Help me find a classy petite bridesmaids dress

April 30, 2015 7:26 PM

I'm going to be a bridesmaid and I get to buy my own dress! Great. However, I have a specific brief: boat neck, low (ideally quite low) back, short sleeve or sleeveless. Length is up to me but she'd prefer it be shorter rather than longer. Nothing white or white-adjacent. I'm struggling to find a petite dress that fits the brief and still looks classy. Help?

All of the dresses I've found so far are either not petite (I'm a smallish petite) or look very, very young. I'm in my 30s and am looking for something a little more conservative that fits. Anyone have any advice? I usually shop at Banana, Ann Taylor, Ralph Lauren.

posted by arnicae to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (7 answers total)

American Apparel has a lot of backless dresses.
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:35 PM on April 30, 2015

JCrew has dresses that might work.
posted by belladonna at 7:37 PM on April 30, 2015 [12 favorites]

Talbots has a whole petites section and it's a little more on the conservative side--you might not find a very low back. But their clothes are really well made and they have great sales if you sign up for their email list (you can unsubscribe later, no problem). In fact this weekend everything is 30% off!
posted by exceptinsects at 7:39 PM on April 30, 2015

eShakti.com will let you customize like crazy. Often you can change the neckline, hem length, and sleeve type. And, if you have a body that doesn't seem to pair well with off-the-rack dresses, you can provide them with your measurements and get it just for you cheaper than you would hope possible. They have a section just for bridesmaids but you will find awesome choices throughout. An amazing number of beautiful dresses. I was wed in a dress from here.
posted by Foam Pants at 11:20 PM on April 30, 2015 [1 favorite]

How about this dress from vintage-inspired line Trashy Diva? I can vouch for them being great quality and vert flattering. This particular dress has both a boat neck and a low v back; the length is above the knee depending on your height (if you're around 5' or under, it may be closer to knee length).

The dress itself is not strictly petite but it starts at a size 2 and you could get the bodice made shorter quite easily if you needed to.

It also comes in black.
posted by RubyScarlet at 7:26 AM on May 1, 2015 [1 favorite]

Ann Taylor has got some nice styles.

You might also check out ModCloth, they've always got some interesting things.
posted by vignettist at 8:20 AM on May 1, 2015

Traditionally bridesmaidy brand and pricier, but alfred sung for dessy has several styles fitting that description. Not specifically petite, but easy alterations, very pretty and versatile, and all of my bridesmaids have reworn, so. Also, i find lulus just always runs a little short- is junior sizing an option?
posted by beignet at 1:46 PM on May 2, 2015