If you know me then you’ll know that it’s no secret what my favourite item to fill my wardrobe is every summer - dresses. Dresses really are the perfect summer piece to add to your collection and are, in my opinion, a true wardrobe essential. One brand that always stands out to me when it comes to dresses to suit us petite women is Karen Millen - a pioneer in their petite range and a brand I always find myself gravitating towards for any summer event. Whether you’re looking for a wedding guest dress, the perfect white dress to add to your collection, a stunning floral number, a classic LBD or a midi that fits like a glove, there’s plenty to consider to perfect your style. Here are my favourite five dresses from Karen Millen’s Petite range to see you through any and every occasion this summer.
The Perfect White Dress
The perfect white dress is a vital addition to every woman's wardrobe - one that can see you so well throughout summer. Whenever I add new pieces into my wardrobe I always consider the cost per wear, ensuring that it’s a great wardrobe investment - I’ve always found that a little white dress ticks that box for me. White is such a classic colour and one that will never date, so it’s a great item to bring out of your wardrobe every single summer.
This striking broderie number is the perfect addition to my summer wardrobe and a great piece to dress up or dress down. Pair as I have, with a gorgeous pair of sandals, your favourite bag and some sweet summer accessories for a garden party, summer drinks or evening meal - you can also simply change up the shoes for more casual flats or even trainers and you’ve got the perfect outfit for a BBQ, lunch date or day shopping with friends.
This gorgeous option has such a stunning clean cut that it’ll suit so many body shapes and types, plus the petite fit means the length fits perfectly on me. The classic cut of the dress is something I just adore - opting for a more classic and timeless silhouette is so important when it comes to adding items into your wardrobe that won’t date, won’t go out of trend and will forever be a classic item to reach for every summer.
Wedding Guest Dresses
Probably the most searched for, most asked about and most enquired by category - the wedding guest dress. After two years of no weddings, it makes my heart soar to see so many gorgeous couples able to finally say I do. and of course, we all want to be the best dressed guest.
Personally, there’s a few things I look for when it comes to wedding guest dresses - number one is whether the dress looks good from all angles. When you’re spending the majority of your time posing for the camera, you never know when you may unexpectedly take centre-stage in a photoshoot. Feeling comfortable and confident in a dress that you know looks good is extremely important.
Weddings are also long days, full of eating, drinking and, of course, dancing. I always want to make sure that the dress I have chosen is going to be comfortable for the full day, something I can eat in, something I can sit in and of course, something I can party in.
This floral design is the perfect item that ticks all those boxes for me and one I would recommend to anyone looking for the perfect dress to attend a wedding this year. Styled with a pair of statement heels and a gorgeous little bag that you can keep in the crook of your arm, it’s apt for any wedding this summer. And speaking of cost per wear, this is the kind of dress you definitely don’t need to wear just once. After the wedding you can style for numerous occasions such as parties, date nights or even as a holiday look.
Petite Floral Summer Dresses
When it comes to summer styling, I always love adding classic, timeless pieces into my wardrobe and don’t opt for trends that won’t stand the test of time. Half of my summer wardrobe is filled with floral pieces and frankly, I couldn’t be happier about it. Florals are one of my favourite patterns to reach for - they don’t date, they’re so flattering and so seasonably appropriate for your summer wardrobe. I’ve also found myself letting my floral pieces leak into my other seasonal wardrobes too - paired with chunky boots and a cardigan for autumn, trainers and a leather jacket for spring and of course, sandals and hats for summer.
I always adore being able to pull out my floral dresses from years before and seeing how I can update them for the summer ahead - whether that’s changing up the belt for one in my collection already, experimenting with accessories with the piece or adding a different bag to switch up the look.
Midi Petite Dresses
I absolutely adore a midi dress for summer and find myself reaching for them so much more than minis or maxis - they’re so much more comfortable to wear, easy to style up or down and are so elegantly timeless. I always get so many messages about how to style a midi being a petite girl and there’s always a few key details I look for in my midis.
Firstly, ensure that it has a tie or elasticated waist - it’s so important to be able to show off your figure under the dress and emphasise the silhouette of a small waist, which is why I always find that midis with a cinched in waist are the most flattering for us petite ladies. I also love midis that have detail around the shoulders - whether that’s a puff sleeve, a shoulder pad or a detailed collar. Having these features always draws the eyes upwards and gives the illusion of a taller frame.
Lastly, I always find that a midi that has more detailing in the skirt is so flattering on us shorter girls, it helps to ensure you’re not overwhelmed in block fabric and creates a more elongated, streamlined silhouette.
As you can see, this beauty ticks all those boxes for me and styled with some little strappy sandals completes the elegant, elongated look for yet another perfect midi dress for summer.
The Summer LBD
I absolutely adore an all-black outfit in summer, and pairing a black dress with black accessories is an impactful way to really embrace the colour for your summer dressing and emphasise the monochromatic trend. I find when it comes to wearing black in summer, looking at the fabric of the item is extremely important and something that I know Karen Millen champions within their dresses.
By utilising lighter, more breathable and natural fabrics, it ensures you’re comfortable in your dress as well as beautiful. This particular piece comes in a linen blend - one of my favourite fabrics to look for in summer. The linen aspect of the dress is light, breathable and so comfortable, while blending it in with other fabrics ensures your dress doesn’t get as creased and crushed as linen and stays beautiful for longer
For classic, timeless and elegant evening looks, a little black dress is your best friend and will always be a favourite for me and my summer wardrobe.
