As a petite, curvy woman, finding the perfect dress can be a struggle. I’m short (5’0) and I have curves that I need to accentuate. Most clothing brands have the idea that dressing a petite figure means downsizing everything. The chest width, sleeves, and seam are shortened. In other words, they construct their petite clothing like they’re manufacturing for the Baby Gap.
But what about the petite women that are bottom heavy or have a larger chest?!
Ladies, after years and years of struggling with dress hunting, I’ve finally figured out what does and does not work for me. Below I’ve assembled a list of tips for finding the perfect dress for the curvy, petite woman:
1. Cinch the waist – Find a dress that hugs your waist to accentuate your waist line. You want to create an hourglass figure. Try a peplum dress that tappers at the waist. You can also create a silhouette by using a waist belt to cinch the waist. This works especially well on patterned dresses.
2. Stick with A-line dresses – A-line dresses are universally flattering and downplays the lower half. Just make sure the top half is cut close to the body.
3. Stay away from “boxy” cuts – Shift dresses, caftans and boxy dresses will only add pounds.
4. Shorter is better – Hiding your legs won’t help others believe you have them. Show them off!
5. Try a monochrome outfit – Sticking to one color from head to toe can create the illusion of a long and sleek silhouette. Want to be more adventurous? Try color blocking with the same color palette. Just make sure the top half is the lighter shade.
6. Bare some skin – A leg slit or shoulder revealing dress is sexy and sensual.
7. Choose the right pair of heels – Pair your dress with heels that will create a leg lengthening effect. To create this effect I lean towards low cut, pointy toe pumps or thin strap stilettos. Stay away from thick strapped heels and heels that hug the calf. It will make your legs short and stubby. Nude heels that matches your skin tone are even better! They’ll never know where your legs end.
8. Fabric can make or break your curves – Jersey fabric and rayon are more favorable for curvy women. Runched/gathered fabric around the hips or waist illuminate curves.
9. Spanx are a girl’s best friend – Let’s face it ladies, we all wish we could have a nip-tuck job done. But for those who are broke like me, Spanx is a cheap (and quick!) fix. Have no shame in your spandex game!
10. Watch the hemline – Avoid dresses that hit the mid-calf. It will shorten your legs. Try an asymmetrical hemline with heels.
Now that I’ve got that out of the way, let’s talk about this dress. ASOS has been to my go-to lately for petite clothing. They have a large selection and I can usually find at least one thing for every occasion. I just recently found out that you sign up for premier delivery. For $18.99, you can get free 2-day shipping for an entire year! Two-day shipping without the membership costs $12.99. If you order from ASOS as often as I do, that’s a big saving!
I came across this dress and fell in love with the print and the deep off-the-shoulder fold. The dress is dark with bright florals. I wanted to pair it with heels that would compliment the floral. What I had in mind was something bright. Good thing I came across these orange pumps at Aldo. And they’re currently 50% off!
I know we all struggle with finding the perfect fit for our unique body type, whether it’s tall, boyish or voluptuous. But once you’ve found your clothing niche, stick with it, live by it, and grueling shopping with be a thing of the past!
– SHOP MY LOOK –
DRESS: ASOS | SHOES: Aldo (similar linked above) | PURSE: Vintage (similar linked above)
Leave a Reply