Regardless of your body type, if your height is less than 5´4″, you´re on the petite side. And unlike your taller counterparts, you need to work more on your vertical line and create illusions of taller height. Whether you´re dressing for the office or just a day-out shopping with friends, these tips will help you highlight your vertical silhouette and avoid the garments that cut off your line.
Being petite shouldn´t stop you from looking fabulous. Follow these styling tricks for petite women and be ready to rock that magical tall look.
1. Wear Monochromatic Look
In order to achieve an un-broken vertical line, go for a monochromatic look. To create interest to your monochromatic outfit, combine different textures and fabrics for your top and bottom. For example, if you wear a yellow tank top, pair it with a yellow denim skirt.
2. Create Tonal Combination
This is another way of highlighting your vertical line, similar to tip #1. But this trick is not about monochrome, it´s combining together different separates in the same family of color and of almost the same shade. Continue the tone down to your shoes.
3. Go for Vertically Designed Prints and Patterns
This is very obvious. If you’re wearing garment with vertical prints and patterns, you look taller than your real height. The eyes are made to believe that your line is longer. Opt for a vertically printed halter dress or vertical striped (preferably thin stripes) tunic top paired with dark skinny jeans.
4. Opt for Clothes with Vertical Lines
Some garments are made with clear vertical line designs, they´re your best-friend. These clothes are more elegant and professional looking than stripes.
5. Wear Smaller-Scaled Graphics and Prints
Oversized or exploded multicolored prints will subdue your size, making you look smaller and shorter than you really are. Your picks are smaller-scaled graphics and prints such as smaller dots and floral.
6. Choose Garments that Fit Close to the Body
In choosing clothes, go for narrow silhouettes worn close to the body. Meaning, clothes that fit right. Avoid oversized wears even if they´re trending.
7. Wear Your Print on the Top
Draw the eye upward by wearing prints and patterns on your top. This prevents your audience from focussing on your legs (which are not long). For example, wear a cute pastel print top with white skinny jeans, tucked in.
8. Choose Seaming, Single Breasted or with Zip Front Coats and Jackets
Fake your vertical line by opting for single breasted, seamed coats or zip-front jackets. These coats create a longer vertical silhouette than their double-breasted associates.
9. Wear Above-the-Knee, Knee-Length or Drape Long Skirts that Reveal 3-4 inches of Legs
When it comes to skirts, you have three options. You can wear an above-the-knee skirt provided it´s not too short. Ultra-mini skirts cut off your line because they are hemmed on the thickest part of your thighs making your look too short.
In order to check if your skirt´s length is proportioned to your height, stand straight and see if the tip of your middle finger touches the end of your skirt. If your finger tip is longer than your skirt, then the skirt is disproportioned to your height. (This applies even to taller girls)
You can also wear a knee-length skirt or a drape long skirt that shows off 3-4 inches of legs. Steer away from maxi skirts that hit around your ankle.
10. Go for the Perfect Shoes
As petite you´re often advised to wear high heels to supplement your height. But be careful, extra-high heels or skyscraper shoes defeat the purpose. They are completely disproportioned to your height which makes you appear actually short.
The perfect heels´ height for petites that are proportioned to her height are 2-3 inches. Choose shoes with pointed toes, they´re more lengthening than rounded toes. Look for styles with a low vamp, that is, the opening near your toe is long and narrow. This elongates the appearance of your leg and foot.
See: 5 Tips to Make Your Legs Look Longer and Leaner
Steer away from ankle straps, they make your legs look short. If you don´t have Dórsay pumps yet, get yourself a pair, quick.
Have Your Say
So tell me Creative Fashionistas, are you on the petite side? Which of the above fashion tips for petites are most helpful to you?
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I love mini minis! I am not petite, but do adore cute and chic things.
I have been reading your article on petite dressing. I am 69 years old and would love to have some pointers on dressing your age but still looking stylish. I am 5’2 and weigh 145. I think I am a pear or a square. Any suggestions??
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