The petite girl’s guide to style, according to short celebrities
When you’re petite, shopping for clothing can be a minefield. With conflicting information about the best cuts and styles to suit your—no offence—shorter frame, it’s easy to end up right where you began: unsure.
Well, fear not: we’ve rounded up six short celebrities who’ve nailed petite style. Here are their guidelines.
It’s time to bust the myth that petite women shouldn’t wear midi dresses! As Salma Hayek exemplifies, a dress that stops above the calves will elongate your legs rather than shorten them, giving the illusion of being taller. Mini dresses above the knee are another great option.
-38%
Roman
Lace Top Overlay Pleated Midi Dress Blue
£50.00
£80.00
Roman
Fat Face
FatFace Isla Indigo Blue Regular Velvet Midi Dress
£72.00
FatFace
-40%
Norma Kamali
Velvet and mesh midi dress Black
£165.00
£275.00
Mytheresa
Roman
Embellished Neck Tiered Chiffon Dress Black
£60.00
Roman
Finding cropped trousers when petite might feel like searching for a needle in a haystack, but it’s absolutely worth it. Ankle-grazing, slim, and high-waisted silhouettes are the most flattering for petite women–as exemplified by Zoë Kravitz–as they elongate the legs and make you appear taller. The newly-trendy capris are also a good option (if you dare).
Max Mara
Amati cropped wide-leg pants Brown
£195.00
Mytheresa
-40%
Drôle de Monsieur
DRÔLE DE Monsieur Le Pantalon Cropped Cotton Trousers - Black - XL
£123.00
£205.00
Harvey Nichols
-30%
Max Mara
Pegno jersey cropped pants Grey
£245.00
£350.00
Mytheresa
-45%
Pamela Henson
BOTTOMWEAR - Trousers on YOOX.COM White
£125.00
£228.00
Yoox.com
3. Jenna Ortega's maxi skirt
Just like with dresses, petite women shouldn’t think long skirts are off the table. Maxi skirts definitely can (and should!) be a part of your petite wardrobe: follow Jenna Ortega’s example and go for a skirt with a very defined shape, or with an A-line silhouette. Generally speaking, try to stay away from skirts with too much fabric; those might drown you.
Woolrich
wool A-line skirt - Red
£250.00
FARFETCH
-28%
Roman
Ribbed Elastic Waist Button A Line Skirt Black
£18.00
£25.00
Roman
-75%
Self Portrait
Ribbed Stretchy Skirt with Flared Hem size L
£60.37
£241.49
GLAMOOD
Roman
A-Line Pull On Stretch Skirt Black
£32.00
Roman
Diagonal lines infuse a garment with dynamic energy, creating a sense of movement and distracting the viewer from any feature you might wish to hide. When it comes to petite frames, diagonal lines (like Sabrina Carpenter’s asymmetrical dress) help create the illusion of height.
AllSaints
Polyester Rayanna Pleated Midi Dress, Size: UK 14/US 10 Gold
£199.00
AllSaints
-30%
Ganni
Ruched asymmetric velvet minidress Black
£206.00
£295.00
Mytheresa
-60%
AllSaints
Acetate Annalie Asymmetric Midi Dress, Size: UK 14/US 10 Black
£64.00
£159.00
AllSaints
-50%
Ganni
Leopard Marl Mesh Long Ruched Crossover Dress - Size 34 Mixed Multi
£142.50
£285.00
GANNI
5. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's proportional accessories
At 5'0 and 5'1, respectively, Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen are among a legion of stylish, petite celebrities.
Accessories are often overlooked when thinking about the proportions of an outfit, but they’re a key component that shouldn’t be ignored. Take inspo from the ever-so-stylish Olsen twins and try going for accessories proportionate to your frame, like small bags. Avoid belts, bags, scarves, and jewellery that are overtly chunky or oversized.
Charles & Keith
Agatha Chain-Accent Hobo Bag Red
£75.00
Charles & Keith
-40%
Ganni
Black Denim Mini Top Handle Apo-G Bag
£225.00
£375.00
GANNI
Charles & Keith
Mini Kerry Tote Bag White
£79.00
Charles & Keith
-30%
Vivienne Westwood
Bettina Mini croc-effect leather tote bag Black
£350.00
£500.00
Mytheresa
6. Kim Kardashian's strapless top
When you’re on the shorter side, showing off your shoulders can actually help you appear taller! A cold-shoulders design and Kim Kardashian’s heart-shaped corset top draw the viewer’s attention upwards, thus making you look taller than you are.
-59%
Elisabetta Franchi
TOPWEAR - Tops on YOOX.COM Brown
£78.00
£191.00
Yoox.com
-75%
Rotate
Snake Effect Strapless Crop Top size 44
£30.74
£122.94
GLAMOOD
-40%
Faithfull The Brand
Strapless linen top Black
£87.00
£145.00
Mytheresa
-51%
5Rue
TOPWEAR - Tops on YOOX.COM Silver
£70.00
£144.00
Yoox.com
Original text and content: Steph King