How to shop for a maxi dress if you’re petite

If you’re petite like me, shopping for maxi dresses can be hard. Even if you’re okay with shortening your dresses, you can run into issues if the bottom has detailing or the general proportions are off. Luckily, I’ve been a petite maxi dress lover my whole life, so I’ve come up with a few tips to keep in mind when you’re on the hunt!

Dress: c/o Banana Republic | Shoes: c/o Everlane | Necklace: Vrai & Oro | Earrings: c/o BaubleBar | Bag: J.Crew | Rings: c/o Kendra Scott |

How to Shop for a maxi dress if you’re petite:

1) Look for Petite sizing.

DUH, right?! More and more stores/brands are starting to cater to us short ladies, and it’s definitely worth the extra effort to seek them out. My favorites are:
Banana Republic (where I got this dress!)
LOFT
Asos
The Petite Studio
The Reformation
Nordstrom
Anthropologie
J.Crew
Topshop

2) Look for ankle length hemlines.

This is my favorite trick by far. If you see a dress or skirt that hits the model at the ankles, it’s probably full length on you! That means NO alterations!! I used this trick when I ordered my favorite pair of J.Brand jeans… I always chuckle to myself when I see a tall person wearing them. They’re a super chic ankle length on them, and – you guessed it – perfectly full length on me! (Ps. those jeans only $79 right now!)

3) Look for the same color/pattern all the way to the bottom.

If you can’t find a petite maxi dress, but you find another one that’s perfect besides the length, make sure the bottom is hem-able. What does that mean? If there is a specific pattern or ruffles or embroidery along the bottom, you’ll run into issues when you take it to the tailor. Look for something that’s the same all the way down, so you can take it up without a hitch.

I decided to pair these pink tassel earrings with this petite maxi dress because the color matches the flowers identically. It’s literally a perfect match! I don’t usually wear statement earrings because my ears are big wimps, but these are definitely pretty enough for me to get out of my comfort zone every once in a while. Do you ever wear statement earrings?

Photos by Ali Stone

Shop the post:

This post was sponsored by Banana Republic, but (as always) all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Lake Shore Lady possible!

PS. Be sure to check out more maxi dresses in Steps to Snowball, Palm Print in Palm Springs, Paradise Bouquet and A Silk Maxi for Wedding Season!