Short legs are no reason to avoid midi dresses. Use this guide to help you wear this classic dress length without looking shorter.
Wearing a midi-length dress when you’re petite plus size can sometimes feel impossible. Or you may have been told before that you cannot wear a midi dress if you are short (which isn’t true), so you’ve never actually tried.
Well, if you’re new here, I never like to tell women what they cannot wear. Instead, MoraRae Studio is all about offering guidance and advice to help petite plus-size babes make the best decisions for their body type.
Ultimately, I always want you to feel like the goddess that you are, no matter your size!
So in this article, I’ll be sharing the best types of midi dresses to wear when you are petite plus size:
- Show Off a Little Leg with a Slit
- Go Iconic with a Wrap Style
- Try an Asymmetrical Hemline
- Look for a Higher Waistline
- Choose Fit and Flare Silhouettes
- Make it an Open Neckline
I’ll also break down what a midi dress is, help you find the perfect length for your next midi dress, give you some style tips to take your midi dress look to the next level, midi dress outfit inspiration, and guide you on where to shop for petite and plus size midi dresses.
This guide is all about finding the right midi dress style for your short and plus-size body type.
DISCLOSURE: MORARAE STUDIO IS FUNDED BY MY READERS, SO THANK YOU! ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN AND EVERYTHING I WRITE IS MEANT TO HELP AND INSPIRE YOU. SOMETIMES I RECOMMEND RESOURCES THAT I THINK WILL BE BENEFICIAL FOR YOU USING AFFILIATE LINKS. IF YOU CLICK ONE AND MAKE A PURCHASE, I MAY RECEIVE A SMALL COMMISSION AT NO EXTRA COST TO YOU.
Midi Dresses for Petite Plus Size
What is a Midi Dress?
A midi-length dress is not quite as long as a full-length dress or as short as a knee-length dress, instead, it falls in the middle of the leg. Hence the term, ‘midi’, which is short for middle.
Midi dresses are popular in the spring months, mostly because they are the perfect length for chilly mornings and sunshine afternoons. I love how they work for any occasion, whether it’s attending a wedding or a Sunday at the farmer’s market.
Can You Wear a Midi Dress if You’re Short?
Yes, you can absolutely wear a midi dress if you are short. Once you know what to look for when shopping for a midi dress, you’ll find it will become one of your new favorite dress styles.
Keep reading to get all of my style secrets to help you fall in love with midi dresses.
Where Should a Midi Dress Fall on Petites?
The most essential part about wearing a midi dress when you are petite is finding one with the right length for you.
My first tip is to avoid choosing a midi dress that stops at the widest part of your calves. When you wear a midi dress this length it will visually cut the length of your legs, making you look shorter.
Instead, choose a midi-length dress that stops just below your knees or just above your ankles. This creates a more balanced proportion overall and won’t leave you looking frumpy or stumpy.
Best Midi Dress Styles for Petite Plus Size
Show Off a Little Leg with a Slit
When you have shorter and larger legs, your first inclination might be to cover them up at all costs. This is because, unfortunately, there’s still a lot of propaganda out there that wants women to feel bad about themselves if they don’t have a thigh gap or pencil-thin legs.
The reality is that most of us, do have larger and shorter legs and that’s nothing to be ashamed of. Instead, you should fully embrace them and show them off, girl! Ok, off my soap box and back to midi dresses.
Since a midi dress will naturally cover the majority of your legs, choosing one with a slit detail will help to show more of your legs which will actually help your overall look to be more balanced. This will also help you to avoid looking like you are drowning in fabric.
You might like: Clothing for Short Curvy Women, The MoraRae Story
Go Iconic with a Wrap Style
If you’ve read my guide to the best dress styles for petite plus size, you already know how good a wrap dress is for a short and curvy body type.
The same reasoning applies to wrap-style midi-length dresses, because of the way the dress wraps around your body and cinches in your waistline with a belt or tie. This is the most important part of a wrap dress, defining your waistline.
A defined natural waistline will highlight the smallest part of your frame which visually creates a more balanced and flattering figure.
Try An Asymmetrical Hemline
Now, if you’re terrified that a midi dress will make you look shorter even after you’ve read through all of my tips here, go with an asymmetrical hemline.
An asymmetric hemline is basically a hi-lo style of dress. So the front of the dress may be shorter than the back. Or the right side will be shorter than the left, and vice versa.
This is an easy way to get a midi look without having to wear a full midi-length hemline.
Related: The Most Flattering Maxi Dress Styles for Short Plus Size Babes (I’m 5’2, size 16)
Look for a Higher Waistline
Give a higher waistline a try. This can be an empire waist that will rest just a few inches below your bust or a dress that stops at your natural waistline.
A lot of women don’t realize that their natural waistline isn’t where your pants sit on you, that is actually somewhere between your hips and natural waist. Whereas your natural waistline is the smallest part of your torso, no matter what your size is.
Choosing a higher waistline dress when wearing a midi style will help you to appear taller by giving the illusion of a longer torso. While if you chose to wear a drop waist dress (think 1920s style) that would make your belly area appear larger and your legs shorter, which is the opposite of what any petite plus-size babe wants!
Related: Find the Perfect Petite Plus Size Mini Dress with These 8 Style Tips
Choose Fit and Flare Silhouettes
The classic fit and flare dress silhouette is perfect for any dress you wear but especially for midi dresses! This is because it cinches you in at your natural waistline, and accentuates your bustline while downsizing the size of your hips and thighs.
Just remember to select the right length for you when you chose this style. If you get a fit and flare midi dress that stops at mid-calf length it can overemphasize your shortness.
You’ve probably noticed that many ‘tea-length’ dresses are fit-and-flare midi dresses. Don’t be afraid of this dress style, it’s such an iconic look that I think truly is flattering on everyone!
Make it an Open Neckline
Last but not least, no matter which style of midi dress you choose, make sure to select one with an open neckline.
If you select a midi dress with a high or closed-off neckline, like a turtle neck or something with a large collar, you will, unfortunately, be adding bulkiness to your overall look. This added bulk at your chest and neck area makes you appear shorter and stockier.
Instead, opt for open-neckline dresses like off-the-shoulder, sweetheart, v-neck, and scoop neck styles.
Related: 7 Great Necklines to Wear if You’re Short and Plus Size (like me)
Midi Dress Style Tips for Petite Plus Size
Now that you know which midi dress styles are the best for your body type, let’s dig into a few style tips that will help you to elevate your next midi dress look!
Define your Waist
Waist definition is crucial when wearing a midi dress as a short and curvy girl! As I noted earlier, fit and flare dress styles will naturally do this for you, but what if you already have a midi dress in your wardrobe that you love but it has no waist definition?
Easy, add a narrow belt to define your natural waist without taking away from the design of the dress. If you’re crafty, you can sew ties to the side seams of your dress to create a back tie situation which will add some waist definition.
Choose Simple, Small-Scale Patterns
When you want to wear a midi dress with a print or pattern, make sure that you don’t select a pattern that will overwhelm or camouflage your overall shape.
This happens when you choose a really busy or very large-scale pattern. Instead, choose midi dresses with simple, smaller-scale patterns to be in better balance with your shorter frame.
Related: These 10 Style Mistakes are Making you Look Shorter (What to Wear Instead)
Wear Lighter Weight Materials
Let’s talk about fabric types now. When you are wearing any style of dress with a petite plus-size frame, you want to opt for lighter-weight materials.
Think of things like organic cotton poplin, Tencel, lighter jersey knits, lace, chiffons, and satins. The reason why lighter materials are best for midi dresses when you are petite is that they won’t add a heavy layer to your body.
When you are short and plus size, sometimes heavier materials like chunky knits, corduroy, or faux fur can be too bulky.
I’m not saying you can never wear heavier fabric styles when it comes to dresses but approach with caution.
Go Monochrome
Another easy way to take your midi dress look to the next level is to pair it with matching accessories and layers of the same or similar color.
This is called column or monochrome dressing and it’s my favorite style tip for petite plus-size babes! The principle is simple, whatever the color of your dress is, wear matching colors to complete your outfit.
This same color scheme from head to toe creates a chic overall vibe while also making you appear taller and leaner– yes, seriously! No lame diets are needed here, babe!
Isn’t style magical?
Add a Pointy-Toe Heel
So, you now have your midi dress picked out, you’ve selected matching accessories but what shoes should you wear to complete your look?
Keep it simple and whichever style of heel (or flat) you select, make sure it has a pointed toe. A pointed-toe shoe will make your foot look longer instead of shorter by visually extending the length of your foot. While a square or rounded tip shoe will visually ‘cut-off’ the look of your foot.
Here are a few more helpful tips for choosing the best shoe to wear with your midi dress:
- Wearing a nude or matching skin tone color will help you to appear taller
- Avoid ankle straps, unless you are wearing a skin tone matching heel
- Avoid a chunky heel or platforms, instead opt for a slimmer style
Related: The Complete Guide to the Best Shoe and Boot Styles for Petite Plus Size
Petite Plus Size Midi Dress Outfit Ideas
Now, let’s apply these rules with my fun petite plus-size paper dolls and build some outfit inspiration for you!
All Black Monochrome Chic
Sweet Little Slit Dress
Romantic Lace Vibe
Two-Tone Sophistication
Where to Buy Petite Plus Size Midi Dresses
These are some of the brands that have midi dress styles similar to what I’ve mentioned in this guide. Many of them offer petite plus sizes or custom sizing:
So, there you have it! You are now equipped with the style tips and insights you need to not only wear a midi dress but to look amazing while doing it!
If you enjoyed this style guide, learned something new, or just want to say ‘Hey girl!’, make sure to drop a comment below.
This is your comprehensive guide to the best midi dress styles for petite plus size.
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