As the old-school wedding rule book continues to be rewritten (we are here for it), bridesmaid dresses are still patiently waiting for an update. Short bridesmaid dresses still seem to be passed over in favour of more traditional floor-length styles.
We do love a long gown moment, but if you’re planning a summer ceremony the thought of wearing a maxi dress in the sweltering heat might make your bridesmaids politely decline your invitation. . . They won’t though, of course. But might we suggest that you consider a short bridesmaid dress instead? We know what you’re thinking; how can a min-dress look classy? Trust us. There are some incredibly sweet and chic mini dress options that will let your girls feel confident and look sophisticated (all while complementing your bridal gown perfectly, of course. )
We get it. It can be easy to assume that there’s only one type of dress to choose from (typically maxi-length, chiffon or lace — and super floaty) but actually there are so many other alternatives for you to choose from, which will show off your maids’ individuality and suit your theme and decorations. We’ve already rounded up some unique bridesmaid dresses for all year round as well as the very best floral bridesmaid dresses (because, who said bridesmaid dresses needed to be block colour only? )
To give you a helping hand and tick another thing off your pre-nuptial to-do list, we’ve curated a list of our favourite short bridesmaid dress styles to cater to a variety of tastes, body shapes and styles from shops including Asos, Net-A-Porter and Monsoon.
For something short and sweet, look to this blush pink organza mini dress from Dream Sister Jane Bridesmaid at ASOS although if you wanted a figure-hugging alternative Norma Kamali’s one-shoulder ruched stretch-jersey dress is ideal — and comes in 2023’s on-trend shade of sage green.
Self-Portrait have an endless array of wonderful occasion and bridesmaid dresses. Their baby pink grosgrain-trimmed corded lace mini dress is sweet and chic. Reformation’s navy silk wrap-around dress has long sleeves that balance out the bare skin on show with a short dress as does Karen Millen’s elegant tuxedo-style blazer dress. Ideal for a smart city weddings, it’s also something your bridesmaids would want to wear again (making your choice a sustainable win, too. )
