Following on from the post on What to Wear when you’re Petite and Busty, here are some ideas on the formal end of the spectrum. From wedding dress to formal occasion styles. Should you be thinking about a cocktail type dress, just look for the same kinds of styles but that end just above the knee or at the knee instead of full length.
You will notice that the overriding theme of each of these dresses is:
- Simpleness – not fancy or froufrou
- Clean lines – not lots of layers or volume
- Shoulders covered – so you can wear a bra
- Lower necklines – which minimize your bust
Whether or not you want a defined waist (seam or belt detail) will depend on your body shape (I, X, 8 or A waist detail, H, V, O no waist detail)
Imogen, what do you suggest for petite and skinny girls. As you may have guessed, I’m really tiny, and am tired of people thinking that I am still in college, while I have been working for over 6 years. Any advice (clothes, make-up, hairstyle) on how to look more professional and less small would be great. Thanks a ton!
City Girl – check out this post – not specifically for the petite – but how to look more mature when you look young https://insideoutstyleblog.com/2011/09/dressing-your-age-when-you-naturally-look-young.html
Hi Imogen,
I love your blog!! I have a question:
I am 61, in good shape, and my legs are my best feature. For summer I wear bare legs, but what about when it gets cold? What to wear with a dress in winter, besides boots. Tights? Sheer tights? No one wears panty hose anymore, do they?
I also want to be age appropriate, but now dowdy.
Thanks so much,
Patricia
Patricia – try leggings and opaque tights. Sheer tights work for dressy (evening) type outfits, opaques work with dresses during the day. Leggings come in different weights – I find for dresses it’s best to go with a legging that’s more like an opaque tight. For tunics you may want a thicker legging.
Patricia asked a good question, do people wear hose anymore? I really like the look of skin colored sheer hosiery, it evens the skin tone on legs and just deems more “classy” or polished. Is that because I’m just older and I need to get with the times or is hosiery still appropriate. I realize opaque tights and leggings are very “IN” but is hose out? If it is still acceptable, are there certain times when hose is appropriate vs. when it is not approrpriate?
Yes people do still wear hose! There is nothing wrong with it. Particularly in the office environment. I wouldn’t probably wear sheer nude hose to a BBQ though! It would feel a little overdressed.
Hi imogen
I have farewell party in university next month
I am a petite girl . I am in trouble how can i dress.
Please give me some advice .
Thank you
Hi Moe,
You will want to figure out your body shape – which you can do here and get your body shape bible https://www.insideoutstyleblog.com/2016/03/want-to-figure-out-your-body-shape-try-my-quiz.html
Then have a read of these posts to find the most relevant information for you https://insideoutstyleblog.com/?s=petite
And you can also read my Petite ebook: https://www.insideoutstyleblog.com/ebooks-by-imogen-lamport/never-short-on-style/