Ladies That Are Less Than Svelt Should Dress in Black

In previous articles, I discussed how to determine body shape and dress for your vertical body type.

Today let's go into detail on how to dress when you are short or petite, ie., below the average height of 1.65 m (5'4").

Everything you need for dressing when you are petite

In principle, these guidelines, which are now updated for this spring and summer season, will work for anyone who is short in height, or for those who want to appear longer or leaner in their appearance.

These ideas also work well for those whose upper body is almost the same length as their lower body. In that case, the aim is to make the lower body appear longer so that you look like you have longer legs.

This is the ultimate guide for dressing when you are short or petite. In this article, you will find

• 26 tips on how to dress to make yourself look longer, leaner and slimmer as well as what not to wear.
• a capsule wardrobe and style guide for petite women after 40
• The best stores to shop in if you are petite
• stylish petite celebrities to give you some extra inspiration

How to dress for Winter and fall if you are petite

You can wear elongating layers in winter and fall, which can make it easier to dress during colder seasons when you are petite.

However, dresses are fabulous for petites and you can create a lengthening effect with a one color dress during warmer weather. You can also try lighter-weight layers such as sleeveless vests.

How to dress when you are petite – what to think about

Petite doesn't necessarily mean small and slim. It simply means that you are 5′ 4" or below.

You can be any size, which makes it even more important to keep your outfits in the right proportion.

When you are short in height you will usually have the following objectives with your dressing:

1. Appear longer, taller and leaner
2. Create a flattering silhouette (using the rule of thirds, so you don't split your body in half)
3. Avoid boxiness which will only make you look wider rather than taller.

Most short women will want to appear taller and leaner.

You may also want to take a look at this article how to look taller and slimmer no matter what your height.

This is relatively easy to achieve if you stick to the following guidelines:

1. Stick to monochrome outfits or outfits with few color variations

You would look perfect in simple shift dresses, with little color accents here and there.

Monochromatic looks will create a vertical image and instantly create the illusion of height.

Dark colors are a great choice to create this illusion as they make the wearer look thinner furthering the perception of height. But essentially this tip will work for any color.

2. Petite dresses: Wear a dress!

Dresses will look great on many short women, as they automatically create the much desired 2/3 – 1/3 look.

If you opt for a form-fitting slim silhouette then this will make you look even taller.

A knee length sheath dress is a great option for a petite frame as the tailored silhouette avoids unwanted bulk.

The end result is a lean look that makes the wearer appear taller. Polish off the look with slingback kitten heels, for a little-added height.

Shauna @chicover50 above (read her style interview here) looks great in her pink dress. Her on-trend hairdo and her see-through heels add height.

Check out these dresses from Berrydress, Lark & Ro and Tommy Bahama for a similar look, and wear with this exact pair of earrings from Anthropologie, and heels from Steve Madden.

Grace Karin belted pencil dress

3. Petite clothing: Get the right fit

Getting clothes with the right fit and size is even more important for short women. Ill-fitting clothes will add extra bulk.

Avoid oversized clothes (even if they are on trend).

If you do really want to wear oversized clothes, make sure to create a good silhouette and that the balance between fitted and oversize is correct.

Make sure not to have both wide on top and below. A belted dress in one color is perfect for petites.

4. Wear heels with your petite outfits

An obvious way to gain height is to wear a heel. However, don't go overboard with these. Getting heels that are too high will make you look out of proportion.

For examples on how I wear heels and a full list of recommended comfortable shoes, also check my article on the best arch support shoes.

Below are more heels you could wear to add some additional height.

Ana @mrsamericanmade above (read her style interview here) opts for peep-toe booties with a block heel.

Steal her look with this similar top, wide leg jeans, sandals, necklace and earrings.

Naturalizer Michelle pump (Amazon, Zappos)

LifeStride Suki pump

LifeStride Giada ankle boot

5. Wear shoes that keep your ankles free

Avoid straps around the ankle as ankle straps can make your legs look shorter. Instead opt for shoes that elongate. Mules are a great option for petites.

If you want to wear flats rather than heels, pointed toes can also create the illusion of extra height.

Naturalizer Samantha pointed toe flat

6. Wear accessories in proportion

Go easy on the oversized accessories as these may overwhelm you.

Choose accessories that are in proportion with your face and the rest of your body

The bigger you are the bigger your accessories can be.

Choose a handbag that fits your physique. In many cases, oversized handbags are not your best choice as they will make you look smaller.

FashionPuzzle crossbody bag

7. Be smart with belts

For many petites your legs will be relatively short.

To make those appear longer you can wear the same color belt as your pants or skirt as this will make your legs look longer.

Alison @wardrobe_oxygen above (read her style interview here) opts for a belt in a similar shade to her dress.

Recreate her outfit with this similar dress, boots, belt and hoop earrings.

Earnda double ring belt

8. Find your ideal skirt length

Although a short dress can be very effective for short people when they are young, I would advise against a very short hemline over 40.

Instead, opt for styles that fall just below or on top of the knee. A high-waisted skirt or pants would make your legs appear longer.

Kate Kasin pencil skirt with belt

You may also like: what is the right skirt length for women over 40.

9. Vertical patterns are your friend

Vertical patterns will always elongate and would be especially good for your pants or skirt.

Horizontal stripes are best avoided.

Kylie @kylish_aus above opts for vertical lines and nude shoes with a pointed toe. She adds a slim line belt.

Check out this shirtdress from Nordstrom Signature that you can wear with this similar pair of flats, belt and earrings.

GRACE KARIN high waist striped pants

1o. Create a vertical line with a buttoned shirt dress

Buttoned shirt dresses that stop just above or on top of the knee will create a nice vertical line as well.

Most wrap dresses work really well for petites too.

The shirt dress below could be worn on its own, as a tunic over skinny pants or leggings or you could wear it unbuttoned as a sleeveless vest.

Caslon utility shirtdress

11. Create vertical lines in your outfit

You don't necessarily need to feature vertical lines as a print such as a stripe to have vertical lines in your outfit.

Create nice vertical lines with open straight jackets and cardigans.

A great look is to have a cardigan or jacket the same length as your dress.

Long straight cardigans or sleeveless vests are perfect for petites!

Abi @stealmystyle40 above wears a cardigan with stripes that creates fantastic vertical lines as the pattern literally points up and down.

Get her look with this similar tee, cardigan, leggings, sneakers, sunglasses, and accessorize with this tote from Saint Laurent.

Made by Johnny open front long cardigan

12. avoid double breasted

As a general rule, avoid a double breasted style, as these will add width rather than length. Instead, choose a slimline single-breasted blazer.

NYDJ ponte blazer

13. Create vertical lines with a sleeveless vest

I added one of my own outfits. Even though I'm not petite this could have been worn by a petite woman.

The column of color (the black) creates a lengthening vertical line for the red vest.

Check out this similar long red vest (another option here), harem jumpsuit, booties, tote, necklace and sunglasses.

Below, you can see a similar long vest from Amazon, which comes in a variety of colors.

Meaneor sleeveless cardigan

14. WEAR V-LINE TOPS TO FURTHER ELONGATE YOUR LOOK

These open up the neck line and create additional vertical lines.

MBJ V-neck wrap front drape dolman top

15. avoid contrasting tops

Avoid wearing tops which are in very different colors to your skirt or pants.

This will draw more attention to the fact that your upper body is almost the same length as your lower body.

16. Make sure that your tops stop at the hipline or above

Longer tops may cut you in half and you will not achieve the golden ratio or rule of thirds (see above). They will also make your legs appear even shorter.

However, you can wear longer tunics over skinny pants or leggings. make sure they are about 2/3 from shoulder to shoe.

17. Pay attention to boot length

Choose boots that stop just below the knee and avoid boots that end on the mid part of your shins.

We already discussed the importance of creating a great silhouette and paying attention to the rule of thirds. Here are a few more tips.

For more tips also see our article on how to look taller and slimmer.

DREAM PAIRS knee high suede boot

18. Embrace high waisted pants and skirts

High waist pants paired with heels work together to create a long vertical image. Worn with a short top, the outfit creates the illusion of height.

They will make your legs appear longer. Wide pants with tucked in tops work really well. If you can't tuck in your top because you want to hide your belly consider getting an asymmetrical top.

Sharryn @thestylishwoman above (read her style interview here) chooses perfectly proportioned high-leg pants.

Steal her look with this similar top, cardigan, pants, sandals, belt, beret, earrings and sunglasses.

Freeprance paper bag trousers

19. BE careful with cropped PANTS

Avoid short trousers and pants that stop at the ankle. Best to wear pants with straight pipes or wide legged ones with heels, preferably high-waisted.

If you do wear cropped pants be sure to wear a shorter top to give you a nice 2/3 – 1/3 silhouette.

To read more about the rule of thirds, check out our article on how to wear cropped pants.

20. get a good bra

You want to create as much space between your waist and your bust line as possible. Choose a good, supportive bra.

Maidenform One Fab fit full coverageT-shirt bra

21. Be Careful With Tucking Pants Into Your Boots

Best not to tuck in your pants into your boots as it will break up the lengthening line. Or keep the rest of the outfit in the same color as that will create a 2/3 – 2/3 effect.

You can also select the boots in the same color as your pants to make your legs look longer.

22. Choose the right size for tops and bottoms

Your size is not necessarily 'petite' top and bottom, so you may need a bigger size on top or vice versa. Making sure you opt for the right sizes for your shape will give you a balanced look.

Wendy @fashionoverfifty.wendy above opts for a voluminous top and form-fitting skirt. The v-neck, high-waist, vertical line created by the side split, nude colored shoes and well-proportioned accessories are all flattering options if you are petite.

Recreate her outfit with this similar dress, sandals, clutch, earrings and sunglasses.

23. avoid boxiness

You want to create fluid lines in your looks and create a 1/3 – 2/3 silhouette whenever possible.

24. Test what the right belt width is for you

Belts are often best kept narrow, unless you belt them very high up your waist, or they are the same color as your pants.

LEACOOLKEY skinny leather belts

25. Fit is everything!

If you can't find clothes that fit properly, find a good tailor.

You may also like: how to fit a blazer.

A petite capsule wardrobe

Now let's take a look at how to put together outfits if you're petite, with all the best options to choose.

petite tops

When looking for tops, anything with vertical stripes or a v-neck will help to elongate your figure. You can also look at showing off your waistline with a cinched in waist as this will make your legs look longer.

Nordstrom stripe silk blouse – Karen Millen tiger shirt – NINEXIS wrap surplice top – Open Edit waist detail top

sweaters and cardigans

As the weather gets colder, you'll definitely want to add a few warm sweaters to your petite capsule. As with your tops, v-necks can help elongate your figure. Another option is to choose shorter or crop styles and wewar with high waist pants to make your legs look longer.

Or, you could look out for long line cardigans. Wear these open to create an elongating column effect.

JJ Perfection V-neck sweater – YEMAK cropped cardigan – LL sleeveless cardigan – MBJ open front long cardigan

coats and jackets

Keep your coats in proportion to your figure. Shorter styles worn with high waisted pants and jeans will look good on you. Or, cinch your waist to ensure your coats don't overwhelm you. As with the rest of your outfit, vertical lines will look good.

Karen Millen quilted biker jacket – Beninos boyfriend blazer – Karen Millen tipped detail coat – Karen Millen wool blend coat

bottoms

When it comes to your bottoms, choosing the right length is key. If you opt for bootleg or wider pant styles, you can wear heels underneath them and make your legs look super long.

Vertical stripes will also elongate your figure. For your skirts, make sure you choose a length that sits where it should. If the skirt should be knee-length, that's where it should be. You may need to look for petite brands or try a few different brands to find the ones that fit best on your figure.

Hudson Jeans bootcut jeans – Spanx flare pants – GRACE KARIN striped pants – GRACE KARIN pencil skirt

dresses

Dresses look great on petites as they are one column of color and they don't break up your figure. Choose well-fitting, belted styles. If you want to try a pattern, try a subtle one that won't overwhelm your petite figure.

GRACE KARIN pencil dress – Karen Millen denim belted dress – Karen Millen pleated midi dress – Nordstrom Signature button front silk dress

shoes

Of course, you can choose any shoes you love. But if you want to add some height, you could try a small heel or a wedge. Another trick is to choose pointed toes as they make your legs look longer without having to wear super high heels.

DREAM PAIRS suede pump – Louise et Cie pointed toe bootie – Kenneth Cole New York knee high boot – Athlefit wedge platform sneakers

accessories

When it comes to your accessories, don't choose anything too big that will look large against your petite frame. If you want to, you could add a little height with a hat.

Kate Spade New York leather crossbody bag – Tory Burch small leather tote – Kendra Scott tassel necklace – Petit Moments drop earrings – Lanzom wide brim fedora

Putting together your petite capsule

Take a look below at more inspiration for flattering outfits for you if you are petite.

Read our ultimate guide to creating a capsule wardrobe that works best for you.

Shop the items above here:

More petite inspiration

The below capsule, while past season, should give you extra inspiration if you live in warmer climes.

Famous petite women looking gorgeous

If you ever felt that being shorter than average stands in your way of looking absolutely fabulous, think again!

Here are some very famous and fabulous women under 1.65m (5'4") looking stunning. I chose these women for their style and their choice of dressing that in many cases follow the guidelines above.

These women tend to dress to appear longer. If you like to see great style by women that are even shorter, have a look at the list of celebrities under 1.60 listed below.

Madonna

Madonna is a spectacular woman (over 60 already) short on height. She is 5'3" (1.63  meters) high.

She increasingly favors tight dresses just below the knee which she has no problem pulling off with her svelte figure. You can also see that she wears heels under her wide-legged pants, as well as wearing shoes in the same color as her skirt.

Victoria Beckham

Victoria Beckham measures 1.63 (5'3") meters.

Above are some perfect examples of how to dress for lengthening. High-waisted pants, a tight fit, heels and one-color dresses.

She goes quite wide with the shoulder on the red dress, which can be risky, but gets away with it, as she combines it with a v-neck and a very lean silhouette for the bottom part. I love all these looks.

Sarah Jessica Parker

Sarah Jessica Parker is 5'2.75" (1.59 meters) and has really embraced the high heel shoes as her weapon of choice to appear longer.

Now 55, she increasingly uses mid-length dresses which I think suit her the best. In the first look, she took a risk with the slightly oversized coat, but she has added heels to elongate her figure.

Her floral dress fits her vertical body shape perfectly, drawing in at her natural waist, while her gray dress and blazer create vertical lines.

Other celebrities below 1.60

For more inspiration on how to dress your short physique, check out other celebrities who measure under 1.60:

• Mary Kate Olsen who is 5'0″ (152 cm),
• Rachel Bilson who is 5'1.5″ (156 cm),
• Hayden Panettiere who is 5'0.25″ (153 cm),
• Nicole Richie who is 5'1″ (155 cm),
• Kristen Bell who is 5'1″ (155 cm),
• Shakira who is 5'2″ (155 cm),
• Eva Longoria who is about 5'2″ (153 cm),
• Fergie, who is 5'1.75″ (157 cm) and A
• lyssa Milano, who is about 5'1.5″ (156 cm).

Petite clothing stores: Where to shop when you are petite?

Many shops now have special sections for petites. Here are just a few.

• Nordstrom: one of the best online shops with multiple brands has a special section for petites
• Eileen Fisher: high quality fabrics and  great design
• Loft: comfortable and affordable clothing
• Banana Republic: good quality clothing that covers all basics
• Eddie Bauer: offers great outdoor wear
• Marks and Spencer: Timeless classics
• Boden: An extensive petite collection

More outfit examples

I hope these guidelines will be useful to you. Remember though that they are not written in stone.

I feel that petites can wear almost anything so long as you create the right balance within your outfit and create a great silhouette.

If you are petite and have some tips that I did not cover here, please let me know in the comments below!

Continue reading:

1. How To Look Taller And Slimmer
2. How To Choose The Perfect Little Black Dress For Your Body Type
3. How To Dress When You Are Tall And Where To Buy The Best Clothes For Tall Women

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Feature image by Shauna @chicover50

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Ladies That Are Less Than Svelt Should Dress in Black

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