graduate of Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Communication from De La Salle University. She recently dropped out of law school to pursue her passion for writing. Now, she is a full-time writer hoping to inspire and change lives through her thoughts and her words.

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