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.
-44%
Fat Face
FatFace Luna Red Regular Square Neck Jacquard Midi Dress
£50.00
£89.00
FatFace
-40%
Self Portrait
Belted lace midi dress Purple
£249.00
£415.00
Mytheresa
-42%
Fat Face
FatFace Isla Indigo Blue Regular Velvet Midi Dress
£42.00
£72.00
FatFace
-50%
Serena Bute
Satin Midi Dress with Lace Hem - Burgundy Red
£198.00
£395.00
Serena Bute
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).
Fat Face
FatFace Hove Light Blue Wide Leg Cropped Trousers
£55.00
FatFace
-33%
Max Mara
Cropped Trousers, female, Green, 2XS, Cropped Trousers
£138.33
£205.00
Miinto
Fat Face
FatFace Anya blue Wide Leg Cropped Trousers
£65.00
FatFace
-70%
Racil
Mick Wool Cropped Trousers - Womens - Wool/Polyester Black
£140.00
£465.00
Browns
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.
Jil Sander
Blue A-line Slip Skirt Size XXS
£58.14
HEWI
-56%
Sport b.
A-line skirt - Green
£97.00
£218.00
FARFETCH
-8%
Mads Norgaard
Denim Skirts, female, Blue, M, Cosy Denim A-line Skirt Dark Indigo
£121.44
£132.00
Miinto
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.
-50%
Ganni
Leopard Marl Mesh Long Ruched Crossover Dress - Size 34 Mixed
£142.50
£285.00
GANNI
Sandro
Denim top Blue
£219.00
Sandro
-50%
Ganni
Dress in Black Velour Ruched - Size 34
£155.00
£310.00
GANNI
-40%
Sandro
Asymmetric maxi dress Red
£197.40
£329.00
Sandro
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.
Antler
Heritage Mini Crossbody In Natural
£120.00
Antler
Charles & Keith
Mini Kerry Top Handle Bag Green
£69.00
Charles & Keith
-13%
A.P.C.
Shoulder Bags, female, Black, ONE SIZE, Ninon Mini Bag
£195.75
£226.20
Miinto
Charles & Keith
Agatha Chain-Accent Hobo Bag Red
£75.00
Charles & Keith
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.
-62%
Reiss
Black Structured Strapless Wide-leg Jumpsuit, 12
£98.00
£258.00
Reiss
Original text and content: Steph King
