What Dresses are Flattering on Petite Figures?
What to Wear:This assortment of dresses for petite figures offers styles with features and designs to help balance your proportions and create a shapely silhouette. Fitted cuts, bodycon dresses, wrap dresses, and petite dresses with accents around the waistline tend to be flattering on petite ladies, as they help you appear leaner and taller. Empire-waist dresses and dresses with belted waists also aid with the appearance of added length. As petite body types typically have less canvas to work with, it’s best to stick with simple styles. Simple petite dresses work well because they do not overwhelm your petite stature like loud prints or patterns might. Certain necklines are also great for visually elongating your torso and balancing out your proportions. A deep v-neck dress is flattering on all body shapes, especially petite figures. Slip into a high-neck dress, a vertical-striped dress, or a dress with beading, sequins, or lace accents on the shoulder, as these dresses will draw attention upward, seemingly lengthening the upper body.
What to Avoid:When dressing a petite figure, one of the biggest challenges is knowing your body type and choosing figure-flattering petite dresses. Shapeless dresses, boxy cuts, and shift dresses tend to overwhelm a small frame. Broad necklines like bateau, boat-neck, and wide scoop-neck styles also tend to create a shorter and wider appearance. Fun prints and patterns are great for showcasing your personal style, but can become overwhelming on a smaller frame if they are too loud or busy. It’s also best to steer clear of horizontal stripes if you want to avoid looking too voluminous. Sleeved dresses can also create issues for petite ladies. The sleeves may not hit your arm at the intended length, causing the dress to look loose, baggy or ill-fitting.
