It’s one thing to buy coats and trousers that fit short girls, but it’s quite another to discover the greatest formal dresses for petites. Finding hems that don’t drag, waists that don’t droop, and slits that don’t go too far up a shorter leg is a challenge I am all too familiar with as a 5’1″ shopping editor with a calendar full of celebrations.However, I can confirm that finding elegant dresses that suit small bodies is not impossible—a trip to the tailor is not necessary—even though it might involve some elbow grease and detective work focused on design. Fortunately for you, I’ve done the legwork to identify the top 10 formal dress alternatives for short ladies, so you won’t have to worry about tripping over an unintentional train when you’re dancing at your friend’s forthcoming wedding.
How I Vetted the Best Formal Dresses for Petites
I’m a 5’1″ editor with ten years of experience in the fashion industry. I used to work as a party reporter and went to galas virtually every week, so I know what to look for in formal dresses that fit petite bodies. (Spoiler alert: You shouldn’t buy a dress that falls to the floor on the website’s 6-foot-tall model.)I looked through my closet to find recent purchases and reliable silhouettes before asking my colleagues short-girl editors at PureWow for their own well-worn selections to compile this list of the best ones available. To complete the rest, I browsed my favorite party dress stores (Revolve, Reformation, and Lulus) for designs that either fit the bill in terms of safe lengths and attractive features or are specifically available in petite sizing (always a winner). I also read reviews to make sure that actual petite customers have approved of the designs.
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1. Lulus Notable Elegance Bustier Dress
The item at the top of this list may be my all-time favorite wedding guest outfit purchase. Yes, I do possess this stunning piece, which has a beautiful sweetheart neckline and several three-dimensional floral appliqués that give the impression that it costs much more than it actually does. First of all, it hit at the ankle, so it didn’t need to be hemmed to fit my body. Second, its fit-and-flare silhouette is really attractive, particularly because the bodice extends the length of the skirt (and, consequently, the legs of this shortie) higher up on the torso.
However, I do have two points to make: First of all, the fabric isn’t stretchy, so it might be wise to size bigger if you want to give yourself some genuine wriggle space. Second, I wore a matching lace bandeau bra underneath, which completely blended in, to make the neckline a little more event-appropriate. It’s a little daring on larger busts.
2. Reformation Casette Silk Dress
A Reformation mainstay, this stunning piece is slinky and silky with a stunning crisscross back. Nicole Frazzini, an audience development strategist for PureWow, says it’s perfect for us shorties: “I went straight to Reformation when my best friend let me go shopping for my bridesmaid dress for her wedding. I’m 5’3″, so it was a miracle that this option didn’t require any hemming or tailoring at all, and it fit perfectly around my ankles. (Just so you know, Reformation does provide free hemming.) Even better, Frazzini continues,As I danced the night away, the silky soft fabric somehow managed to hide the stains from my perspiration.” When selecting a bra, you must take into account the fact that it is backless, but you can always wear a pair of Nippies and be done with it.
3. Roksanda Maite Off-the-Shoulder Dress
One 5’2″ Rent the Runway client, who wore it to walk down the aisle, highly recommends this elegant white dress, which is perfect for summer parties (or an engagement party if you’re the small bride-to-be). This was a perfect fit…I’m 5’2″, and the length was just above my ankles. It’s ideal for showing off shoes and is very petite-friendly. It will hit a tiny lady’s leg lower, but not so much that it drags on the floor, because it is more of a midi (at least for taller girls).Additionally, the vertical visual interest created by the drape detail down the back and across the shoulder can make shorties appear taller. (PSS: This beauty is incredibly affordable to rent when compared to its retail price!)
4. Lulus Decadent Impression Tiered Dress
Destinee Scott, a 4’9″ Associate Sales and Deals Editor, loves this fluttery dress with several layers of tulle. With its delicate metallic dot print and low V-neck and back, this midi dress is another one that looks great on shorter people. It’s a great option for those of us who want to make our necks and, consequently, our proportions, appear longer. She exclaims, “I feel like a princess whenever I wear it,” and adds, “If you get the right size, you don’t have to worry about a nip slip because the fabric has a little stretch.”
5. Abercrombie & Fitch Julia Slip Halter Dress
You might be shocked to hear that Abercrombie & Fitch carries a number of formal options, including this halter slip dress, which is why it’s one of my favorite stores for dresses in the small length. This stylish dress, which fits slim in a column of gorgeous high-shine satin, shouts “90s supermodel” and will make you appear taller than you actually are. You can also get the perfect fit for your bust thanks to the adjustable tie-neck, which one customer supported in their review: “This dress is stunning.” This summer, I’ll be wearing it to a wedding. It looks fantastic on me, who has a smaller chest, but I believe it would fit anybody with a range of [chest sizes].
6. Betsy & Adam Ruffle Halter Gown
This dress will make you look like the “dancing lady” emoji in real life, if you’ve ever wanted to. With a smooth and streamlined silhouette that extends to those flamenco ruffles, it’s the ideal choice for highlighting your contours and lengthening your figure. Additionally, customers report that the petite sizes of this dress, which are available by scrolling down the dropdown menu, offer a wonderful fit, so don’t be afraid of the length. Simply take this reviewer’s word for it:This is one of those gowns that looks as stunning on you as it does in the photo. At 5’4″, I ordered a 12P. You get that hourglass figure since it fits perfectly in all the appropriate areas (I have a belly). Additionally, because I am petite, I can wear heels that are two to three inches high, which won’t drag while I dance all night. So stylish but enjoyable!
7. Norma Kamali Tara Side Drape Gown
There’s little doubt that wearing this off-the-shoulder LBD will make you feel fantastic. Because of its renownedly flattering ruching and built-in shaping bodysuits, Norma Kamali’s stretchy dresses are famed for enhancing bodies of all shapes and sizes. Numerous criteria for petite fashion are met by this specific look. It will lengthen the leg but not be overly lengthy on short frames because of its midi length and jagged asymmetrical hem.Second, it draws the eye upward to create the illusion of height with its off-the-shoulder neckline that finishes in a sharp V. “Hugs in all the right places and is quite flattering,” comments this 5’2″ buyer. I got a ton of compliments when I wore it to a black tie wedding. Without a doubt, the outfit is gorgeous.
8. TFNC Kimono Top Dress
Kimono silhouettes like this one, with their billowing sleeves and elevated waist that falls just below the bust, have an Old Hollywood feel to them. The shape makes me feel regal and glitzy, and I have a similar style. In addition to having the V-neck cut that shorties love, this satin design is sized especially for petites, so you shouldn’t have any problems with the hem or the back slit that appears to fall exactly at the 5’3″ model’s knee.
9. Adrianna Papell A-Line Dress
Speaking of Old Hollywood, the late, great Elizabeth Taylor, who was 5’2″, was frequently seen in pictures wearing tea-length, A-line dresses that accentuated her height and shape. This vintage-inspired dress, which stretches out at the waist (thanks to tulle and pleating) and hugs in at the torso, allows you to appreciate her style. Because loose, shapeless fashions may quickly overpower our shapes, petites need tailored rigidity up top, which is provided by the bodice’s darting. Although this dress isn’t expressly available in small lengths, several customers who are shorter than 5’4″ rave about the fit, proving that it falls at a tea length that is still quite stylish.
10. Elliatt Cassini Dress
Feeling like a Greek goddess doesn’t require height, especially if you put on this gilded masterpiece. The form-fitting silhouette is made more forgiving by the gathered draping, and the one-shoulder neckline still permits some décolletage to show through. What about the side slit and tulip hem, which provide a leg lengthening peek? According to the petites who have bought it, it fits shorter figures perfectly. I weigh 115 pounds and am 5’3″, so the XS fits me great. One reviewer praised the quality of the “thick” cloth and wrote, “I agree with another reviewer that you can get away with not altering if you’re on the shorter side.”
