What you should never wear, if you’re short

Any woman can be drop-dead-gorgeous with a little help from the right pieces ‒ add a few inches of height, visually reduce your waistline, lengthen your legs, enlarge your cleavage, amongst other things. The point I am making, is that not every piece is made to be suitable for every figure, so it’s good to know, where we stand, and which pieces are not meant for us. So I’m going to write a few thoughts about how to dress, if your height is not ideally matched to figures of tall models who have completely different proportions and stand tall. You should know that I’m not about to tell you to wear disco style platforms, because those aren’t elegant, so avoid them at all costs. We’ll focus on a wardrobe and lines that can visually lengthen you, as well as those you shouldn’t wear or it’s better to keep them at an arm’s length.

No too wide pants and low waist

It’s a model that shortens everyone’s legs, so forget about extra wide lines as well as a low waist, because this will rob you of a few inches. If you’re shorter, always keep in mind you should lengthen your legs, so your ideal pants model has a high, or at least mid rise waistline.

Image source: Fashion Tag Blog

No to mid-calf skirts

Another model that cuts off your legs in the middle, and shortens them; even if you would wear this skirt with very high heels, it’s still better to chose a different length, for instance at the knees or just above them. This will look much better on you.

No to Capri pants

This is also a bad length for you, so just go for normal length pants, that reach your ankles, and wear them with high heels. Especially in the summer and with flat sandals or flip flops, Capri pants are a fashion suicide, because they shorten every woman’s legs, and to put it simply, they’re just not a good choice, at least not in that combination.

No to horizontal stripes

You should actually opt for vertical lines, but I’m not such a fan, personally, because they can quickly seem like pyjama bottoms, which I don’t like, of course. Horizontal lines are definitely the nicer of the pair, but unless you have the height, they will visually shorten you, so try to avoid them.

Image source: Elle

Not too many layers

Layering can look beautiful, but it tends to make shorter women look even smaller, because they get sort of lost in the heap of clothes and fabric. Go for simple outfits instead, such as white blouse, high waisted trousers, and heels, which is a combination you can’t go wrong with.

No oversized bags

The larger the bag, the smaller the woman seems, that’s a fact. I know that oversized bags bring with them some sort of comfort, but they’re not for you. Instead, choose small shoulder bags or crossover bags, which aren’t as comfortable, but they improve the overall proportions.

No to round toe shoes

Rather opt for sharp points, the round, such as ballet flats, are just not right for you. They visually shorten and take away quite a few inches. Your best bet are nude pumps, because they lengthen the legs; there are many comfortable models, even pointed ones with high heels; they’re a must have for shorter women, and you simply have to have them.

Image source: Style Du Monde

No to high soles

They look too rough on small women and lack the sophistication. Thinking that soles will help is just wrong, because they really aren’t supposed to be worn during the day, and serve more as a self-deception tool, so it’s better to wear some nice stilettos with reasonable heels.