Finding the perfect petite wedding dress can be a much more massive task than it first sounds. Petite women are often thought of as delicate little dolls. However, weight and looks have nothing to do with being petite. Petite simply means a women who is 5'4 or shorter.
GENERAL RULES
Petite women face many fashion challenges, since most garments are made for different body proportions than theirs. This becomes apparent nowhere more than in wedding gowns. In fact, the first rule for shopping for a petite wedding gown is to expect to need alterations. However, just because you'll be getting alterations doesn't mean you can pick any old dress.
Certain styles flatter a petite frame much better than others. Because wedding dresses tend to be lavish pieces, you need to watch out for any style that overwhelm you or makes you look like your drowning.
A general rule of thumb for petite fashion is always less is more. Extra fabric and accessories tend to overwhelm a short stature. You can still have a beaded pattern on your wedding dress, just keep it in proportion to you. In other words, pick a delicate pattern as opposed to one with flowers bigger than your head!
Petite brides should forgo high, frilly necklines or massively puffy sleeves. These embellishments will throw your proportions out of whack and make you look downright silly. Horizontal stripes are another no-no, since they cut your silhouette into too many sections, minimizing your height.
UNFLATTERING STYLES
A petite bride should never wear a long, mermaid-cut gown if she wants to look good. The tight hips and extreme flare of a mermaid skirt cuts your small frame into too many pieces and can make you look even shorter.
Empire waisted gown tend to look more like nightgowns than dresses on petite women. Again, by cutting up your frame in an odd place, it makes you appear shorter and absolutely swallow up your torso and legs.
BOARDERLINE STYLES
Ball gown styled wedding gowns can be a do or don't for petite women depending on a few specifics. First of all, these gowns tend to have flared skirts that drown out your waist. By using a slightly dropped skirt and a "V" shaped waistline, petite women can show off their waist without seeming overwhelmed.
Petite women should also steer clear of floor-length skirts or long trains. Keep the dress at any hem from the knee to just above the ankle. This will cut the baggy effect and keep the skirt tailored enough to be flattering. A strapless, ball gown-styled wedding gown with a mid-calf hem will capture both a traditional and stylish flare.
FLATTERING STYLES
If you feel comfortable showing off your figure, a sheath dress almost always looks smashing on a petite frame. It hugs your curves to show off every inch of your figure. The tailored cut never overwhelms or drowns you. If you add a "V" neckline, it can even help make you look a little taller.
Princess-cut skirts are fantastic for giving that traditional skirt flare without overwhelming your frame. Like ball gown dresses, you want to keep your princess cut gown as tailored as possible. Again, you don't want anything that trails along the floor, it will make you look like a kid in her mommy's dress. Keep the hemline from mid thigh to just above the ankles.
FINDING YOUR DRESS
Once you know the style and type of dress you want, the task becomes actually finding it. It may take some time and effort, but most well-known bridal shops can either order dresses in petite sizes, or actually carry petite dresses right off the rack. David's Bridal is one of the best known, and most versatile wedding gown shops in most areas, so start your search there.
Don't despair if you live in a small area without a big name bridal shop, though. One of the great results of the modern internet is a mass of specialty stores for any need. This includes shops that specialize in, or have selections of, petite wedding gowns. If you know what you want, shopping can be as easy as finding a petite wedding dress site that suits you and ordering a gown.
Whenever ordering online, particularly when it comes to clothing, you must remember to check the shops return policy. You also need to be very careful about site security before submitting any kind of financial information. Your wedding gown is the last thing you want someone to screw up, so make sure to only buy from sites you're sure you can trust.