The sweater dress is a style that has never been easy for me to wear. It’s not only hard to pull off when you’re petite, my pear shape often makes for my hips clinging to the shift style of most sweater dresses – not a cute look. In order to make this style work for me, I first have to find the right one – but also style it just right, so it’s cute and not overwhelming on my small frame.
Petite Styling: The Sweater Dress
The first thing I think about when it comes to a sweater dress is the length. Too long and the dress will become overwhelming and just make you look shorter. I personally prefer the look of a dress that hits between mid-thigh and just above the knee. LOFT has a lot of great options for petites!
Add Heels for Height
You can easily wear a pair of flats with a sweater dress, especially if the hem hits higher on your leg. However, I personally think it looks best on a petite frame with a little extra height from a heel. I especially love when that heel comes from a knee high boot. Knee high boots and sweater dresses were just made for each other!
Finding the Right Fit
The length is important for petites, but so is the overall fit. Most sweater dresses come with a little extra room already, which can sometimes be too overwhelming on a petite frame. So, finding the right balance of room and fit is key.
Sweater dresses are also typically a shift style, which likes to cling to my hips. I went up one size in this dress so it would skim over my hips for a more flattering fit. In my opinion, this dress in particular has a pretty magical balance of room without being too much for a petite frame. LOFT does a great job with their petites, but this dress also comes in regular and plus to accommodate a wide range of sizes.
Styling Tricks
If the dress is still a little too overwhelming for your frame, I recommend trying to pull in the waist a bit. You can do that by simply wearing a belt, or pairing it with a cute jacket that hits at the waist!
Shop The Look
The sweater dress is a cozy and comfortable look that I love for all sorts of occasions through the fall and winter. What do you think – do you love to wear a sweater dress?
-Brooke
