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Women's bodies have long been idealized, but no body type has been envied more than the hourglass. Whether you're a Hollywood starlet, working mom, single girl or a student, your hourglass figure has undoubtedly been ogled by more than a few. But ladies, there isn't just one specific hourglass figure, as those of you who are petite and curvy are probably are aware of. A petite hourglass figure should be dressed to accommodate its curves and height. So, check out some of the hottest dresses for your frame.
Wrap
Ahh yes, the classic and ever-flattering dress style that was practically designed with bountiful curves in mind. The wrap dress is one of those garments that manages to flatter all body types with its easy fit and skillful construction. Since hourglass figures look good in basically anything, it should be no surprised that the wrap dress is added to the list. The best thing about a wrap dress is the way it nips in at the waist to accentuate it. An hourglass figure doesn't need any help defining the waist, but extra attention never hurts. Also, most wrap dresses fall no lower than right at the knee, great for petite ladies with short legs because it doesn't overwhelm their lower half.
A-Line
One of the most common and oldest dress styles is an A-line design. Literally resembling the letter "A", an A-line dress is more fitted at the top, with a defined waist that slightly flares at the bottom. All of these elements are fabulous ways to enhance a petite hourglass figure. By stopping at the knee or just above, an A-line dress doesn't cut off a petite women's legs, making her appear shorter. Instead, it creates the illusion of length.
Knee-Length
When you're petite, you want to create the illusion of longer legs and a longer torso. Dresses that hit you below the knee or midcalf totally cut your frame in half, making your legs appear shorter. For a regular petite figure, dresses way above the knee would be ideal, but when you're a petite hourglass, you must take your curves into consideration. A knee-length dress skims the body and provides a flattering silhouette that accentuates the full hips, thighs and rear of an hourglass figure without overdoing it.
Sheath
With a design that fits the body tightly for a jaw-dropping silhouette, a sheath dress is classy, chic and effortless. It flawlessly skims the full bust, small waist and curvy hips of a petite hourglass figure, which ultimately provides a fabulous fit. Many sheath styles fall around the lower thigh area, so petite ladies don't have to stress about their compact legs looking stumpy and overly short. Quick tip: For those of you who are very full-busted, choose sheath dresses with thicker straps for support.
