Best Petite Summer Dresses
When it comes to summer attire, I only want to wear pretty dresses. All day, EVERY DAY. They’re an instant outfit, they keep you cool when it’s hot out, and they’re fun to wear. Anyone else love a good twirl moment?! That being said, it can be hard to find the perfect summer dress when you’re petite, since petites often fall outside the standard length of dresses. How many time have you purchased a dress that looks cute on the model and ridiculous on you? Hey maxi dresses, I’m talking about you.
But if there’s one thing I’m good at finding, it’s dresses. Whether they come in a petite size or not, I have gotten really good at finding dresses that will flatter girls who are under 5’4″ – like me! So here are a few of my favorites, plus a ton of other cute options at the very end!
Best Petite Summer Dresses
Smocked Dress
Every petite gal needs a smocked dress in her closet this summer! The one above is sold out now but I love this $59 dress that comes in 4 colors! I love this style because it’s lightweight for the hot temps, and I can dress is up with a block heel or just wear it with slides or sneakers around the neighborhood.
Nap Dress
I finally tried the infamous Nap Dress and I understand the appeal! I wasn’t sure about it at first, but I sized down and now I’m a believer. It’s definitely long on me (I’m 5’2″) but I love how comfortable and effortless it is, whether you dress it up or dress it down!
Maxi Dress
Maxi dresses can be tough for petite gals, so petite sizing is the way to go! Loft, Asos, and Abercrombie all have a really great petite “sections”. I also really love looking for maxi dresses that were designed to hit just above the model’s ankle. I’ve found a few of my favorite maxi dresses this way, because cropped on a model means full length on me! This Yumi Kim maxi is a great example. Love when that happens!!
Swing Dress
There is nothing better than a swing dress on a hot summer day, because it barely touches your body!! The only issue is that most swing dresses are so billowy that they look like shapeless bags on us petite gals. In my opinion, it’s best to look for a tiered style – and of course, petite sizing is always best.
Cocktail Dress
This is one category where I don’t think you need to look for petite sizing. That can be SO limiting, especially when you’re searching for a special dress. I always try to find designers that have fit me well in the past, like Amanda Uprichard, Reformation, and Yumi Kim. From there, I’ll check to see where the dress hits on the model and try to imagine it just a few inches longer on me. If that still works, I’ll give it a try!
Midi Dress
I am a BIG fan of midi dresses this year – and it helps that they’re everywhere! I usually thought that I needed to get midi dresses in petite sizing, but it turns out there are a lot of great options out there in regular sizing too. My dress is an older style, but this new arrival is pretty much the exact same design!!
Shop more great summer dresses below:
PS. You might also like What To Wear To A Spring Wedding, White Dresses for Rehearsal Dinner, and Reformation Sizing.
