A beautiful short gown is typically at knee length or above the knee. It can be made with different materials, including chiffon, silk, cotton, lace, and crepe. There are various short gown styles for different types of bodies, and they are made for occasions that are both formal and informal.
Generally, a beautiful short gown can be worn to a cocktail party, a wedding reception, a graduation ceremony, a picnic, a dinner date, or an outing with friends. It is an adaptable dress type that can be paired with high heels or flats, depending on the occasion. Also, it can easily be accessorized with a necklace, earrings, hat, or a clutch bag.
Short gowns are a great addition to any wardrobe, and they are perfect for those who love to show off their legs. Whether you prefer a fitted or a flowy short gown, there is a style that will suit your taste. Here is a list of the top 15 you should consider.
Short Free Gown Styles for Ladies
Many short free gown styles are famous as “rich aunty short gowns.” As the name implies, it is made to fit loosely on the body. Yet, it has a way of exuding elegance and glamour. This type of gown is common among female fashion lovers and can be made with different fabrics such as silk, crepe, georgette, chiffon, cotton, and lace.
They can also be made with African fabrics such as Ankara, adire, and asoeke. Here is a list of some short free gowns you may want to add to your wardrobe.
1. Short Shirt Gown Style
Short shirt gowns can be styled with boots, sneakers, heels, flats, sandals, and covered shoes. Whatever shoe you choose to wear depends on the occasion. This dress is commonly free and is used for casual outings. Depending on how you style it, it can be used for formal events.
While this dress can be worn on its own, it gives an option of exploring it with trousers. This, however, will depend on the style and length of the dress.
2. Lantern and Balloon Sleeved Free Short Gown
The body of this type of gown is made as free as possible and in a very adaptable way. It can be made straight, round shape, and A-shape among other designs. The important thing is giving it a free fitting, and a lantern and Balloon (or puffy) sleeves which can be long or short.
This type of dress has survived different seasons of fashion trends but still keeps a place among clothes that never go out of trend. It increases elegance and it is equally classic.
One unique thing about this type of dress is that it can suit any body type. This means that whether you are petite, fat or slim, the free short gown will find a way of complementing your body.
This type of dress can be styled in many ways for different occasions. For instance, for a casual outing, you can style this beautiful free dress with sneakers and a handbag. Also, they can be worn with flat shoes such as sandals, boots, and slippers wears.
For formal occasions like weddings, official meetings, and parties, it can be styled with mostly heels. The heels can be covered, half-covered, or sandals.
3. Bubu Short Gown
The Bubu short gown is one of the most commonly found short gowns among women. It is a West African-originated style, which is also known as boubou, among several other names.
This type of short free gown is made in different ways with African prints, silk, laces, and any other kind of fabric. The major characteristic of this dress is having free body fitting and also mostly having large sleeves.
Bubu gown is an all-around type of dress as ladies can conveniently wear it for different occasions. For events such as weddings and formal outings, it can be styled with beautiful jewelry. Also, it can be paired with heels and a bag or clutch.
Another beautiful and elegant way it can be styled is with sneakers or boots. In fact, styling your bubu with these shoes is fast becoming a glamorous trend. Regardless, other shoes to pair with your bubu include flats, sandals, and easy-to-wear shoes.
4. Short Cowl Gown
The short cowl gown is a fashionable dress that has the aura of both African traditional fashion and modern design. The cowl drapes can be made on different parts of this free dress. Generally, a cowl neck is the most famous type of cowl. However, you can explore the design on the sleeves or side of the dress.
In general, the cowl dress is suitable for different body types. Regardless, it is mostly explored by plus-size women.
To complete a look with this style, pair your gown with simple, understated accessories and let the dress speak for itself. Some great things to combine it with are handbags and shoes.
5. Short Gown with Pockets
The Ankara short gown with pockets has stood the test of time and it remains beautiful. It is mainly patterned straight, and pockets are added to both sides of the dress. The pockets can be angled, cargo, banded, or zip-patched, among other designs.
This type of gown is often used in informal events, and sneakers are one of the most explored shoes to wear with this type of gown. This gown can worn with different types of hats such as boater, panama, cloche, floppy, or Fedora.
Short Ankara Gown Styles
One way that women have incorporated the use of Ankara fabric is through making beautiful short Ankara gowns or dresses. These gowns are defined mainly by their lengths, which can be on the knee or higher. They are also known for their beautiful designs, ranging from off-shoulder to sleeved or sleeveless, straight or flared, and plain to pleat.
These Ankara dresses are available for every body type and occasion – from casual to formal! They can be paired with heels, sandals, and jewelry. Short Ankara dresses can flatter your looks and bring out the beauty of your body in an amazing way. As such, they are a must-have for fashionable ladies who want to add style and uniqueness to their wardrobe.
6. Ankara Short Flare Gown
This is a trendy short Ankara outfit. It is also one of the most popular short Ankara dresses, which is easily used for various occasions such as weddings, formal events, parties, picnics, and casual outings.
It can be paired with heels, flats, sneakers, sandals, a clutch, or a handbag; this will depend on the occasion. As much as the Ankara flare gown is classy and stylish, it is also comfortable to wear. You can make it at knee length or even shorter, as far as it is comfortable to wear.
7. Peplum Short Ankara Gown
Whether you’re looking to attend a glamorous event or you have a casual outing, peplum Short Ankara Gown is a versatile and fashionable choice that is sure to turn heads. This dress is fitted at the upper part of the body and opens up from the waist down.
Interestingly, this peplum gown can be made with or without a layer. This means you can have a single flare (peplum), double, or multiple. It can be styled with hose or leggings. Also, to wear it for a formal outing, it can be styled with a shirt underneath the gown.
To bring more beauty to it, wear this dress with light or heavy accessories such as earrings, bangles, and necklaces. Depending on the occasion, you can wear heels, flats, or sneakers.
8. Beautiful Short Ankara Dress Mixed with Lace
The Ankara short dress mixed with lace is a classic and versatile style for women. The Ankara gives the dress a traditional outlook, while the lace adds a touch of elegance and glamour. It brings together African style and Western fashion, thereby giving an exquisite outlook.
One can use more of either the Ankara fabric or lace. Also, the blending can be done in any part of the dress. The blend of Ankara fabric and lace to make shorts is perfect for various occasions, from casual outings to formal events.
Additionally, the outfit can be paired with various accessories, allowing one to personalize the look to their liking.
9. Off-Shoulder Ankara Short Gown
Off-shoulder short Ankara dresses are a mixture of classic elegance and contemporary style. As with many other gowns on this list, they are versatile and can be worn for various occasions – from weddings to cocktail parties, dates, office, or even a casual day out. The off-shoulder Ankara style adds a touch of femininity and allure, making the wearer look effortlessly chic and stylish.
One unique thing about this type of gown is that it can be made in many ways. Women who prefer straight dresses can have their off-shoulder Ankara made in that nature. It can also be made in the form of A-line, short Ankara mermaid style, and many other ways.
The off-shoulder part can be created using different materials (not necessarily Ankara). Some renowned fabrics used for that part include silk, bridal satin, lace, crepe, and flowers.
10. Bodycon Ankara Short Gown Style
Made to fit the body closely and flatter one’s figure, this type of Ankara short gown is one of the most beautiful and highly used by women to enhance their fashion styles.
This type of style is made in a variety of ways, such as having the body straight, with ruffles at its edge, or with a drawstring front. Also, the dress can be without sleeves, with butterfly sleeves, or any other type of sleeve.
The bodycon Ankara short gown is a dress that can fit for both casual and formal events. Heels are usually perfect for formal events, while sneakers and other flat shoes compliment the outfit when dressing casually.
Short Dinner Gown Styles With Sequin Material
Also known as sequin, sequence short gowns are stylish and beautiful styles for fashionable women. Generally, sequence materials are known for their intricate beadwork and embroidery. The good thing is, they fit different occasions.
This means that whether you are looking for a sequence short gown for a birthday, dinner, graduation, or wedding, there are different styles you can choose from. Below is the list of sequence short dinner gown styles.
11. Sequin Short Gown with Feather
This type of sequence short gown is great for dinners and birthday parties. It is often made with plain sequin and feathers or furs and added to any part of the dress. This addition is mostly done at the edge of the dress or the edge of the sleeve.
The feathers added to this type of short gown often provide an eye-catching effect. With respect to how it should be styled, this dress suits perfectly with beautiful earrings and other jewelry.
Since this type of style is best for formal events, it is best styled with heels. You can pair it with pumps, strappy heels, open-toe, gladiator, and sandal heels among other types of shoes.
12. Off-Shoulder Sequin Short Gown Style
The short off-shoulder sequin dress is a trendy choice for dinners and other formal occasions like weddings, birthdays, or bridal showers. The style leaves one’s shoulder open, revealing necklines.
Most times, the shorter the dress is, the more youthful touch it gives to one’s look. However, it cannot be overemphasized that when this dress is longer, it increases the elegance and beauty of the wearer.
Since this style focuses more on the type of shoulder it has, other parts of the dress can be made in a variety of ways. Some styles to choose when making the body of this dress include pencil or bodycon and peplum.
In addition, this style is versatile and can be dressed up with statement jewelry. Since the dress is made in a way that exposes the neck and a little of the chest area, a great way to style it will be to add a necklace.
13. Sequin Short Corset Gown
A short sequin gown is perfect for dinner, weddings, and other formal events. The corset is made to accentuate your curves, paying attention to your bust and waistline. Most times, the lower part also gives attention to your legs.
There are different types of corset dresses you can choose to make on your sequence. Some of them include mid-bust corsets, overbust corsets, underbust corsets, cincher types of Corsets, and Edwardian corsets and Elizabethan corsets.
These corsets suit different types of bodies and may define your body differently. For instance, corselettes are made to reduce your waist size and lift your bust, while an overbust corset is also made to support your back.
In any case, sequin corset short gowns are best styled with matching heels. For occasions such as weddings, a headwrap can give it a perfect owambe look.
14. One-Sleeved Short Corset Gown
The one-sleeved short sequin dress is one of the most beautiful dresses to have. It can be long, short, fitted or flared. Also, you can opt for a one off-shoulder sleeve.
While you can make one sleeve using the sequin, you can also use other fabrics, such as silk, cotton, velvet, or any other material to create it. The body of this dress is mostly made straight or in any pattern that is beautiful and suitable for your body type.
Like many other short-sequence dresses on this list, this dress is versatile and can be used for different occasions – mostly formal. It can be styled with beautiful clutch, heels, and other accessories.
15. Short Sequin Gown with Wraps or Slits
Another sequin short gown style for dinner is the one with wraps or slits. The wraps are made in front and often start from the waist down. If you opt for a slit, it can be created in front, at the side, or at the back of the dress.
This dress can be styled with a necklace, a clutch, and heels to match.