Hey loves! I’m back with another post and for today’s post I’m going to be giving some easy fashion tips for all the vertically challenged ladies out there (myself included). Being a short girl is not the worst thing that can happen, but it can be a bit tricky when trying to find clothes that not only fit, but also look good and stylish on you. These tips will help all my petite girls look amazing in their clothing and as a little added bonus will help create the illusion of a taller frame; I mean who doesn’t want to look 4-5 inches taller if they can right? So let’s get into the dos and don’ts!
Fellow petite girl and fashionista Kim Kardashian West shows us how to rock a very revealing plunging v-neck number and instantly looks taller than her actual 5’2 frame.
V-neck tops and plunge dresses elongate and flatter petite frames and give the illusion of a longer torso. This is a great trick of the eye as it focuses the eye on your neck and décolletage and takes the attention away from a short bottom half.
5’2 Rachel Bilson shows us the right way to wear prints by pairing a flattering print with a solid coloured bottom to elongate her petite frame.
It’s summer and it’s print season and I love a good print just as much as the next girl but being petite I have to pay extra care and attention to the type of prints I go for. It is very important to avoid very large prints as these can overwhelm a very small frame, especially on your bottom half. Try to go for a print not much bigger than the size of your fist to make sure you don’t swamp your petite frame whilst enjoying this summer’s biggest trend!
4’11 Nicole Richie looks significantly taller in an all white floor length ivory gown with matching heels and hair.
Wearing a single coloured outfit is a great way to appear taller as this creates a single vertical line for the eye to follow and gives the illusion of a taller frame. It also looks super elegant and chic which is a great added bonus!
Vanessa Hudgens rocks a floaty white high-waisted maxi skirt and looks taller than her 5’1 frame.
High-waisted bottoms are a petite girl’s best friend and I believe if you’re 5’3 and below you should literally live in high-waisted clothing! A high waistline elongates the body and makes your legs appear so much longer so if you’re petite and don’t already own a high-waisted item, what are you waiting for? Get stocking up on those high-waisted items!
5 foot Mary-Kate Olsen shows us just how easy it is to get it wrong in this disproportionate and overly busy number which overwhelms her very petite frame.
It’s very important when you have a petite frame to pay attention to your proportions when getting dressed as ill-fitting and highly textured clothing can make you look wider and shorter than you actually are. Here are a few things to pay attention to.
5’2.5 Lea Michele looks ever the goddess in this striped sheer number
Vertical lines are the easiest and most common way to make a petite frame look taller as they elongate the body and make a petite frame appear taller. The easiest way to pull this off is with clothing that has vertical stripes. A less obvious way to create a vertical line is with clothing that has vertical seam lines or contrasting coloured vertical panels, this instantly creates the illusion of a few extra inches while also looking both fashionable and sophisticated.
Lady Gaga shows us just how easy it to swamp a small 5’1 frame with large and bulky accessories and outerwear.
As a petite girl it is very important to avoid over-sized handbags and accessories as these tend to overwhelm a small frame. Go for medium to small sized bags and clutches that will not swamp the body. Also pay careful attention to not to wear lots of bulky jewellery, always opt for long chains rather than chokers. If you must wear a choker a good tip is to make sure it sits on or right below your collarbone so as to make your neck appear longer and slimmer.
Kourtney Kardashian shows us how it’s done with a contrasting Moschino belt that sits high-waisted and flatters her petite 4’11 frame.
If you’re going to add a belt to an outfit, it is very important if you’re petite that you opt for a narrow belt as this does not overwhelm and cut a small frame. It is also a good tip to wear your belt at the smallest part of your waist and if possible to match your belt to your outfit as a contrasting belt cuts your figure in half and breaks the vertical illusion of a taller frame.
Model Karrueche Tran elongates her petite 5’1 frame with a pair of Christian Louboutin heels.
This is an obvious way that us petite girls can add some much needed height and it is also the most effective way to do so as you can add anything from an inch to 5 to 6 inches just by putting on a pair of shoes. Win! Some useful vertical illusion tips when it comes to wearing heels are:
This is probably my most obvious tip but if a shop or fashion retailer has a petite section I’d advise taking advantage of it as much as possible, so as to get great fitting clothes. This is especially advisable for items such as jeans and maxi dresses that are usually a pain for us smaller girls to get hold of in a length that looks good on us!
That sums it up loves, these have been my ten fashion tips for all my petite ladies out there! I hope that you find them helpful and that they give you a few simple tricks to help you feel good and comfortable in your clothing and also help you look a few inches taller! Let me know in the comments below of any tips and tricks you might have to help our vertically challenged sisters, that I haven’t already mentioned. Come back soon!
