Petite Maternity Dresses

What Are Petite Maternity Dresses?

There is a universal, unspoken rule in fashion: size is essential. This law is ESPECIALLY important in maternity fashion, which strives to suit women of every shape and size while their bodies grow through pregnancy. So, why would a maternity clothes line NOT offer petite maternity dresses? Yeah, we couldn’t think of a reason, either!

We’ll tell you what every petite women already knows: some standard sizes just won't fit, no matter how much you want them to. They’re too long, too large around the waist, the sleeves eat your hands — there’s always something! Add a baby bump into the mix, and finding your size just got ten times harder.

So what is a lil mother-in-the-making to do? When you’re looking, your bump is growing, and you stand under 5’3”, you need clothes that are small AND large at the same time. Like, petite maternity clothes. Someone sells maternity dresses for petite ladies, right?

Guidance for Different Body Types Within Petite Sizes

Petite maternity clothing must cater to various body shapes, as petite women can vary significantly in body type. It's crucial to choose maternity wear that suits your specific body shape while also comfortably accommodating your growing belly. For instance, petite women with an apple body shape might find empire waist dresses ideal. These dresses, which flow from just below the bust, offer comfort around the midsection and highlight the slimmest part of the torso. Conversely, those with a pear shape may prefer A-line dresses that flare gently from the waist, helping to balance the hips.

Petite women with a more rectangular body shape often benefit from added definition. Maternity dresses with side ruching or gathering can create curves. For bustier petite women, V-necklines are a great choice as they elongate the neck and balance the upper body. The goal is to find maternity clothing that fits well and flatters your body's unique shape. The fabric and cut of the dress are also important; stretchy materials accommodate different body changes, while structured dresses might need more accurate sizing.

How to Dress in Petite Maternity Clothes

If your mother has given you a teeny-tiny frame and height of about 5’2”, chances are your body proportions are smaller than the average woman. You’re super cute! But it’s a pain to find clothes that don’t fall off. Here’s how to pick the best petite maternity dresses for your body:

• Dark Colors - The general goal of petite maternity dressing is to lengthen and elongate your frame. The best way to do this is to opt for darker shades and monochromatic outfits that slim your silhouette. You can always add a color accent to pop up your look. For example, a black maternity dress can be highly effective in giving the illusion of height, so you don't have to feel like such a small mom.
• Think Thirds - It’s been found that a 1/3 + 2/3 ratio is very appealing to our eyes in art, architecture, fashion, you name it. You can use this trick to make your outfits more flattering by choosing pregnancy dresses that maintain this ratio. This means gowns with either a high waistline, short skirt, or a petite maternity maxi dress with a strapless design. Off the shoulder maternity dresses make a great choice to take advantage of this "golden ratio".
• Watch The Skirt - If you have short legs, certain dress lengths can make you appear shorter and stockier. Aim for a maternity dress that falls right above or below the knee. You can also rock extra petite knee-length maternity dresses or dresses with mini skirts that hit mid-thigh.
• Let’s Stretch! - Your torso might be shorter than the average woman’s, though this is not always true for every petite mama. If your torso is shorter, you’ll want to stick to stretchy, elastic maternity dresses WITHOUT straps because they can adjust to your natural frame. Good thing all of our maternity dresses are elastic and flexible, for obvious reasons!
• Awesome Accessories - You want to keep all your accessories — purses, belts, cuffs, necklaces, even heels — in proportion with your body and face. To put it simply, nothing can be too large. Anything too large will make you appear smaller. This is ESPECIALLY important for heels. You might be tempted to wear high heels for height, but a heel too high will throw off your proportions.

What Petite Maternity Dress is Best For You?

Now that you know how to style yourself to the tens, which mini mama dress should you buy? Depends on the occasion, of course!

Petite Maternity Dresses for Baby Showers

Petite baby shower dresses are here! We recommend these maternity dresses for petite ladies with a baby bash to plan:

• Athena - Fitted and ruched, this mini maternity bodycon dress will flex all your new curves!
• Tatiana - The perfect skirt-length works for all the mini moms to be
• Annabelle - That golden 2/3 ratio never looked better in color!
• Gianna - A bow balances all your proportions perfectly
• Sasha - The best petite maternity maxi dress with a flexible fit and NO straps to fall off you!

Small Petite Maternity Evening Dresses

For that fancy thing you have to go:

• Athena - Wear in a dark shade with with heels and jewels for a dangerous black-tie look
• Gianna - That bow and neckline. Enough said.
• Sasha - Exposes all your lovely skin to make your jewelry shine 10x brighter

Comparing Petite Dresses with Regular Maternity Wear

When comparing petite maternity wear to standard maternity sizes, several differences are evident. Regular maternity sizes are generally designed for women of average height, leading to longer hemlines, sleeves, and torso lengths that might not be ideal for petite frames, while plus sized maternity dresses may be more suitable for larger women. Petite maternity clothing, on the other hand, is tailored specifically for shorter women, ensuring a more appropriate fit in terms of length and proportions. For example, while a standard maternity maxi dress might be too long for a petite woman, a petite-specific maxi dress will have the correct length. This attention to detail ensures that the clothing fits properly not just in width to accommodate the growing belly but also in overall length and size.

Differences also exist in the placement of design features like waistlines, pockets, and bust darts. In regular maternity wear, these elements are positioned for an average height, which can result in a poor fit on a petite frame. For instance, the waistline might be too low, or bust darts might not align correctly. Petite maternity wear modifies these details to suit shorter body proportions, ensuring a more flattering fit, as opposed to plus sized maternity dresses which may be more suitable for larger women. While both regular and petite maternity clothes provide stretch and flexibility, petite maternity wear is more likely to offer a snug fit around areas like the shoulders and hips, where petite women may often find standard maternity sizes too large.

Where to Buy Petite Maternity Clothes

Fabulous news! You can buy petite maternity wear right here at Maternity Dresses. We want to follow all fashion laws, so we made plenty of petite maternity dresses for our mini moms. If you want a petite maternity maxi dress or a cute pregnancy dress for your casual wardrobe, there are tiny-big options for you here.

Our specialty is pregnancy dresses (always and forever), so we offer petite maternity dresses for baby showers, photoshoots, and evening events! Keep the party rolling and find your favorite, fun-sized style in this collection. We’re always available if you need help finding a particular size or dress!