If you are petite girl looking for wedding dresses, it is not easy! I know this from first hand experience, as I am 5’2″ myself. It was quite a journey for me to find my perfect wedding gown.
If you have a rectangle shape, that implies your body does not have much natural waist definition, which means it is critical for you to find the RIGHT wedding gown style for your big day.
Since I have a petite clothing line for women 5’4″ and under, I receive feedback from my petite customers on a daily basis. Based on their feedback, I’ve put together this comprehensive guide if you have the petite rectangle body shape.
Table of Contents
Styling Goal
- Choose a neckline that highlights your décolletage and enhances your shoulders. This is an efficient way to bring more definition to your upper body and give your athletic build a softer look.
- Opt for a dress with a defined waistline to create the illusion of curves. Look for a dress that cinches at the waist or has a defined waistline as this will help bring more definition to your rectangle-shaped body.
- Be very mindful of the right fit, especially by avoiding wedding dresses that are too loose. The wrong wedding dress fit can give you a boxy or shapeless silhouette which can be immensely unflattering for petite rectangle shapes.
These three are the simple key guidelines that your chosen wedding dress should go by and if your dress ticks all the boxes, then it should be easier to find which exact style suits you! Here are the best wedding dress styles that would look amazing on your figure.
Sweetheart Neck Wedding Dress
Necklines play an important role in flattering your petite rectangle-shaped body type. Open necklines such as the sweetheart neck is one example of a wedding dress feature that will enhance the beauty of your figure.
A wedding dress with a sweetheart neckline is good for petite rectangle-shaped women because it can help create the illusion of curves and add femininity to the overall silhouette. The sweetheart neckline is a type of neckline that dips in the center, resembling the top of a heart, and creates a flattering shape for the upper body.
For petite rectangle-shaped women, who typically have a straighter, more rectangular body shape, the sweetheart neckline can create the appearance of a more defined bust and waistline. By drawing attention to the neckline and chest, it can help soften your angular lines by creating the illusion of a fuller bust and a more defined waistline.
Structured V-Neck Wedding Dress
Just like the previous style, this also goes by our style principle about flattering necklines. A V-neck wedding dress can look good on petite rectangle-shaped women because of its elongating shape and the fact that it exposes the right amount of skin right at your bust area.
A V-neckline creates the illusion of a longer, leaner torso, which can help balance out the proportions of a rectangle-shaped body. By elongating the torso, it can create the appearance of a more defined waistline and a more balanced silhouette overall.
This particular neckline, especially if you go for a deep V-neck, can draw attention to the center of the body and help create the illusion of a more defined waistline. This is particularly important for rectangle-shaped women, who tend to have a little definition at the waist.
Mermaid Style Wedding Dress
While a mermaid wedding dress may not be the first style that comes to mind for petite rectangle-shaped women, there are several reasons why it can be an ideal choice. One of them is that it features a very distinct structure that turns your form into something curvier!
Mermaid wedding dresses are designed to be fitted through the waist and hips and flare out at the knees or lower, creating a dramatic silhouette. This can be particularly flattering for rectangle-shaped women who want to create the illusion of curves.
Additionally, they usually have a curvy seam that runs along the sides of the waist to give it a better definition and shape. In terms of elevating your height, the fitted design of a mermaid wedding dress can also help elongate the legs, making your petite frame appear taller and leaner.
Streamlined Sheath Wedding Dress
A sheath wedding dress is a style of wedding dress that is fitted through the body and falls straight to the floor, without a seam that separates the waistline or flared skirt. It is often made of lightweight fabrics like silk or chiffon and has a simple, elegant silhouette.
It’s not a dress that has dramatic features. In fact, it’s so simple that it has a very sleek silhouette that usually has a subtle waist nip and cap sleeves which are also quite shape-defining for rectangle shapes.
The fitted design of a sheath wedding dress can create a sleek and streamlined silhouette, which is something that petite ladies can absolutely benefit from. The long, uninterrupted lines of a sheath dress can help elongate the body, making petite women appear taller and more statuesque.
A-Line Wedding Dress
Wedding dresses that come in A-Line structures will always be a universally flattering option for many body shapes, including petite rectangle-shaped ladies. Its characteristics of a form-fitting top, cinched waist, and flared skirt are three foolproof style designs that will bring the best out of your figure.
Petite rectangle-shaped women often have a straighter, more angular silhouette so an A-line wedding dress, which is fitted through the waist and hips and flares out gradually towards the hemline, can create the illusion of curves and a more hourglass-like figure. The gentle flare of the skirt can help balance out the proportions of the body and add a touch of femininity.
One of the defining features of an A-line wedding dress is the fitted waistline. By drawing attention to the waistline, an A-line dress can help create the appearance of a more defined waist and a more balanced silhouette overall.
Sultry Backless Wedding Dress
A backless wedding dress can draw attention to the back and create a focal point, which can help balance out the straight lines of your rectangle-shaped body. Additionally, a backless dress can showcase a petite woman’s toned back and arms, which can add a touch of sophistication and femininity to the overall look.
When choosing a backless wedding dress, it’s important to consider the neckline and the overall silhouette of the dress. A dress with a plunging V-neckline can elongate the neck and draw attention to the collarbone, while a halter-style dress can add definition to the shoulders and create a more balanced look.
Overall, a backless wedding dress can be a flattering and elegant choice for petite women with rectangle-shaped body types as it accentuates their natural beauty and create the illusion of curves.
Flowy Empire Waist Wedding Dress
An empire waist wedding dress is a style of the dress where the waistline is raised above the natural waistline and sits just below the bust, creating a high-waisted appearance. This style of dress is particularly flattering for petite women with rectangle shapes because it can help create the illusion of curves and add proportion to their body shape.
Because of your straight, athletic figure with minimal curves, you’ll need a wedding dress that can help define the waistline and create the illusion of a more hourglass figure. The raised waistline can also elongate the legs and create the illusion of height, which can be very helpful for petite women.
Additionally, empire waist wedding dresses are often made with lightweight and flowy fabrics, which can add movement and create a soft, romantic look. This is particularly flattering for petite women with rectangle shapes, as the flowing fabric can help add dimension and create the illusion of curves.
Bespoke Wedding Dress
Of course, nothing really beats a wedding dress that’s specifically custom-made for you. When in doubt, consider getting a bespoke wedding dress and let the professionals do the work for you as they will know exactly what design would look wonderful on your rectangle-shaped body.
Even petite rectangle shapes may come in different sizes so ready-made wedding dresses may not always be the most ideal option. If you feel like you have more to spare from your wedding budget, go for a bespoke dress!
The Key Takeaway
There are tons of wedding dress styles to choose from but it’s never a one-size-fits-all thing! One way for you to fully embrace your natural and beautiful petite rectangle-shaped body is to find the most flattering wedding dress that will make you look your best on your big day!
