Fashion Tips For Petite Women

Shop Your Stores

Have you ever walked into a store and had no idea where to start? Well, many designers have eliminated this problem by carrying lines specifically for petite women. By shopping in a section completely tailored to you, you're able to find you the most flattering fit possible. Designers like Allison Izu and The Petite Shop are at the forefront providing petite women a place kim-kardashian-high-waisted-jeansto shop with designs exclusively for them

Wear a 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.

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.

The Fit

As with any wardrobe, it is important to have clothes that fit you right. Don't wear anything that is too tight or too loose. Only wear clothes that flatter your body type, enhance your assets, and of course, give you the illusion of height. Do not hesitate to get your clothes refitted if they don't fit you well.

Long Legs Make You Look Taller

Another petite fashion advice and key factor to buying clothes that look good on you, is your silhouette's vertical line; which is how in line your upper half (hips and up to your shoulders) is with your lower half (hips and down to your ankles).

For example, you may have obviously longer legs compared to your upper body part, or vice versa. So if you have a long upper body you may be able to buy average sized tops and jackets and focus mostly on petite pants and other bottom garments made for petites.

Despite balanced proportions being the basis of dressing your body figure, longer legs is considered ideal because it can trick the eye into believing a person is taller even if they're short. The illusion of longer legs also help slim down curves (eg. curvy thighs, butt, etc.).

In practice, outfits that show more of your legs and lower body is flattering on you and make you look taller. However you don't want to overdo it - super-long legs and a super-short torso may throw off your proportions.

Chop Your Hair

Long hair makes petite girls look even shorter, while short hair does the opposite. For example: a wavy lob (long bob) is the best option it shows off your shoulders and your neckline, which makes you look taller (and it's so trendy!). Daring gals should go even shorter: a super-sleek chin-length bob or an elegant gamine-esque pixie.

Either Too Long or Too Short

When it comes to length, pick either super-long (ankle-height or below the ankle) o r super-short (knee height or above the knee) and remember to always avoid ankle or mid-calf length. Mini-skirts show more skin, which creates the illusion of a longer leg, but apparently, the maxi-skirts have the same effect. Make sure the maxi's hem is as long as you can go without tripping and of course to keep your top fitted go for a tucked-in T-shirt and a cropped leather jacket, for example.

Coats

Let's be real, to have a beautiful warm coat isn't a luxury. When choosing a coat, pay attention to the length of the coats, wear it open-buttoned or opt for mid-knee length, just above the knee length, or miniskirt length. If you want to wear an oversized long coat, the key is to look for styles that are oversized, but not overwhelming. Make sure your entire look is balanced, and go for a coat that doesn't look heavy simple cuts, bright colors, or light fabrics

Shoes

The easiest way to add height is by wearing heels. The heels don't have to be extremely high; always pick a height that is comfortable for you. If you don't want to wear stilettos, then pick shoes with heels that aren't too chunky. You should also remember to avoid wearing shoes or sandals that have ankle straps. Ankle straps can thicken the leg and make you appear short. Shoes with open or pointed toes, whether they are heels or flats, can give the illusion of height.

Skirts

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.

Wear Smaller Sized Patterns & Designs

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.

V-neck

Tops with V-necklines or U-shaped necklines elongate your neck and make your torso look longer and leaner, thereby creating the illusion of height. If you don't feel like wearing V-neck you can always go with plunging necklaces or statement necklaces formed like V shape to give the same illusion as V-necks.

Avoid Oversized Bags

Another very important thing for petites is keeping your accessories appropriately scaled to your body size. Ditch the gigantic shoulder bag! Every time you cause the eye to take in width, you reduce the amount of height it takes in. Select smaller cross-body bags, clutches and small top-handle totes instead so that your bag will be in proportion to your smaller frame.

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.

Patterns & Stripes

Avoid wearing clothes with horizontal lines because they make you look wider and shorter than you really are. Large patterns can also overpower your small frame so you should also avoid them. Instead, choose clothes with vertical stripes, vertical seams, vertical pleats, and long lapels to help elongate you. Clothes with small patterns are stylish without adding on width so they are good to wear.

Embrace the Trend

Trends come and go, but don't think that just because you're petite that you can't take advantage of them. Right now, high-waisted shorts and pants are the "it" item and this is a trend petite girls everywhere should be rocking. Not only will you be on trend, but you are doing wonders for your petite frame.

High-waisted bottoms elongate your body, making legs look miles long. Petite celebrity Kim Kardashian (5'2″) shows just how flattering this look can be on a petite woman. Be careful with this trend especially if you have a short torso.

Go for Vertically Designed Prints & 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.

Tops, Skirts, Dresses

Tops with three-quarter length sleeves, and V or scoop necklines will help elongate your silhouette. Maxi dresses in a slimming color or print and with more fitted skirts can also be worn; they look good paired with heels. As for skirts, you can go for the short or the long, but nothing at mid-calf or at the ankle. Avoid high-waist skirts because they can cut your body's vertical line, making you #look wide and short.