If I could only wear one piece of clothing for the rest of my life, it would be a dress. Since I’m petite and curvy, I struggle to find pants that actually fit me! Therefore, dresses have become my best friend because I can throw one on and instantly feel comfortable. In honor of my favorite piece of clothing, I’m sharing my 10 favorite dress silhouettes for my body type.
1. Fit & Flare Dress – This is my go-to silhouette for dresses dress because it emphasizes my pear shape. As the name suggests, fit & flare dresses have a cinched waistband and flared skirt. These design features highlight the narrowest part of my body (waist) and the curviness of my hips.
Photos by: Mary Wang (1) and Brittany Plummer (2)
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2. High Neckline Dress – I find this silhouette flattering because it highlights the smallness of my upper pear-shaped body relative to my curvy hips. This style of dress is very versatile and great for many occasions.
Photos by: Mary Wang (1), Wesley Wey (2) and Me (3)
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3. Maxi Dress – Just because you’re petite doesn’t mean that you can’t pull off wearing a maxi dress. Thankfully, there are a good number of retailers that offer petite sizes so that you won’t drown in fabric or constantly have the hemline dragging on the floor. I love maxi dresses because I feel like they make me look taller.
Photos by: Mary Wang (1) and Caitee Smith Photography (2)
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4. Bodycon Dress – I’ll admit sometimes I’m intimidated to wear this silhouette because of how much it shows off my curves. However, over time I’ve realized that I shouldn’t be embarrassed of them, but rather should embrace them. Generally, I look for bodycon dresses that fall above my knees so it doesn’t make me look short.
Photos by: Caleb Sherman (1) and Caitee Smith Photography (2)
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5. Shirt Dress – I love shirt dresses because they are comfortable and classic. Since shirt dresses tend to have a looser/boxy silhouette, I generally look for ones with a tie or belt so that they provide some waist definition.
Photos by: Brittany Plummer (1) and Mary Wang (2)
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6. Shift Dress – Normally I stay away from shift dresses because I find them too tight though the hip area. However, this doesn’t stop me from wearing them. I try to find A-line versions of this style since they give my hips enough space to breathe. Shift dresses are a great closet staple – easy to throw on during the summer for brunch or an afternoon in the park.
Photo by: Caitee Smith Photography
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7. Wrap Dress – This is one of my favorite styles because it looks elegant and sophisticated yet is incredibly comfortable. Many wrap style dresses have a tie or sash, which helps to define the waist. As I mentioned above, I prefer silhouettes that highlight my waist because they show off my pear-shape.
Photo by: Mary Wang
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8. Slip Dress – Although I’ve shied away from slip dresses in the past because they lack waist definition, I have learned to love them. The v-shape neckline is a visual element that helps break up the flowy fabric and prevents the dress from overwhelming my short stature. Also this dress has a slight A-line silhouette, which complements my curves. (NOTE: This dress was #gifted to me by Tobi.)
Photo by: Sam Kelly Photography
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9. Mini Dress – Want to know the best part of being short?! Wearing mini dresses so you instantly look taller! You can also try pairing a mini dress with over the knee boots to play up the illusion of height.
Photo by: Mary Wang (2)
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10. Midi Dress – If you’re short like me, you might be thinking this length won’t work for you since it falls at mid-calf. That’s what I thought at first too! Ultimately I think it depends on the style of the dress and the shoes you wear with it. In the first picture, I paired the dress with sneakers because the style lent itself well to a causal shoe and I didn’t think the dress looked like an awkward length. In the second picture, I decided to wear heels with the dress because it seemed fancier with the back detail. So my verdict is – give this length a chance!
Photo by: Melanie McLemore (1) and Brittany Plummer (2)
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