• Home
    • Start Here
  • Shop my top picks
  • Styling Tips
  • Body Types
    • Hourglass Figure
    • Pear Shape
    • Apple Body Type
    • Rectangle Body Type
    • Inverted Triangle Body Type
    • Must Know
  • Youtube
  • Outfits
  • Style over 40
  • About
    • Contact Us

Petite Dressing

Dress for your Body Type and Height

Last Updated on January 25, 2023 By Valery

The Cocktail Dress Guide for Short and Curvy women

15 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

The first step to building an amazing wardrobe is to know your body type, so you can pick the shapes and styles that work best for your unique shape. Cocktail dresses can look good on short and curvy women if you know what to go for.

The Cocktail Dress Guide for Short and Curvy women

So, keep reading to find out the top ten styles of cocktail dresses that are figure-hugging in an elegant way and even double-up as an amazing way to hide your tummy bulge. You’ll definitely find something on this list that works perfectly for you.

Table of Contents

  • Fit & flare little black dress
  • Sweetheart neckline dress
  • A-line floor-length dress
  • Dresses with side slits
  • Ruched midsection dress
  • Dresses with three-quarter sleeves
  • Cap-sleeve dress
  • V-neck sheath dress
  • Sequined black lace dress
  • Asymmetric hem dress

Fit & flare little black dress

Everyone needs a little black dress in their wardrobe, and it’s a double win if it’s a fit and flares little black dress that’s absolutely perfect for short and curvy women. The beautiful thing about fit and flare dresses is that they mimic that curvy hourglass shape, even with women that have different body types.

So, if you already have this body type, this style of cocktail dress will mold perfectly on it, with a cinched waist that emphasizes the curves while the flared skirt drapes over your curvy lower body.

Another amazing fact about fit and flare dresses is that you can wear this too if your hips and thighs are wider. Instead of drawing so much attention to that part of your body, as skin-tight dresses would, this cocktail dress will flow smoothly to make your voluminous lower body look more like it’s a part of the dress.

Fit & flare little black dress

So, it’s really a big deal to have a fit-and-flare little black dress that accentuates your small natural waist, making your curves stand out as elegantly as possible. 

Sweetheart neckline dress

We won’t hold it against you if the first thing you think of when you hear about sweetheart neckline dresses is a bride walking down the aisle. While the wedding industry may have taken over this timeless piece as the go-to wedding gown neckline, the good news is that it’s not limited to flowing white dresses.

For short and curvy women, sweetheart neckline dresses are extremely flattering for your body type. Whether you’re going sleeveless, or strapless or choose to wear them with transparent sleeves, this is the cocktail dress to wear to enhance your natural curve seamlessly.

So, if you want to wear a cocktail dress with a feminine look that flatters your body shape, this is definitely worth considering. Apart from the romantic feel, a sweetheart neckline adds to any dress, this neckline flows naturally with the shape of your body.

Usually, the neckline has a slight dip which is figure flattering and gives that slimming illusion. So, you don’t have to jump through hoops to look slimmer in a cocktail dress for a fashionable night out.

Sweetheart neckline dress-1

A-line floor-length dress

A-line floor-length dresses are incredibly versatile, and this is a fun way to ramp up the wardrobe of short and curvy women. So, you shouldn’t run out of things to wear to the office when you have an a-line dress that flares at the hips with results that make you look super stylish.

However, we’ll definitely recommend putting on an a-line floor-length dress to a dinner where you want to stand out as the princess in the room. This princess-cut flare is great for evenings, while you can easily switch it up on weekends to look chic and sophisticated.

If you choose a more structured fabric for your a-line floor-length dress, this works great for softening the curves of your wide hips. The trick is to go for styles that cinch near the waist and then flow out below. 

There’s an even better way to get the most out of this cocktail dress. You can emphasize the stylish curve of the dress by putting on the right shapewear inside. This works wonders for any cocktail dress.

A-line floor-length dress-1

Dresses with side slits

Pull off a fun yet flirty look with cocktail dresses that have side slits. Not only are slits great for adding some more detail to your outfit, but you can also play around with them until you have a style that fits your preferences.

For short and curvy women, side slits on an a-line dress or even your little black dress give the illusion of longer legs. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that you have an excuse to show off some skin without being too revealing. 

There are different styles of slits, but your choice depends on the results you want. Since you want to appear slimmer while also giving the illusion of longer legs, side slits are a perfect choice. 

One slit works perfectly on short dresses, whether it has a flare or not. Usually, it’s more common to see side slits on dresses that flare out at the bottom, but it works on straight dresses too. 

Dresses with side slits-1

So, make your cocktail dresses more glamorous and be the brightest woman in the room when you wear a dress with side slits. 

Ruched midsection dress

How would you like to put on a dress that accentuates the narrowest part of your waist while still slimming down your figure? Well, you don’t have to look too far for a cocktail dress that does this easily.

The ruched midsection dress is a simple yet stylish cocktail dress that gently skims over your midsection, making it one of the best ways to hide a muffin top. The ruched middle gives the illusion of a flatter belly.

It works even better on a cocktail dress with a v-neckline as it elongates your silhouette, taking attention more towards your curves where the dress glides over. You can have this on a dress with shorter sleeves, which is great for warmer weather. 

So, as it gets colder, all you need is a chunky cardigan or blazer on this fit to get cozy. All you need are a pair of block heels to complete this ensemble.

Ruched midsection dress-1

Dresses with three-quarter sleeves

If you don’t mind showing a little skin on your arm, feel free to rock dresses with three-quarter sleeves to the office. This is great for covering up flabby upper arms that you’re not so comfortable about revealing.

However, that’s not the only advantage of dresses with three-quarter sleeves. When worn on an A-line dress or a fit-and-flare little black dress, it works together with the cocktail dress style to make you look slimmer.

If you’re having this custom-made, we suggest including lace detail on the bust, as this will draw more attention to your upper body, while the dress cinched at your waist makes it look narrower.

Dresses with three-quarter sleeves-1

Cap-sleeve dress

Cap-sleeve dresses are one of the most versatile and flattering dress styles for short and curvy women. Since most cap-sleeve dresses are about 3 inches long from the shoulder to below the armpit, this gives your body a fitted silhouette. 

Your cap-sleeve dress can be a full evening gown or a shorter dress, but the appeal of this style is how it gives off a modern feel without exposing too much skin. Take this up a notch by choosing a cap sleeve dress in solid red colors.

It’s great for standing out at formal events or in the office environment. Where everyone else sticks with the formal black wear, bring a little more color with a red cap-sleeve dress.

Cap-sleeve dress-1

V-neck sheath dress

The combination of a v-neckline on a sheath dress gives a sexy and flattering result for short and curvy women. The v-neckline gives the impression of an elongated and slimmer body while still being comfortable enough without revealing so much skin.

The v-neckline draws more attention to the chest region, while a fitting sheath dress emphasizes the curves of your body. Be sure to go for a dress that’s not too tight. A v-neck sheath dress is great for putting more attention on the waist area while hiding any tummy bulges you may have.

Finish up this look with a pair of black heels or even sandals if you want to make this more casual. 

V-neck sheath dress-1

Sequined black lace dress

Just like we mentioned earlier, black is one of the best colors in the world of cocktail dresses. So, make your body frame look slimmer with an off-the-shoulder sequined black lace dress. 

This will draw more attention to your shoulders, while the sequins on your dress give it a timeless feel. No doubt about it, you’ll look elegant.

Sequined black lace dress-1

Asymmetric hem dress

The beauty of the asymmetric hem dress is that instead of drawing attention to your hips, there’s more focus on the legs. If your hem dress also has a slit on the sleeves, this can serve as another worthy distraction.

Even better, an asymmetric hem dress rests solidly on your midsection, which is not too tight on the body. You’ll be comfortable.

Cocktail dresses are a must in every woman’s wardrobe. With this incredible selection of styles, you have several choices of cocktail dresses that look good on short and curvy women. 

Asymmetric hem dress-1
Hello there! My name is Chi Li, 5'2", founder of PETITE DRESSING, the clothing line for women 5'4" & under. Are you petite and have you been frustrated with what to wear?
This is an issue few truly understand and even fewer brands truly address.
Being petite myself, I have been writing about fashion for short women since 2016 and my brand petitedressing.com has touched the lives of millions.
My styling concepts for petite women not only focus on the perfect fit but also on flattering & elongating the petite frame for a lean silhouette, optimizing the proportions.
Shop my clothing line here.

You’ll Also Love

what is petiteWhat is Petite?
what skirts look good on women over 50The Complete Skirt Guide For Women Over 50
what shoes are best for short and curvy womenThe Complete Shoe Guide for Short and Curvy Women
Next Post >

The Complete Shorts Guide for Short and Curvy women

the petite style bible

Trending Now

  • best dress for short women I’m 5’2″, these are the 8 Best Dresses for Short Women
  • short girl 10 Fashion Mistakes Every Short Girl Should Avoid
  • best jeans for petite women I’m 5’2″, these are the 11 Best Jeans for Short Women
  • clothing to hide belly How to Hide your Belly: 21 Must Know Clothing Hacks

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Never miss a beat! Be the first to know about our weekly styling tips for petites!

Must Know

  • Petite Women’s Clothing Styling Tips
  • How to Dress for Your Body Type
  • Best Places to Shop
  • Petite Resources
  • Shoes for Small Feet
  • Petite Celebrities
  • Web Stories

SHOP

  • Best Petite Dresses
  • Petite Jumpsuits
  • Petite Jeans
  • Petite Pants
  • Petite Tops
  • Petite Coats & Jackets

Legal

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Affiliate Disclaimer

Copyright © 2023 Petite Dressing · Theme by 17th Avenue

15 shares