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Petite Dressing

Dress for your Body Type and Height

Last Updated on August 3, 2023 By Chi

The Dress Guide for Short and Chubby Women

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Are you a short and chubby woman who loves dresses? If yes, we have got a detailed guide explaining suitable dress styles for you. Not every dress looks alluring on all body types. Therefore, you must learn what designs complement your body type if you are a short and chubby woman.

Table of Contents

  • What to Look for
  • Off-Shoulder Flare Sleeves Dress
  • Boat Neck A-Line Dresses
  • Corset Dresses
  • Vertical Stripe Tie Waist Dress
  • Wrap Midi Dress
  • Slit Midi Dress
  • Avoid Turtle Neck Dresses
  • Avoid Full-Length Dresses
  • Avoid Shapeless Dresses
  • Avoid Nude-Colored Dresses
  • Final Thoughts

What to Look for

BEST DRESSES FOR SHORT AND CHUBBY WOMEN

Short and chubby women have a very common body type. But they still struggle to find the right dress styles for themselves. Here are a few tips for sterling dresses if you are short and chubby:

  • Wear dresses that make your waist look slim.
  • Invest in good shapewear and wear them underneath your dresses.
  • Show off your legs while wearing a dress to make yourself look taller.
  • Bring attention to your upper body, shoulders, and chest area to give the illusion of a flattering silhouette through your dresses.
  • Wear necklines that show off your neck and shoulders.
  • Go for fitted dresses instead of oversized ones.

Off-Shoulder Flare Sleeves Dress

Off-Shoulder Flare Sleeves Dress

Off-shoulder is your best friend if you are a short and chubby woman. This neckline will make you look leaner and bring all the attention to your shoulder. You will get the chance to flaunt the features you like.

The flared sleeves bring a unique element to your outfit. They are great to cover thick arms as well. Choose a dress that is fitted and has flare arms. This way, you will get a balanced proportion. 

The length of the dress is an important element to choose. In this style, a knee-length dress will look perfect if you are short and chubby. Revealing some legs will make you look taller. 

Pair the dress with your favorite heels and you are good to go.

Boat Neck A-Line Dresses

Boat Neck A-Line Dresses

Knee-length or below-the-knee A-line dresses look amazing on chubby and short women. A-line dresses make your waist look slimmer as they are tight on that area. The A-line design in a length showing your legs will make you look taller.

A boat neck is a great choice for chubby women as it shows your shoulders and collarbones. Showing off your shoulders is your best bet while styling dresses if you are short and chubby. 

The A-line dress style will give the illusion of an hourglass body shape. Floral prints look chic in the summer. They are a good option for a casual day out. You can pair such a dress with beautiful sandals or flats.

Corset Dresses

Corset Dresses-1

We have seen a lot of corset dresses everywhere in recent years. Magazines, fashion shows, glam festivals – corset dresses slay everywhere. So, can short and chubby women try out this style?

A corset midi dress with an off-shoulder is a perfect choice for petite and chubby women. The midi length will make you look tall while the corset design will make you look slimmer. The corset style lets you show off your favorite curves while making your body look flattering. Therefore, it is a suitable style for chubby women.

Clothes that emphasize your curves are amazing for chubby women instead of opting for oversized dresses. It is the kind of dress that will surely make you feel confident in your body. 

Off-shoulder or sleeveless dress with U-neck is a good choice for corset dresses. Wear the dress with black strappy high heels to complete the look.

Vertical Stripe Tie Waist Dress

Vertical Stripe Tie Waist Dress

Vertical stripes are one of those patterns that chubby and short people love to wear. It makes you look both slimmer and taller. Hem tie waist allows you to alter the fitting of your waist according to your liking. This way, you can adjust your waist and make it look slimmer. You will end up having an hourglass figure with this dress.

You can wear a cropped denim jacket over the dress for the fall season. Go for colors like black, dark blue, brown, red, or dark green (in short any dark color).

Wrap Midi Dress

Wrap Midi Dress

Wrap dresses make your waist look smaller. So, if you are a short and chubby woman, you must give this dress style a go. 

The V-neck is suitable if your upper body is thinner than your lower body. This neck design will divert the attention from areas you want to conceal and keep it on your chest and shoulder area. This will automatically give the illusion of a slimmer and leaner body.

Choose a stiff fabric for wrap dresses instead of chiffon or silk. Flowy fabrics tend to stick to your body accentuating your body fat while stiff fabrics maintain the shape of the dress. 

Slit Midi Dress

Slit Midi Dress

Slit dresses not only look sexy but also make you look lean instantly. You can choose a dress with slits on both sides or one side. Both will look good on short and chubby women. The midi length will make you look tall and the slit will add to it. It is a great way to dress up for petite women.

Scoop necks bring all the attention to your upper body so your chubby parts aren’t too visible. Choose a plain dress in a dark color for this style. You can go for a sleeveless dress with wide straps. But if you like to cover your arms, choose flowy sleeves. They will complement your body type.

Avoid Turtle Neck Dresses

Avoid Turtle Neck Dresses

Turtle neck dresses will make you look chubbier and shorter. The neck of your dress must not cover your neck if you want to look leaner.

Turtle necks and high necks aren’t flattering on short and chubby women.

They will make your torso look shorter as well. Such neck styles also add a few pounds instantly to your body so it is definitely a no-go.

Avoid Full-Length Dresses

Avoid Full-Length Dresses

Full-length dresses (maxi dresses) might look cute but they will make you look short. If you are already a short woman and want to look leaner, go for something that doesn’t cover your calves completely.

Showing off your legs will make you look taller instantly. Moreover, it flatters your body type too for short and chubby women. 

Avoid Shapeless Dresses

Avoid Shapeless Dresses

Oversized dresses are great to cover your body type but it isn’t a flattering style for short and chubby women. It makes you look larger as too much fabric adds a few pounds to your body. Go for something that fits you perfectly. Dresses that make your waist look smaller are great instead of oversized ones.

Avoid Nude-Colored Dresses

Avoid Nude-Colored Dresses

Nude-colored dresses surely look elegant. But not when you want to look tall and slim. Light colors are usually not flattering on chubby women. That doesn’t mean you have to wear black dresses all the time. The hack is to choose dark hues of any color you like such as maroon, dark green, navy blue, purple, etc.

Final Thoughts

Now you know what sort of dresses look good on short and chubby women. You can dress up for any occasion and look mesmerizing when you know what styles are good for your body type. Every body type deserves love. You can look amazing no matter what your height or weight is. All you have to know is the dress styles that flatter your body type.

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.

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