4 summer event dresses under $100

polka dot smocked petite maxi dress

I partnered with ASOS for a fun reel over on Instagram, and wanted to share some fit and fabric details on each piece! Their petites collection runs on the smaller side and is one of the few brands that fit very petite ladies off the rack. ASOS carries a variety of brands and fit varies based on each brand, though I generally suggest sizing up especially with their in-house label. Shipping to the US is very fast and the returns process has always been smooth for me.

In my reel I shared a few dress picks ranging from garden party to black tie appropriate, and they’re also having a promo right now – 20% off with code SUPPLIES.

Step 1: the Undergarments

Since I always get questions on the bra situation, with each of these dresses I have on my favorite Bristols 6 adhesive nippies which I pretty much live in for summer tanks and special occasion pieces. I reuse them countless times and find them to be so freeing and comfy!

I also love my Uniqlo shaper shorts for pieces like the satin dress below for adding just a little smoothing and shaping. These shorts are lightweight and comfortable for me to wear all day, so if you want more intense compression or hold I’d go with stronger shapewear like Spanx, etc.

1. Black Tie Event // Estate Wedding

petite satin maxi dress

Also available in regular sizing in lots of colors. Petite also comes in chocolate.

Wow – hands down my favorite ASOS find for a timeless special occasion dress. You’d be hard pressed to find a formal, black tie appropriate dress under $100 and even harder to find one that fits a petite frame without ANY alterations! This one is a winner and I absolutely love the elegance and drape. The fabric weight is pleasantly thicker than I expected. It’s not clingy like some satin dresses, not too shiny, not too bright, and looks much more luxe than the $80 price tag. The tie back with a sexy dip is adjustable for a good fit. I went up a size to 0 Petite and it is a gently curve-skimming fit.

petite satin gown black tie wedding dress

2. Garden Party // Baby Shower

polka dot maxi midi dress petite maternity

This one is so cute and comfortable, and good quality for the affordable price point. I was drawn in by the happy reviews and loved seeing one customer add some edge by wearing it with black combat boots! The smocking also makes this bump and nursing friendly. Even though this is regular sizing and not petite, the fit of a 0 on me was very good as a longer midi / almost maxi length dress.

3. Winery Wedding

topshop petite silky midi maxi dress

A fun and vibrant option for my color and print lovers. The fabric is lightweight with a silky feel and flows with each movement. The pale neon color would look amazing against a summer tan. Petite sizing means the sleeves actually fit and aren’t too long on me, however the back part was a little big on me and would probably be a more ideal fit on someone an inch taller. I appreciated seeing some of the customer photos in the reviews of this dress on different body types!

4. Cocktail Attire

asos little black linen dress

With anything cocktail attire, it’s hard to go wrong with an LBD. My photos unfortunately could not capture some of the details, but the material on this is actually a lightweight black linen. The bust area is shirred across and I’m a fan of the voluminous yet softly draping statement sleeves. The two stretch back bands are also shirred, and there is a side zipper closure on this skirt. The skirt is a gentle A line (not very flared) and I found the hip area to run a little narrow.

strappy back petite mini dress

I also wanted to point out a few other pieces that I tried on!

  • ASOS petite sarong 0 Petite – Been searching for a tie waist cover up like this, with a little more of a “skirt” shape and structure compared to a plain rectangle sarong!
  • ASOS belted maxi dress 0 Petite – love the eyelet skirt with slit and waist belt. Note the skirt is not lined so you’ll definitely need skin-toned underwear. The 0P is a snug fit on me.
  • ASOS v-neck slip dress 0 Petite – another lovely satin slip style dress. Beautiful champagne color in person, subtly sexy deeper V neckline, but unfortunately no zipper so this one took some effort getting over my shoulders, even after sizing up.

Leave a Comment

6 Comments

  1. Kim wrote:

    You are beautiful! And the dress is lovely

    Posted 6.19.22 Reply
  2. Valeri A Pighini wrote:

    And that ASOS SQUARE NECK DRESS! I love the back. I looked at it on the model and it looks so much better on your shape. I would look like a cow in that dress – LOL. I’m 4’11”, 106 lbs, size 32DD chest. I’m constantly struggling to look chic, like you. I really do adore your posts Jean.

    Posted 6.19.22 Reply
    • Jean | Fashion Tips Blog wrote:

      Hi Val, you’re too funny and you never know! There are so many styles I’ve tried on on a whim and have been pleasantly surprised by the fit. Thank you for all of your kind words, I hope you and your family are doing well x

      Posted 6.20.22 Reply
  3. Valeri A Pighini wrote:

    Oh my. That ASOS Strappy Slip dress! You wear elegant so well. Mother of two? You’re killin’ me.

    Posted 6.19.22 Reply
  4. April Barnes wrote:

    Hi Jean!
    Absolutely love them! I love the satin gown of course, but really love the neon dress as well! I love the elegant and timeless looks and appreciate the longer hemlines that are thankfully in fashion that work great for those 40-somethings with knobby knees! Thanks for another lovely post!

    Posted 6.18.22 Reply
    • Jean | Fashion Tips Blog wrote:

      Thank you, April! I hope you’re doing well xx

      Posted 6.20.22 Reply

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