What you need to know before you wear a mini dress

Nov 07, 2016

Avoid over-the-knee styles unless they end right over the knee or the entire outfit might look a bit trashy.

 Women wearing mini dresses. Photo by Richard Sanya

The mini dress is an ultimate classic that can make a woman look casual, chic, sexy, elegant, or a number of other things, depending on how the mini dress is worn.

Unfortunately, mini dresses also can have a bad reputation for being too revealing if worn improperly. Most women should wear them carefully, choose a dress that suits their figure, and then choose the right make-up and accessories to complement the style.

The do's and don'ts of wearing a mini dress can vary depending on where the dress is being worn.

Consider pairing the mini dress with tights

One of the biggest concerns with the mini dress is that it is very short. While this is fine in itself, adding tights of any kind can be a great way to wear a mini dress in colder weather or to tone down the look if the dress is a little too short. Most women should avoid fishnet or net tights and wear opaque or solid tights instead. However, tights are not absolutely necessary to wear with a mini dress, especially if the temperature is warm. If the dress is a little too short, tights can make it classier and offer more coverage so they are always a great consideration.

Wear a mini dress with the right shoes

Shoes can make or break an outfit with a mini dress. Shoes can have a heel or not, depending on the occasion, time of day, style of the dress, and the woman. If wearing heels, remember that they do make short skirts look shorter and that the combination of heels and mini dress is very hard to pull off during daytime.

Boots

Boots and a mini dress are an instant classic but there are a few things to watch out for. Avoid over-the-knee styles unless they end right over the knee or the entire outfit might look a bit trashy. Knee or calf boots with tights and a dress can look very cute and classy for any time of day.

Flats

Flats are very easy to pair with a mini dress, depending on the style of the dress. For example, a casual A-line style skater dress could be easily paired with Converse or Vans but a fitted bodycon dress definitely should not be. Try matching the style of the shoes with the style of the dress and remember that while it is easy to wear dressier shoes with a casual dress, the other way around is usually a mistake.

 Be comfortable with your body

Mini dresses are revealing and the most flattering way to wear one is to be comfortable. Do not spend the whole night pulling the dress down because it is not flattering. Anyone who is self-conscious about the amount of leg they are showing can consider wearing tights or leggings.

 Don't wear the mini dress too tight

Don't show too much skin

While it can be tempting to purchase a low-cut mini dress, the look is rarely flattering except for at clubs. Most women find that they are most flattered by not showing off cleavage with a mini dress. However, it is perfectly fine to show off shoulders and arms because these offer a lot of balance and can look very nice with a mini dress.

Don't overdo it

Last but not least, it is always a good idea to remember to not overdo it. If the event is very formal than overdoing it is perfectly fine of course, but for a party or casual wear, the idea is to keep it simple and let the dress do the talking. If the dress is simple, pair it with a statement necklace or belt, or elegant shoes. If the dress is glamorous, let it be the centre of attention and keep accessories to a minimum.

While a tight dress is fine, it is always a good idea to not wear a dress too tight. A mini dress is already short and showing off a lot of leg which means that it is already sexy. If the dress shows off belly or the person wearing it looks like they can barely move, the look is far from flattering.

Usually, it is a great idea to purchase a dress based on personal measurements rather than size as many dresses are sized differently from shirts and bottoms. This means measuring hips, bust, and the smallest part of the waist before making a purchase and then buying a dress that is a bit larger than those measurements.

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