How to Buy Short Dresses
September 28th, 2009 | 
Author: How to Buy Short Dresses
Buying short dresses is always a distressing prospect for some women. Is the dress too short? Is it too tight? Do my legs look too short? What fabrics are best? What skirt cuts will make me look fat? What’s in style? Those, and hundreds more, questions all turn round and round in our heads. There is just a plethora of styles, fabrics, cuts, colors and designers out there to sift through. Making decisions on what type of dress to buy is overwhelming. And it’s even more confusing and daunting when one is shopping online. There are a few tactics that can help narrow down dress choices for women buying a short dress.
Short dresses come in every style imaginable. Dresses that were popular a couple of years ago, aren’t very popular now. Dresses that were popular many years ago are just coming back into style now. It’s all very confusing about what to pick at the moment. So how does a gal go about picking the style of dress? We ask ourselves about a hundred questions regarding buying short dresses, and I’ve put together a few answers in this article.
Is it OK to wear a short dress to prom? A wedding? Homecoming? Dance? Winter/Summer?
The short answer is yes you can wear a short dress to any occasion. In fact, shorter dresses are more in fashion than longer styles. Shorter styles are also more fun, flirty and, sometimes, even less expensive than longer styles.
Prom and homecoming are the two most popular places to wear short dresses. There aren’t many times when women get to wear a formal dress, wearing what you want is the key to having a good time. If you’re uncomfortable with any part of your legs or thighs, wearing a short dress is going to make you miserable at the dance. If you’re completely comfortable with your legs and ankles, then you’re going to look fantastic in a shorter dress.
Wearing a short dress to a wedding is a little more complicated. Weddings are about the bride and groom, not the guests. It’s really important to respect their wishes. If you’re interested in wearing a dress above the knee to the wedding make it no more than an inch above the knee. Any shorter and I’d ask the bride, or mother of the bride, if she would feel comfortable with you wearing a short dress. Give the bride as much information as possible about the dress.
Can one wear a short dress in winter? Why not? They’ll be cold, of course, but tights can solve that problem (or a long coat). If one is thinking about etiquette, the answer is: do you care? If you care about etiquette then no, a short dress is inappropriate for winter. If you don’t care about etiquette, then go for it!
How short is too short?
The term “too short” is really subjective. The wearer of the dress may perceive the dress as just sexy and fun, but an onlooker may view certain lengths as inappropriate. It all depends on the function, in all honesty. And it also depends on how the dress is worn. In my personal opinion, anything less than mid thigh is more stripper than classy. Although I did see Kourtney and Kim Kardashian in a fantastic little dresses that went a tad above that.
Anything more than an inch above the knee is inappropriate for some events; wedding for example. If in doubt, ask the host.
What kind of heels do you wear with a short dress?
While many women have trouble with heels, the higher the heel the better the legs look. The shorter the skirt, the higher the heel needs to be (unless you’ve already got incredibly long legs). Wear a heel above an inch high with any shorter dresses.
If you’re intimidated by wearing a stiletto, there are other options. Wedge heels are a great option. They give the heel height and style, but not the balance problems that come with stilettos. The other choice is a pair of platform shoes. Platform wedge shoes are another option.
How do you make your legs look fantastic in short dresses?
- Shave the legs at least 1 inch higher than the hem of the skirt.
- Moisturize the legs thoroughly.
- Use a tanning lotion or spray to give the legs a bit of color, if not wearing a pair of nylons (which, again, you should be!).
- Oh yeah, and wear pantyhose.
Where can I find a cute short dress?
When wearing a short dress it’s important to make the legs look their best. Even when wearing a pair of pantyhose (which should be a given), there are steps to follow in order to make your legs look exceptional.This question has two answers. You can, of course, find dresses online or at local department stores. There are benefits to both places and disadvantages to both as well. There are a plethora of options online. This means that there are thousands of choices from all over the globe. Any dress style a woman wants, is available, and at reasonable prices no less. Because of the vast amount of merchants online, all competing against one another on the open market, finding bargains is super easy. And with the web growing and competition looming, the sheer number of merchants offering free shipping is amazing. So that’s the advantages of shopping online. Costs are lower and selection is vast. The disadvantage is, and it’s a big disadvantage, one can’t see how the dress looks when worn.If you’re sure of the cut and fit of a dress, then it’s wise to shop online. But if you’re concerned about the way a dress will look when you wear it, buying at a department store or boutique is the best option.If you’re interested in buying online, there are a number of short dresses in this post and on this website. Some of the cuter dresses come from Edressme.com, and for plus sizes visit both Amazon.com and Avenue.com.
What casual short dresses are available?
Short dresses don’t only come in formal or semi formal styles. The new trend is towards short casual dresses. Places like Hot Topic have a great supply of funky casual dresses. And one of my favorite shops Unique-vintage.com has another type of casual dress, the vintage styles. Those perfect little halter sundresses are so adorable it’s scary. While they have a cute set of dresses, they’re not as cheap as Amazon.com offers them.
For quality dresses you’re not likely to find more dress than Amazon. For a basic dress at really low cost, Kmart and Target are perfectly fine. They’re not poorly made; in fact, they’re fairly well made clothing.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for some really lovely styles.
How do you buy a short dress online?
Buying a dress online isn’t much different than buying anything else. There are some really important things to consider which most women aren’t aware of with dress shopping. For instance, did you know that each vendor has their own measurements for dresses? A size 8 in one designer’s line isn’t the same as a size 8 in another. This means you need to check the measurement charts of each vendor carefully. It also means you need to take your dress measurements.
For a short dress it’s even more important to take a measurement of length from hollow to hem. This measurement is taken from the hollow of the throat to the area where the hem would fall. An example would be from the hollow of the throat to about 1 inch above the knee.
The rest of the measurements are taken at the widest point on the areas. The bust would be around the fullest area of the bust; the hips at their widest point etc.
How to sit in a short dress?
There are some people who might think this is a frivolous question, but it really isn’t. How to sit in a short dress is a frustrating proposition. For a sexier look, the best option is keeping the legs crossed. If it gets uncomfortable, keeping the legs crossed, cross one ankle under the other, turn the legs to a 25-30 degree angle and tuck the feet slightly under the chair. The one important thing to remember is not to keep the legs in front of the body. No matter how tightly the legs are closed, there’s space to see London and France.
How to walk in a short dress?
Depending on how short the dress is, there aren’t any restrictions on walking in short dresses. Leaning and bending over, on the other hand, is never a good idea. Sometimes a short dress fits tightly against the thighs and sometimes dresses cling even if they’re not tight. In these cases walking can be an issue if the dress starts riding up! There are a number of options to combat the issues of a dress riding up.
Firstly, if the dress isn’t too tight, or is loose, using the old trick of rubbing a dryer sheet around the thigh area will actually help. There is also static cling spray. If there is static on the dress, it will ride up. Dryer sheets have the added bonus of smelling really nice. =) I’d choose those over the spray. The last thing you’d want is an ugly smell when you’ve got on a gorgeous short dress and are looking like a million bucks.
There is also fabric tape. It works much like two-sided sticky tape you get for wrapping presents, only it’s made for fabric so as not to ruin it. It’s fairly cheap.
Lastly there is what is called in the pageant circles “butt glue”. I haven’t used this stuff basically because pageant girls use it on swimsuits, not dresses. I’ve not wanted to ruin a $300 dress with spray glue. But it’s fairly cheap and works, according to pageant girls =).
Personally I’d stick with the dryer sheets and fabric tape. Both work equally well when used in the correct situation. Obviously if the dress is too tight, dryer sheets aren’t going to help much. But on the other side of the coin, if the dress has a lot of static, the fabric tape will work.
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 It Stays swimsuit adhesive AKA Butt Glue  US $14.95
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 10 COUPONS $1 OFF STATIC GUARD STATIC CLING SPRAY expires 12 31 2012 US $2.50
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 Stylin Tape Double Stick Clothing and Body Tape US $14.95
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How to dance in a short dress?
I don’t think dancing in a short dress is any different than walking. The same things apply regarding how to keep the dress from riding up. Obviously there’s more of a chance for it to do so if you’re dancing, but using fabric tape or butt glue will work =).
What length of short dresses work best for my figure?
It’s always hard to answer a question like “what works best for my figure” because every girl is different. Some girls thing because they’re plus sized, they are unable to wear short dresses. This is patently untrue. In fact if you saw the models of the runways of 2010 fashion show, you’d see the plus size gals that made all the headlines were strutting their stuff in short dresses. And they looked awesome to boot!
It’s all about confidence. If you feel confident, pretty and sexy in what you’re wearing, you’re going to look confident, sexy and pretty to other people. Although, as mentioned above, you can end up looking slutty very easily if aren’t careful. And in the wrong situation you may insult the host if you wear a dress that is too short.
So, when wearing short dresses, how short is too short? The answer is as short as you’re comfortable wearing, and as your host is comfortable with you wearing. When in doubt, always conform to the host’s wishes. If it’s for prom, homecoming or another type of dance, ask yourself one basic question “what would I think of a girl I saw wearing this dress?” If you like the answer, wear the dress!
Can short dresses look classy?
The short answer to this question is: Yes, short dresses can be very classy. Take a look at some of the red carpet dresses and you’ll see the dresses are quite classy. Wearing a short dress is all about confidence and attitude (and picking the right accessories!).
Both simple and elaborate styles can be really elegant. The trick is not to over accessorize or wear the dress too tight or too short. Actually just remember the term “too”: too short, too tight, too much, too revealing… you get the point.
What accessories work best for short dresses?
I’m a big fan of having the right accessories. Everything should go together. Does that mean that everything has to be the exact color match of the dress? No! In fact, having every color the same is like having an opera event with no singing (sorry I’m listening to Verdi at the moment, so the reference just came out). Imagine a fall with only brown leaves? Accessories should add excitement or uniqueness to an outfit. I’m a big fan of pink wedge shoes with a little black dress. Would I wear a black purse with that? No! I’d wear a pink purse to match the shoes. When it comes to matching up a short dress, remember your legs are already a pretty gorgeous accessory!
Elegant accessories might include things like a satin wrap, a simple gold necklace with matching earrings and a delicate little hair accessory.
Remember high heels and a pair of tan pantyhose can go a lot further than rhinestones and a tiara!
What styles of short dresses suit me best?
This is a loaded question. The styles that suit a woman best are the ones she feels comfortable in. For general rules though, there are a few ideas that circulate through the fashion community.
For shorter legs, go with a color of pantyhose and shoe that blend. This will make your legs look longer. High heels are the ticket. If you’re unbalanced in heels, try wedge heels or platform heels! They work wonders with balance problems in higher heels. And don’t listen to anyone that says petite women shouldn’t wear high heels. Baloney. We look great in heels. We look magnificent in heels. We look better than those freaking 20 feet tall models! (sorry if you’re a 20 foot tall model and reading this!)
If you’re petite, the important thing to remember is not to do anything to cut off your length. Think of it this way, if you’re looking at a long black rectangle and you put a red line through it, the rectangle looks smaller, shorter.
If you like the two toned look, try empire waist dresses, they’ll make your torso look longer. Flare skirts and hems with multicolor are going to cut your body off making you look shorter. Stick with tiered, sheath or single layer, single tone dresses. (or dresses with vertical stripes but ew really, right?). Another option to add color is a single scarf hanging over the shoulder of a black dress. Or, even sexier (and coincidentally, in style), the one shoulder dress! Mm mm mm luscious.
If you’ve got long legs and are tall and slender, well the sky is the limit when it comes to wearing short dresses.
There are a lot of rules put out by different fashion designers, style experts etc. The bottom line is that when you put on a dress and it makes you feel amazing, it suits you!
What styles of short dresses are in right now?
As of 2009 (this section will be amended as new trends emerge), the dress style that is most “in” right now is the one shoulder dress. Bubble skirts are making a resurgence, however they definitely aren’t for every figure. If you have short legs, the bubble skirt is not for you! The one shoulder dress, however, is ideal.
Can I look sexy, not slutty, wearing a short dress?
As I said above, when trying to look sexy, but not slutty, it’s all about “too”. If it’s too short, it’ll look slutty. If it’s too gaudy, it’ll look trashy. If it’s too tight, it ceases to be sexy and begins to look tacky. Sexy is more than just showing a lot of skin.
I’ve seen women at the Oscars look sexy in ¾ length sleeves and full length. If you think about Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, that infamous little black dress was infinitely sexy, and that dress was knee length.
Where can I buy short formal dresses?
There are many places across the web to buy formal dresses. Short formal dresses aren’t in plentitude at every web shop though, so it may be difficult to find what you’re looking for. There are two shops in particular which I find have the best options. Amazon.com and Edressme.com are the best shops on the Internet for short formal dresses.
Amazon. Com has the widest variety of bargain priced dresses from all over the world. Most of the dresses are previous seasons or vendors who have unsold merchandise at the end of the season, but a small number of merchants sell their wares on Amazon.
Edressme.com is one of my favorites because it has celebrity look-alike dresses at really reasonable prices. I first heard about them on the Today show where they had the dress worn by a couple of Oscar night starlet’s dresses, like Kate Winslet for example. They have some incredible looks and continually have an enormous selection of short dresses for every formal occasion possible; prom, homecoming or any other function you need is available on their website.
Where can I buy short casual dresses?
Casual short dresses are actually available everywhere. K-Mart, Wal-Mart, Amazon.com and even EBay are great places to find them. There are plenty of stores that stock a lot of different styles of dresses. I’d recommend checking EBay for the widest selection at the lowest prices. Amazon would be my second choice, but they have a lot ( I mean a TON) of cute styles.
Can I wear a short dress if I have skinny/heavy legs?
Sometimes people will say girls with bigger legs can’t wear short dresses. They’re wrong. Skinny legs or heavy legs can look great in the right dress. It’s again (I’m going to keep drilling this into readers) about confidence! If you feel sexy, you’ll look sexy. If you feel awkward, you’ll look awkward.
I’ll only caution that wearing a dress that fits tightly around the thighs isn’t the best option for heavier or very thin legs.
What should I wear on my legs with a short dress?
I recommend, strongly, wearing a pair of pantyhose in a dark color. Tan, black, grey or brightly or brightly colored, pantyhose are the best options (if the colors match the shoes). I’ve always liked the pantyhose with small decorations on them, like rhinestones or glitter. Other options are garters with stockings and, of course, bare legs.
If one chooses bare legs, be sure the legs have been shaved (or waxed), moisturized and, most importantly, tanned (using tanning lotion or spray).
If there have been any questions uncovered here, please feel free to leave a comment as to any other questions that you may have.
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What a wonderful, article love the way you say that pantyhose and stockings are a must when wearing a short dress or a skirt, yes it does make the legs much more sexy
when a woman wears nylons
My wife wore a miniskirt with black seamed stockings with a garterbelt last friday eve to go shopping at the mall and wow she looked very sexy and did she ever get the looks from many men, made her feel very sexy and she looked it, she is a pantyhose,stockings girl always..