As someone who is 5’2″, I know from first hand it is not easy for short girls like us to find flattering dresses, and that is why I have a petite clothing line for women 5’4″ and under.
If your legs are not only short but also thicker, you have to be extra mindful of the dress styles, because, not all of them will look equally good on you!
Worry no more because, having worked with thousands of petite customers, I can share with you a few simple tips and tricks so that you can easily find the perfect dress that will flatter your body type and make you feel confident and beautiful.
The key is to look for dresses that visually heighten your legs and bring balance to your body frame. By considering the length, style, and fit of the dress, you can ensure that you’ll be able to choose which one complements your figure in the best way possible.
Are you now wondering which factors should you exactly consider? Then let us help you out by sharing these guidelines.
Table of Contents
Styling Goal
- The proper length will help create a more balanced look for you overall by elongating and slimming down your legs. Basically, all you really need to avoid are very long dresses such as the ones that come in floor-length as these can absolutely drown your figure.
- Choose either structured or flowy fabrics as they go with short and thick legs in a flattering way. They play a significant role in balancing proportions by giving a comfortable and bespoke-like fit.
- Take the shape of the neckline into consideration by going for open ones. Necklines such as V-neck, square, sweetheart, and scoop open up space on the upper half of your body to make you look like you have a taller frame.
So with these three key styling goals, we can now talk about the specifics of the dress styles that should look flattering on your short and thick legs.
A-Line Dresses in Structured Fabric
Of course, A-Line dresses will always be a great option if you have short and thick legs because they feature a fit and flare design that effectively creates a more defined and elongated frame. To add to that, A-Line dresses made from structured fabrics will make your entire look more put together.
The fitted top of an A-Line dress can help to accentuate the waist and highlight your curves. By defining the waistline, a fit, and flare dress can create a more feminine and flattering silhouette which also creates a visually elongated frame.
On the other hand, the flared skirt of this dress can create a more balanced silhouette for women with short and thick legs as it cinches the waist to create an hourglass effect. The skirt flares out from the waist, which also gives you the appearance of a longer and leaner lower half.
Flowy Empire Waist Dresses
Empire dresses are generally very flattering for women with short and thick legs because their heightened waistline that starts from just right under the bust is a very effective way to give you the illusion of longer legs. But for your body shape in particular, we suggest that you try empire dresses that come in very flowy fabric material such as georgette.
The fabric flows and moves with the body, creating a streamlined and continuous line from the waist down. This effect will neutralize the attention from your short and thick legs.
Additionally, the fitted top of an empire dress can help to define the waistline and accentuate your curves, creating a more feminine and flattering overall look. This will bring balance between your upper and lower body for a more visually appealing overall ensemble.
Dresses with Cinched Waist
Cinching the waist in a dress can be a simple yet effective way to create the illusion of height. By highlighting the natural curve of the body and creating a more streamlined silhouette, you’d veer the eyes away from your concerned areas which are your short and thick legs.
When you cinch the waist in a dress, you create a more defined waistline and perfectly highlight the natural curve of your body. This helps by cohesively bringing balance to your body proportions, as it visually separates the upper body from the lower body.
By creating a clear divide between the two halves of the body, you can make the legs appear longer and the torso shorter, which can help to create the illusion of height.
Open-neck Dresses
As a general rule, open necklines such as V-necks and scoop necks draw attention upward and therefore distract the eyes from your short and thick legs. This is why dresses with open necklines are great for women with such a body figure.
By drawing attention to the upper body, it can help to create a more proportionate look and make the legs appear longer in comparison. As it bares more skin, most specifically your neck and collarbones, it accentuates your upper body in a way that will visually complement your lower body.
This can be especially helpful for those with shorter legs, as it can help to create the illusion of height and balance out the overall proportions of the body.
Chiffon Maxi Dresses
Women with short and thick legs tend to be left intimidated by maxi dresses but believe me, you should actually wear them more often because of how flattering they can be! A maxi dress is a great choice for women with short and thick legs because it can help create the illusion of height and elongate the body.
To make the most of this style, it is important to consider the dress length, fit, and fabric. Soft chiffon fabric shares the same principle as georgette so it also gives a nice impact on your height by how fluid the fabric drapes on your body.
The length is crucial because a length that goes way below your ankles can be a major faux pas as it will definitely drown your figure. A maxi dress that falls just above the ground or is hemmed to the perfect length for your height can make you appear taller and help to elongate the legs.
V-Neck Wrap Dresses
Every woman with short and thick legs should have a dedicated space for wrap dresses in their closet! It’s because wrap dresses have a very flattering and classic design that’s almost foolproof and we’re sure you can wear it pretty much everywhere!
The V-neckline of a wrap dress helps to draw the eyes towards the face and neckline, which can help to create the illusion of height by focusing on the visually lengthening areas of your upper body. This can make you appear taller and bring cohesion to your entire figure.
The wrap style of the dress effectively cinches the waist to accentuate the waist and create a more defined silhouette. In addition to this, the flowing skirt of the dress extends the invisible vertical line of your frame that also helps in making your legs look long and slim.
Avoid skin-tight dresses
A dress that clings too tightly to the body is a quick way to highlight your body shape. However, if you’re concerned with your short and thick legs, you may want to stay away from skin-tight dresses as they can only make them look more apparent.
Creating a flattering silhouette is quite important for women with short and thick legs so it’s much better to go for dresses that feature a neat, streamlined silhouette. If you’d like to highlight your curves without going for a skin tight-dress, you may go for dresses with cinched waistlines instead.
Avoid mid-calf dresses
Any clothing piece in which the hem lands at the mid-calf is definitely a major red flag for girls with short and thick legs. It’s because the mid-calf is a very awkward area for shorties as this clearly divides the length of the legs and therefore makes you look even shorter.
In addition to interrupting the visual line of your frame, mid-calf dresses also highlight thick calves which can look quite unflattering. Such an effect will make your frame look unbalanced and awkward.
The Key Takeaway
In conclusion, choosing the right dress style for short and thick legs gives you more freedom to style yourself without compromising your figure. There are loads of designs to explore out there and you should be able to express yourself by going for the dress you want as long as you keep these styling principles in consideration.
