As a shopping writer and petite fashion girlie, I’ve mastered the art of making myself look a little taller and leaner with the help of dresses. My secret lies in selecting styles that have elongating silhouettes, vertical details to draw the eye up and fabrics that skim the body without adding bulk. To make a petite frame look longer, aim for dresses with a v-neckline, an adjustable tie waist or ruching for that cinched-in look, or a tailored silhouette to create a streamlined effect.
Whether you’re looking to elevate your wardrobe with a boutique-looking dress or want to keep it casual with a comfortably-cute pick, this roundup offers a range of petite dress styles for everyone. Below, shop 15 petite-friendly spring dress styles I’m most excited to grab ahead of spring. Even better, these slimming styles start at just $20.
15 Petite-Friendly Spring Dresses to Look Taller and Leaner
1. Our Absolute Favorite: Checking all of the boxes for a streamlined silhouette is this boutique-style mini dress that has a defined waist, tailored look and v-neckline.
2. New and Notable: Bringing Us petites high-end style while on a budget is this designer-looking mini dress that features a cinched waist.
3. Shopper-Favorite: With over 9,600 five-star ratings, shoppers can’t get enough of this ruffled floral dress that features a deep v-neckline, which draws the eye upward.
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4. Wrap Dress Wonder: The diagonal details of this flared wrap dress define and elongate the body.
5. Rich Mom Style: Nail the rich mom aesthetic this spring with this striped shirt dress from Steve Madden. The vertical lines create a streamlined effect.
6. Stunning Swiss Dot: This smocked midi dress pairs perfectly with a denim jacket and strappy sandals.
7. Floral and Fabulous: Show off the legs in this floral paisley dress from Petal & Pup that creates the illusion of length.
8. Chic Shirtdress: Channel quiet luxury style in this timeless mini shirtdress that’s best accessorized with a waist-cinching belt.
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9. Elevated Comfort: Combining comfort with flattering style is this tie waist mini dress.
10. Waist-Flattering: Perfect for spring brunches, this stunning, puff-sleeve mini dress ties at the waist and has a ruffled hem.
11. Puff-Sleeve Princess: A go-to brand for petites, Abercrombie has a new puff-sleeve mini dress that comes in short girl sizing.
12. Create an Hourglass: Give your body some extra shaping with this smocked waist dress from Anthropologie that fakes an hourglass shape.
13. Boutique-Looking: Get boutique-looking style for less with this lace trim mini dress that’s now on sale at Gap.
14. Date Night Perfection: Be comfy and cute for your next date night with this little black dress that over 2,000 shoppers bought within the last month!
15. Designer-Looking: Looking like it came straight from a designer boutique is this slimming striped dress that comes in a plethora of pastel spring colors.
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