Women's Short & Mini Dresses

Two or three inches separate a mini that moves easily from one that governs how you sit. Measured from the shoulder seam to the hem, an above-knee mini generally runs 34 to 36 inches and finishes at or just above the kneecap, a standard mini runs 32 to 34 and sits a few inches higher, and a micro-mini runs 30 to 32 and lands at mid-thigh. Those figures are taken on a model of around five foot six, so the same dress climbs on a taller frame and drops on a shorter one; check the shoulder-to-hem number against your own height rather than trusting the photograph.

Shapes fall into a few camps. Bodycon and ribbed knits follow the line of the body; A-line, skater and babydoll cuts flare and leave room to move; shift and slip styles hang straight; and blazer and shirt dresses borrow their structure from tailoring. Fabric sets the volume: sequins, crystal mesh, cut-outs and feather trims are the loud end, while crepe, satin and jersey stay quiet and denim, leather and lace sit somewhere in between.