Proportion and scale are very important when buying dresses. Petite ladies should be aware that a dress made for larger or taller women may "drown" her. Alterations are more difficult when the proportion and scale of a dress are too large. This illustration is from prom dresses for tall ladies Kentucky Fashion by Pamela Owen .
Proportion & Scale
Plus/Tall, Misses and Petite demonstrated with Little Black Dresses and accessories.polyvore.com