Tag: petite dresses

Business Attire

Dress to Impress

by fashionablepetite1 Comment on Dress to Impress
Dress to Impress

Lounge-wear is slowly being retired to its original place in the dresser drawer as the working world slowly begins to resume after months of quarantine. Looking for some great work attire to impress the colleagues you haven’t seen in months? I’ve got you covered with my top picks.

I also want to start off by letting you know that I am now on LiketoKnowit! If you are wanting to shop my looks, I will be creating a page for my outfits and recommendations, so stay tuned! In the meantime, you can go to visit my profile here and follow me on LiketoKnow.it.

Now back to the blogging! Flutter dresses are some of my work attire favorites! They are versatile, professional, and I can throw a cardigan over the top to create a great work outfit. This lemon colored dress is from last year’s collection from Ann Taylor and the I love it for summer work-wear. Ann Taylor is also a great stop for cardigans and the V-neck Short Sleeve Cardigan is a great piece to wear atop a work dress. The cardigan comes in Night Sky, Fresh Mandarin, and Sensational Sand.

Also from Ann Taylor, I recommend the Ankle Pant in Crosshatch in neutral. The light crosshatch pattern is so classic and clean. It also adds texture to an outfit and would look great with a bright colored top.

Along with the pants, I recommend the Cameron Slim Crop Pant from J. Crew. This pant comes in SO many colors ranging from a vintage Kelly Green, Heather Graphite, Deep Fuchsia, and I personally love the Subtle Pink. It’s just a touch pink and almost resembles a peach ivory.

Ann Taylor also has a fabulous Flutter Sleeve Shirt Dress that I am currently oow-ing and aw-ing over. It comes in gorgeous Electric Cherry and I love the slight cutouts in the sleeves. It also has a tie-waist and would be great with a nude heel like this Low Block-Heel Slingback Pump from Banana Republic. These heels come in Natural & Black, Snakeskin, and Navy & Black Leather.

Transition to pencil skirts (there’s nothing more classic than a pencil skirt), this Petite No. 2 Pencil Skirt in bi-stretch cotton from J. Crew is a must. If you are in work-wear all day, you want to be comfy! The stretch on this skirt means it is less restrictive and it doesn’t ride up as much as a tradition pencil skirt. It hits knee length where is right where you want it to hit. It comes in Bitter Lemon, Soft Fuchsia, Ivory and Navy. The Bitter Lemon is near identical to the color of my flutter dress if you’re looking for something bright and summery.

Finally, this Bi-Stretch Blazer from Banana Republic comes in White & Navy Stripe. Similar to the skirt, this blazer is designed with stretch in mind. It moves with you, which is great for long days in the office. It has a single button for waist enhancement and a notched lapel. I love the classic feel of the Navy Stripe and the light color is great for hot days where you have to dress for work, but don’t want to be in a heavy, dark colored blazer.

Email me or comment below with your thoughts, or let me know your thoughts about what I’m missing on my list!

-xo

Darcy

Casual Attire, Fashion

Boho Maxi Dresses

by fashionablepetiteLeave a Comment on Boho Maxi Dresses
Boho Maxi Dresses

Flowy dresses with lots of movement are the best, especially in hot and heavy summer weather. I love dresses (that’s nothing new to anyone who has been reading my posts) and I would describe my style as feminine, leaning more towards classic looks. Bohemian style dresses are not something that I usually associate with my sense of style, but with the right dress, the sky is the limit. I am fully behind trying new styles and breaking into new trends, if it looks good. That’s how we grow and build our confidence. Clothing is a reflection of who you are and the way you dress mirrors how you feel about yourself. I’m here for the maxi dress and this is why.

This is the Shimmer Floral Flutter Sleeve Maxi Dress and I LOVE IT. I was skeptical when I purchased it because the shimmer and ruffles do add a lot to the dress. It actually fits really well and doesn’t overwhelm my frame. It actually works because the bodice is fitted and the sleeves ruffles are drawing your upward and outward (it’s all about illusions). The shoulder ruffles are also smaller and that makes a big difference when dressing a smaller build. There are also some ruffles along the torso and they hug the body which makes the dress flattering.

Let’s also talk about fabric for little bit.

The other takeaway when looking at maxi dresses, and all clothing for that matter, is fabric. If you are petite, DON’T GO TOO HEAVY. Pick a lighter fabric like a linen, a silk (talking about silk midi skirts again), or polyester. A lot of women don’t look at fabrics and this is a huge no-no. Fabric content is important because fabrics can impact the way you look just as much as the style of dress. This AT dress is 98% polyester and there is a reason a lot of clothing like workout wear is polyester based. It’s breathable and wicks way better than cotton. Polyester is also considerably lighter than cotton and won’t look as heavy or dense on a petite frame. I really do love cotton, but if you’re looking to dress up, cotton just isn’t the best fabric to wear. You’ll also sweat less in polyester, big bonus! I paired my look with my Steve Madden Karolyn Sandals and opted for a small crown braid to pair with the boho style of this maxi dress.

The other maxi dresses that I recommend are this Petite Strappy Ruched Maxi Dress from Banana and the Eliza J Pleated Chiffon Maxi Dress. The Ruched Maxi is light and flowy with a spaghetti strap top. I love that it is ruched because it’s flattering to the tummy area and covers an area that a lot of women are self conscious about. It’s gorgeous in the White Floral, as well as in basic black. The Eliza J Dress is made of chiffon, so it goes back to the airy feel of summer dresses. It’s cinched at the waist with a gold belt for a little sparkle and structure. This dress has a halter style top which is flattering on petite frames and the floral pattern is perfect for summer days out and about.

Have a wonderful start to summer!

-xo

Darcy

Dressy Attire, Fashion

White Summer Dresses

by fashionablepetiteLeave a Comment on White Summer Dresses
White Summer Dresses

I love all dresses. All styles. All the time. I love colorful dresses and patterns, but I’m also a big fan of a simple and clean looking dresses. There is something about a white dress in particular that captures the vibe of summertime. A white dress reminds me of watermelon, fireworks, and beaches. Here is my rundown of my favorite white dresses for summer 2020.

First off is this dress from Banana Republic! It is one of my favorite dresses I own. I wish it came it different colors because I would buy them all! I love it because it’s comfortable, but it’s also flattering on my frame. The Linen-Cotton Button-Front Mini Dress comes in regular, petite, and tall sizes. It has a slight ruffle cap sleeve (nothing too overpowering) and white buttoning down the chest. I paired it with espadrilles in black from LOFT and an Embroidered Wide Floppy Hat from Nordstrom Rack. The espadrilles are sold out, but I LOVE Viscata for espadrilles. They have the Canet Canvas Espadrille Wedges which are almost identical to mine. I’ve mention Viscata before, but I cannot get enough of them. They are elegant and can dress up any outfit.

A lot of women shy away from white dresses because they believe white is less flattering vs. black, or that they are concerned that they will become washed out by wearing white. Neither of these is true, you simple need to find the right dress with the right fit and you can always add pops of color later with shoes, jewelry, or a purse. White dresses can look great on all bodies, petite, tall, plus, and regular.

My next pick is a dress that’s more of a flowy option. If you’re looking for a more baby doll look, I recommend the Square Neck Flounce Dress from LOFT. It is extra flowy and would be great for a walk along the beach or a relaxed date night out. It also comes in Forever Navy, Electric Sun, and Shiny Coral.

My third selection is a super fun and trendy dress. If you’re on the hunt for something fun, look no further than French Connection’s Azana Ruffle V-Neck Midi Dress. The ruffle detailing on the shoulders adds femininity and flirtatiousness to the dress and the low neckline is offset by the the longer hemline. It is also comes in Red Ochre and Black. In the day, pair it with a colored sandal and to transform it at night, a platform or wedge would add a layer of sophistication.

When you’re looking for dresses, you can never go wrong with the Red Dress Boutique. There dresses are always reasonably priced and they have a huge selection of dresses that is updated daily. The downside to Red Dress is that because of their popularity, particularly in the summer, their dresses sellout quickly. If you’re someone who likes to keep items in your cart for more than a few hours, you’ll miss out on your selections. I am a big fan of eyelet dresses and the Summer Rays White Eyelet Dress is classic summer. The dress features a V-neck and short bell sleeves. The dress is slightly fitted through the hips and waist, but lends itself to a more relaxed vibe. The skirt is short and would look great with a platform sandal or a strappy ankle sandal.

Another eyelet option is Madewell’s Eyelet Tassel-Tie Mini Dress. It has a full sleeve and a keyhole front. It hits above the knee and has a tassel belt to cinch the waist. Out of all of my picks, this eyelet dress is the most conservative and traditional. That doesn’t mean it’s any less cute or trendy! I recommend pairing this dress with a ballet flat, a cat eye sunglasses, and a fun hair accessory such as a headband or a hair scarf.

I also really love a good maxi dress. The ASOS DESIGN Petite Exclusive strappy tiered maxi dress in white is a great option for a full length dress for petites. It has a v-neck with cami-straps and a scooped neck back. It has a tiered look and the cotton look makes it comfortable for a day dress. I suggest pairing it with a gladiator sandal or slip on sandal. Gold accessories would really elevate the simplicity of the dress, as would a pair of large frame sunglasses.

Please connect with me via email or through my Instagram! Have a great summer day beauties!

-xo

Darcy