A Guide for Smaller Brides


If you’re a petite bride, the days of wearing extra-high heels to “compensate” for your height are long gone. Today, brides of all shapes and sizes celebrate their figures with dresses that emphasize the best of the bod, and minimize problem areas. Petite brides have oodles of options, so read on for flattering dress tips!

According to New York bridal designer Mark Ingram, one of the first rules for petite brides is to avoid being overwhelmed. “Stay away from full skirts,” he says. “You want the attention to go to the waist and above.” Extra detail anywhere on a gown tends to bring your height down.

Ingram strongly recommends A-Line and Princess-line dresses, since they create an illusion of a longer torso. You can also emulate Jane Austin’s heroines and wear an Empire-waist gown, cut directly under the bust.  Like A-line and Princess-line dresses, which have very high waistlines, “there’s no seaming,” says Ingram. “The dress has no break from top to bottom.”

Another option is to take a cue from the sea (or the Romans) and wear either a mermaid or column dress. Both gowns drape straight down, adding length to your figure.  (Think almost every starlet on the Academy Awards last year.)

For necklines, Ingram advises brides to keep details small. “Strapless is nice,” he says. “You can also extend the neckline visibly with a spaghetti strap or a U-shape.”

As for what to avoid, it’s a matter of physics. “Horizontal seams define where the dress is sitting, while vertical lines create length,” says Ingram. So, even if that candy-cane fluffy number looks jazzy in the shop, look elsewhere. For the petite woman, concludes Ingram, “stripes drown the bride.”

Now that you’ve got it, flaunt it!

-David Toussaint

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