We are looking for a semi-formal dress that will flatter a short and busty body shape. What style of dress should we look for that will have her feeling beautiful?

Q: My mother is attending a wedding. We are looking for a semi-formal dress that will flatter her short and busty body shape. What style of dress should we look for that will have her feeling beautiful?

Lissa I. from Brownwood Texas

A: The blessing and the curse of being top-heavy and short. It’s great when in your 20’s. A large chest is still sitting up high and perky and it enhances your overall look of creating a natural hourglass figure. The older we get though, it gets harder to dress a top-heavy figure and we need to be more strategic when styling and choosing shapes and styles of clothing that make us feel and look great rather than skewing matronly at formal events or any day.

No fear though, I am a stylist whose majority of clients are 40+, so finding great formal options that are flattering is right up my alley. There are two styles of dresses that always flatter a short and busty woman.  Look for a dress that creates either a column or hourglass shape. Let’s have our favorite petite and busty actress Susan Sarandon show us how it’s done. 

Answered by Stylist Kenny Hazelwood

 

No matter if you choose an hourglass fitting dress or a column dress. Showing off some skin up top – not necessarily just cleavage – but shoulders or arms, helps combat a frumpy/matronly image. This hourglass style dress on Susan Sarandon is perfectly synched in at the waist and skims the body nicely. Get this look by having your dress altered to fit you.

Stylist Tip: Pair any dress with a minimizer style bra. You can still have comfort and support with an underwire-free soft shaping bra by choosing a well fitting minimizer style.

You can choose a dress that fits, flatters and feels good by focusing on features and benefits that are important to you. Check out all the features in this column dress that has Susan, looking so stunning.

A dress with a fitted waist will give you the added height to elongate you and and support high heels. The drapery shown around the bust and waist in this column dress creates a slimming effect. And of course showing a little décolletage, done tastefully, can look sexy and appropriate. And most importantly draw attention up to your beautiful face.