Finding the perfect dress for your petite plus shape shouldn’t feel like a chore. These are the best dresses for you from a fellow petite plus babe.
Whether you’re looking for a chic dress for date night or an easy breezy sundress for brunch with the girls, it can sometimes be hard to find one that fits your petite plus size just right.
I’m 5’2 and a size 16 and it took me years to feel comfortable enough with my body to truly embrace dresses. In my younger years, I wore mostly pants with a dress here or there. The fit was never right for me when it came to dresses and not to mention the pain from too much thigh friction!
Now, I’m obsessed with a great dress look. Dresses are so much fun to style and can really accentuate any body type in all the right places.
In this article I’m going to break down the Best Dress Styles for Petite Plus Size:
- Low or Open Neckline Styles
- Empire Waist
- Fit and Flare Silhouette
- Peplum Styles
- Classic Wrap Dress
- Shifts with a Waist Cinch
I’ll also talk about the best dress lengths for petite plus size, the best color and pattern styles for dresses, and how to make any dress work for your body.
This article is dedicated to the best dresses for petite plus size.
Best Dress Styles for Petite Plus Babes
1. Select a Low or Open Neckline
Let’s jump in with the best neckline for petite plus dresses! When you are petite and plus-size, your neck can sometimes be easily hidden by clothes and accessories.
When your neck is hidden, it further exaggerates the overall shortness of your frame and gives off a frumpy vibe. Which typically isn’t what we want.
The simplest way to fix this is to open up the area around your face, as much as possible. Choosing the right neckline can give the illusion of an elongated neck and will also direct the eye up to your gorgeous face!
V-Neckline
A v-neckline is perfect for this style hack. The shape of the v draws an imaginary line downward while also creating an opening directing the eye right up to your face.
V necks can be plunging if you have a smaller bust and are going for a dramatic effect. Or they may be more modest, offering just a hint of cleavage. Either way, it’s one of the best necklines for petite plus-size dresses.
Sweetheart Neckline
Next on the list is the classic sweetheart neckline. This is a great option for a more romantic look. Making it ideal for formal occasions like attending a wedding or an anniversary date night.
The sweetheart neckline works similarly to the v-neck, in that it has a v-shaped point to draw the eye up and down. Visually elongating your frame while highlighting your neck and face.
The main difference is the emphasis that this style puts on the bustline. So keep that in mind if you’re more modest, the necklines I’m going to discuss next might be more to your taste.
Off the Shoulder Neckline
When you have a shorter frame, it’s always a good idea to highlight the smallest features of your shape. Think about your neck, shoulders, wrists, and natural waist.
An off-the-shoulder style dress will bring attention to your neck, shoulders, and overall chest. This neckline style gives a sexy look without showing off too much skin.
It’s also the most open of the neckline styles being discussed today. Which makes it the optimal go-to style when choosing dresses for your petite frame.
Bateau Neckline
Like the off the shoulder style addressed above, the bateau or sometimes called, boat neckline, will show off a hint of shoulder. While also featuring your collarbone and neck.
This is the more conservative and traditional neckline of the styles on this list. Making it appropriate for a wide range of settings, style preferences, and occasions.
Related: The 5 Best Top Styles for Petite Plus Size
2. Don’t be Afraid of an Empire Waist
I think a lot of plus-size women have a fear of empire waistlines because of the preggo belly effect they can sometimes give off. This is a justified fear but there are ways to pull off an empire-style dress without looking like you’re six months pregnant.
A true empire-style dress will cinch you just below your bustline by maybe an inch or two. It will not highlight your natural waistline but rather will accentuate your bust.
Empire styles are great for petite plus-size shapes because they have a naturally elongating effect. By cinching you under the bustline, it’s utilizing the rule of thirds giving a flattering body proportion. With your bust line and above being one-third of your outfit and everything below being two-thirds of your outfit.
Related: Find the Perfect Petite Plus Size Mini Dress with These 8 Style Tips
Now, to avoid that pregnant belly look, do not choose empire styles that are form-fitting and/or too short. You want an empire style that has a drapey flow for the skirt portion of the dress and a hemline that hits a few inches above your knee or longer.
When you combine a form-fitting style with an empire waist and super short skirt, and you have a larger stomach area, this will exaggerate both the size of your chest and belly. Making you appear both pregnant and shorter.
As long as you steer clear of these empire waist no-nos, you’ll be golden. Babydoll-style empire dresses are fun and flirty, try giving one a spin for your next night out with the girls!
You might also like: Self-Love Meaning & Why You Need to Love Yourself First
3. Love a Fit and Flare Silhouette
Unlike empire waist dresses, fit and flare silhouettes are pretty much always a good idea when you are petite plus size.
A great fit and flare dress will accentuate your natural waist by having a more fitted top bodice and a full “flared” skirt. This proportion is the most tried and true style, in my opinion, because it looks good on just about every shape and size.
The best fit and flare dress for petite plus size will incorporate an open neckline and the perfect hemline. Don’t go for a maxi length when choosing a fit and flare style.
A long and full skirt can ultimately make you look shorter, especially if the skirt hides your feet and sweeps the floor. A-line hems that hit just at your knee level, as well as mini and midi lengths, are your best options for this silhouette.
Related: The Most Flattering Maxi Dress Styles for Short Plus Size Babes (I’m 5’2, size 16)
4. Give Peplum Styles a Try
A peplum-style dress has an added “mini skirt” or flounce at the waist seam. Peplums can be added to fit and flare silhouettes and form-fitting styles. Stay away from any peplums on an empire dress–I’ve never seen one but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist.
A peplum is a nice way to camouflage a larger tummy area, without adding more bulk to your body. It can also enhance the romantic factor in a fit and flare style. Or be a flirty touch to a more professional a-line or form-fitting dress.
There are a variety of peplum-style dresses so don’t be afraid to give them a try. You might be shocked at how flattering they are for you.
Check out this post on the 10 Style Mistakes that are Making You Look Shorter
5. You Need a Classic Wrap Dress
When Diane von Furstenburg (one of my idols!) created the now, iconic wrap dress, she must have been touched by an angel girl. This style of dress, much like the fit and flare silhouette, is so flattering on every shape.
Especially for petite and plus-size frames. The wrap dress has that aforementioned open, v-neckline. While also allowing the wearer to cinch their natural waist perfectly because of the ties and sometimes buttons included in the design of this type of dress.
When choosing the best wrap dress for your petite plus shape, there really aren’t too many things to consider. Just keep in mind the overall length of the style, you don’t want to go too short or too long.
Try a monochromatic, two-tone look or a simple all-over pattern for your next wrap dress.
6. Shift Dresses Can Work When you Define your Waist
Last but surely not least, is the simple shift dress. This dress style is the most forgiving of all the petite-plus dress styles on this list.
This is because, shift dresses, typically do not have a defined waist or bust line. There is no cinching that usually happens with this dress style.
Because of this, I would recommend that you choose a shift dress that has a slight cinch detail built into the back of the dress. This can usually be found on dresses on the back with an encased elastic waist or two ties for you to adjust the fit to your frame.
Another way to add just a little definition to your waistline while wearing a shift dress is to add a narrow-width belt. The reason you want to highlight your natural waist is this will stop the shapeless nature of a shift dress from making you look larger and shorter.
Best Dress Lengths for Petite Plus Size
Now that you know all about the best dresses for your petite plus shape, let’s talk about choosing the right hemline.
A-Line Dress Length
A hemline that fall’s right at the knee level for you will be optimal for all of the styles on this list. This length is especially perfect when paired with a fuller skirt, as it gives a nice overall balance to your look.
Maxi Dress Length
An ankle-length dress is the best maxi length when you are petite. When a dress stops just at your ankles, it helps to lengthen your body. Try a drapey maxi dress with an empire waistline and a slit to show off your stems.
Mini Dress Length
When it comes to a mini dress, 2-3 inches above the knee is optimal. For some dresses, you can go a little bit shorter but definitely not when we’re talking about fit and flare or empire waist dresses.
Midi Dress Length
If you’re going midi, choose a fit and flare silhouette. This way your natural waist is accentuated. A good midi-length dress for petites is one that falls 1-2 inches below your knee or 2-3 inches above your ankle.
You just want to make sure that it does not hit you in the middle of your calves, this will shorten the overall look of your legs.
Related: The Short and Curvy Babes Guide to Midi Dresses
Best Color and Patterns for Petite Plus Dresses
When it comes to colors and patterns for dresses, there are a few tips I can share to help you elevate your petite plus look.
Keep it simple with a monochromatic or tonal color scheme. A monochromatic color scheme is when you select one color and you wear clothes in that color or shades of that one color for your full outfit.
When you do this, especially when wearing a dress, the head-to-toe color scheme, makes you appear taller.
If you’re going for a print or pattern, choose a smaller scale. A smaller scale pattern is best when you are petite because a larger all-over pattern can actually hide your shape.
This in turn will only make you look shorter and when plus size as well, larger. When selecting a dress with a striped pattern, vertical is always best.
How to Make Any Dress Style Work for Your Petite Plus Size Shape
So, now you might be thinking, “oh no I don’t have any of these dresses in my current wardrobe, now I need to throw out everything and start from scratch!”
No, no young grasshopper, throwing out what you already own is never the answer. Sustainability anyone? Instead, let me give you a few easy style hacks to make any dress work for your body.
Add a Belt
The quickest way to make any dress work for your body is to add a belt. When you are petite and plus size, adding a narrow-width belt will cinch your natural waistline and create a figure-flattering silhouette, with almost any dress. The only style you’d want to avoid this one with is a form-fitting or empire waist dress.
Choose a Pointy Toe Heel
You can easily elevate a dress with the right pair of shoes. If you have a dress in your closet that is shortening your legs by hitting you right in the middle of your calves, try adding a pointy toe heel to finish the outfit. The pointed tip of the heels will elongate the look of your foot, which also helps to visually lengthen the look of your legs.
Wear What Makes you Happy
Lastly, you can rock any dress style you like, if it makes you happy. When you wear something that gives you a confidence boost, all rules go out the window. Harnessing your personal style is all about confidence, trying new things, and wearing clothes that embrace your body and personality.
So if it makes you happy, girl wear the damn thing.
Remember: Flatter your Figure, Don’t Hide it
Before I go, I want to remind you that finding your perfect dress silhouette can truly help you to love your body. As I said in the beginning, I used to hate dresses because they never fit right.
Here’s the truth that I wish someone would have told me when I was sixteen years old: You are not the problem, your clothes are. When clothes have been historically designed and made to fit only one certain type of body, there’s no wonder why the rest of us (albeit the majority of us) are left feeling like there’s something wrong with us.
But there isn’t. Your body is beautiful, exactly as it is. Right now, in this moment. When you start to wear clothes and utilize style tips and tricks to enhance your shape, it’s so much easier to celebrate your size, no matter the number.
At the end of the day, style and fashion are not only for a certain body type or size. Style is personal and it is one of the best ways to express yourself. So, keep coming back to MoraRae Studio for more petite plus-size style hacks and inspiration.
This is your guide to finding the best dress styles to fit your petite plus-size shape.
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