Contrary to popular belief, a short girl CAN wear a long maxi dress. The term maxi has been used since the late 1960s to describe ankle-length, typically informal dresses.
The petite Nicole Richie is a testament to that. I myself am pretty tiny (standing only at 5 ft. and at 90 lbs.), but I have learned a few tricks that have allowed me to wear long dresses without being engulfed by them.
All you have to do is follow certain guidelines. If you need more help, consider hiring a professional stylist from Trunk Club or Stitch Fix.
Tip # 1 – Go Solid or Monochromatic
Maxis with solid colors, especially darker ones, will definitely make a short person appear taller for the simple reason that it is slimming (thus elongating) and it offers less distraction to the eyes.
If you’re plus-size petite, dark solid colors are a must. But if you’re small and petite like Nicole Richie, then you can afford to wear light solid colors.
If you want to wear a color block maxi dress, make sure it’s monochromatic, otherwise, try to choose maxi dresses with block orientations that will not cut you in half.
WEAR:
Hayden Panettiere wearing a flowy gray strapless maxi dress to go out to lunch in Los Angeles, California, on November 12, 2008; Pregnant Nicole Richie in an ethereal look in a white maxi dress while attending the launch of House of Harlow Jewelry at Kitson on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, California, on March 7, 2009; Lea Michele getting a health shake in a comfy two-slit black maxi dress in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, on October 13, 2014
AVOID:
Amy Smart wearing a color-block-dyed strapless maxi that’s unflattering for petites while leaving Dry Bar Salon in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, on April 25, 2013; Ashley Tisdale wearing a two-piece maxi dress that cuts her height in half while out and about in Los Angeles, California, on June 12, 2014; Paris Hilton arriving at the LAX Airport in a monochromatic color-block maxi dress that wouldn’t flatter shorter ladies on May 8, 2014
TRY Maxi Dresses From Shopbop:
Leith Side-Slit Maxi Dress, $72 / Three Dots Scoop Maxi Dress, $162 / James Perse Tucked Tee Maxi Dress, $275 / Loveapella V-Neck Stretch-Knit Maxi Dress, $68
Tip # 2 – Pick a Print Proportionate to Your Size
It’s pretty unavoidable to wear printed maxi dresses because they are quite abundant. Make sure you pick prints that are proportionate to your size.
Believe me, it matters. If you’re thin and short, pick maxi dresses that have small prints. Wearing a long dress with large prints will overwhelm your tiny frame.
If you’re medium built and short, you can go for medium-sized prints. Now if you’re plus size and also petite, just go with medium prints instead of large ones (large prints are most ideal if you’re tall and plus size).
Avoid prints that are horizontally inclined because that will definitely shorten you.
WEAR:
5’2″ Jenna Dewan-Tatum demonstrating how to pull off different printed maxi dresses while shopping in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, on June 13, 2012, picking up juice at Earth Bar in Los Angeles, California, on March 4, 2013, and carrying her daughter Everly across the street in Los Angeles, California, on April 10, 2014
AVOID:
Petite celebrities being overwhelmed by the too large and busy prints on their maxi dresses: Vanessa Hudgens leaving Nine Zero One hair salon in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, on March 27, 2013, Nikki Reed at the 2011 Teen Choice Awards in Universal City, California, on August 7, 2011, and Kate Garraway outside the ITV studios in London, England, on July 20, 2010
TRY Maxi Dresses From Nordstrom:
Splendid “Waterville” Floral Maxi Dress, $158 / Mara Hoffman Lace-Up Maxi Dress, $275 / T-Bags Los Angeles Center-Knotted Maxi Dress, $202 / Felicity & Coco Geo-Print Empire Waist Maxi Dress, $98
If you’re going to pick out a striped maxi, go for subtle thin diagonal (45-degree angle) lines that are not as bold. Avoid wearing bold repetitive horizontal or vertical lines.
Such will either cut across and make you look shorter or create the illusion that you are wider. Chevron prints can be just as bad as well.
Don’t get me wrong, vertical lines are good, but only when it’s not bold and repeating. For example, a single vertical line running through the center of a dress can make a person look slimmer and taller.
AVOID:
Celebrities wearing petite-unfriendly bold-striped maxi dresses: Gwen Stefani arriving at a kids’ party in Hollywood, California, on April 28, 2012, Kristin Cavallari leaving the Fred Segal store in Los Angeles, California, on October 23, 2014, and Fearne Cotton arriving at the BBC Radio 1 studios in London, England, on July 27, 2010
Tip # 3 Pick the Right Cut
Generally, for petite women, maxi dresses that are cut closer to the body look flattering. Dresses made out of soft and fluid jersey or silk fabrics cut on the bias are the most ideal. Avoid boxy, balloon, or tent-like dresses that come in extra stiff materials.
Pick maxis that accentuate the waist (whether it be the empire waist or your true waistline).
Empire cut maxi dresses with soft flowy skirts work best in hiding tummy bulges and giving the illusion of longer legs (more height).
If you’re wearing a maxi that is belted on the true waist, make sure you wear heeled strappy shoes with the long dress to make your legs look longer (and you taller).
WEAR:
Nicole Richie rocking a slinky silk-satin maxi dress at the CFDA Awards in New York City on June 4, 2013; Kylie Minogue wearing a slim cut empire-waist halter maxi dress while arriving at the Grand Hyatt Cannes Hotel Martinez in Cannes, France, on May 20, 2014; Kim Kardashian wearing a body-fitting geo-print maxi dress to film Keeping Up with the Kardashians in Los Angeles, California, on February 27, 2013
AVOID:
Fergie being overwhelmed by all the layers and fabrics of her maxi dress getup at the 2012 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California, on April 14, 2012; Nicole Richie’s unflattering balloon-like printed maxi dress at the Cartier Charity Love Bracelet Launch held at a private residence in Los Angeles, California, on June 18, 2008; Alexandra Burke drowning in a floor-sweeping floral maxi dress at The Glamour Women of the Year Awards 2011 in London, England, on June 7, 2011
TRY Maxi Dresses From Saks Fifth Avenue:
Haute Hippie Slip Gown, $595 / Rachel Pally “Meagan” Dress, $224 / Lilly Pulitzer “Joanna” Maxi Dress, $268 / Amanda Uprichard Empire-Waist Silk Maxi Dress, $250
Tip # 4 Pick the Right Length
Again, contrary to popular belief, floor-length dresses will always work best for petite women compared to ankle length ones, NOT the other way around.
Why? Well, once the hem of your dresses touches your ankles, whether or not you’re wearing heels, you will appear shorter because the hem is like a horizontal line cutting across.
Do yourself a favor and avoid tea length dresses as well (calf-length).
WEAR:
Petite celebrities benefiting from the height-enhancing length of floor-grazing maxi dresses: Amy Adams visiting the Sherman Oaks Macy’s store in Los Angeles, California, on September 6, 2014, pregnant Jenna Dewan-Tatum leaving a doctor’s office in Santa Monica, California, on March 13, 2013, and Kym Marsh shopping in Manchester, England, on May 4, 2010
AVOID:
Halle Berry in a height-cutting ankle-length and horizontally striped strapless maxi dress while shopping at The Grove in Hollywood, California, on September 29, 2014; Pregnant Selma Blair’s ankle-length printed maxi dress and strappy sandals shorten her 5’3″ height as she leaves a private residence in West Hollywood in Los Angeles, California, on April 27, 2011; 5’2″ Helena Bonham Carter looking even more diminutive in a tea-length maxi dress as she leaves the Radio 2 studios in London, England, on June 12, 2014
TRY Maxi Dresses From Shopbop:
Rachel Pally “Aida” Dress, $242 / Halston Heritage V-Neck Drape Gown, $395 / Young, Fabulous & Broke “Hamptons” Maxi Dress, $207 / Tart “Adrianna” Maxi Dress, $176
Tip # 5 Wear the Right Shoes
With the maxi dress already covering more than half of your body, it’s best to keep the feet open and sexy. Some people may tell you it’s okay to wear pumps with maxi dresses, but I don’t agree with that.
The best companion of a maxi dress is a pair of heeled strappy sandals. If you want to wear flat ones, go with thong sandals that show a lot of skin.
WEAR:
Petite celebrities pairing the right strappy heels and open sandals with their maxi dresses: Nicole Richie at the 18th Annual Environmental Media Awards held at the Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on November 13, 2008, Olivia Munn visiting a friend in Beverly Hills in Los Angeles, California, on April 22, 2014, and Kim Kardashian leaving a beauty salon in West Hollywood, California, on June 29, 2011
AVOID:
Paris Hilton’s awkward pairing of pointy-toe pumps with a floral maxi dress at LAX Airport in Los Angeles, California, on September 18, 2014; Joss Stone wearing ugly pink Ugg boots with a maxi dress at the BBC Broadcasting House in London, England, on November 30, 2014; Myleene Klass wearing stumpy sneakers with a black maxi dress in London, England, on May 6, 2014; Jemima Kirke pairing clunky worn-out boots with a floral maxi dress in Astor Place in New York City on June 25, 2014
TRY Sandals From Amazon:
1. Narciso Rodriguez “Ava” Strappy Sandals, $750 / 2. Schutz “Tabacema” Nubuck Sandals, $180 / 3. Stuart Weitzman “Nudist” 110mm Sandals, $398 / 4. Sam Edelman “Gigi” T-Strap Sandals, $70 / 5. Alexander Wang “Antonia” Ankle-Strap Sandals, $475
Tip # 6 Pick Maxi Dresses with Details that Elongate
Vertical lines come in many forms. It can be a deep V neckline, a single vertical line running through a dress, detailing at the center of the dress, or even a long and deep V-shaped accessory around your neck. The idea is that a deep V neckline elongates.
V-necks are also perfect for plus size or busty short women. One-shoulder (asymmetric) necklines are also flattering since they give the illusion of a slimmer silhouette.
WEAR:
Selma Blair in a v-neck halter maxi dress while running errands in West Hollywood, California, on May 10, 2014; Jessica Simpson wearing a gold one-shoulder gown to The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 premiere held at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles, California, on November 18, 2014; Vanessa Hudgens wearing a vertical-print boho maxi dress to shop at the Urban Outfitters store in Studio City, California, on September 17, 2014
TRY Maxi Dresses From Shopbop:
T-Bags Los Angeles Deep-V Ruched-Halter Maxi Dress with Braided Ties, $194 / AQ/AQ “Livia” One-Shoulder Maxi Dress, $149.60 / Nanette Lepore “Byzantine” Dress, $648 / Karen Kane Tribal-Print Maxi Dress, $118
Halter necklines are also elongating. However, busty and plus-size petite women must stay away from them. Avoid maxi dresses with contrasting border details on the hem.
The borders will only make you look shorter than you already are. Also, don’t be tempted by dresses with horizontal panels.
AVOID:
Heidi Klum wearing a horizontally paneled maxi dress that petites should avoid while out and about in Brentwood, California, on April 21, 2012; Carmen Electra busting out of an animal-print halter-neck maxi dress at the Elizabeth Glaser Celebrity Carnival in Santa Monica, California, on June 13, 2010; Lily Allen wearing a border-hemmed maxi dress that draws the eye downwards at the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham, England, on March 18, 2011
Tip # 7 Use the Right Accessories
As much as possible avoid using belts in contrasting colors because that would be like creating one horizontal line across your body and cutting it in half. Although this does not mean you can’t wear one.
If you do want to wear a belt, make sure you wear heeled sandals (to compensate and balance out the loss in height). Also, pick a color that is similar (or almost the same) as the dress.
Hilary Duff wisely ditching the wide brown belt she initially accessorized a blue maxi dress with while shopping in Glendale in Los Angeles, California, on July 7, 2008
As long as you follow these simple rules, you’re guaranteed to look maxi stylish for the whole summer. Enjoy dressing up!
Credit: Adriana M. Barraza / Alberto Reyes / Homero Tercero / Jody Cortes / Michael Wright /Owen Beiny / Williams / Apega / JP / JFXimages / PNP / WENN
I dunno, sometimes a nice belt just below the breasts, might just shorten the torso, not the legs, which might seem longer and ending higher. Which is also why often the higher the waistline, the longer the skirt, the lower the heel :).