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.
-39%
Fat Face
FatFace Paige Pink Layered Floral Embroidered Midi Dress
£42.00
£69.00
FatFace
-55%
AllSaints
Womens Linen Skye Floral Asymmetric Hem Midi Dress, Size: 6 White
£116.10
£259.00
AllSaints
-42%
Fat Face
FatFace Black Lotus Embroidered Midi Dress
£52.00
£90.00
FatFace
-30%
Rixo
Amari satin midi dress Green
£224.00
£320.00
Mytheresa
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).
-45%
Kenzo
Cropped-Fit Wool Trousers With Belt Loops size 42
£202.39
£367.97
GLAMOOD
-33%
Max Mara
Cropped Trousers, female, Green, 2XS, Cropped Trousers
£138.33
£205.00
Miinto
-11%
Transit Par-Such
Comfort trousers - Grey
£242.00
£271.00
FARFETCH
-18%
Dondup
Cropped Trousers, female, Brown, W30, Velvet Cropped Trousers with Jewel Buttons
£183.75
£225.33
Miinto
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.
-75%
Marni
A-Line Solid-Color Skirt size 42
£215.37
£861.49
GLAMOOD
Jil Sander
Blue A-line Slip Skirt Size XXS
£58.14
HEWI
-75%
Woolrich
Cotton Poplin Flared Skirt with Elastic Waist size Xs
£32.47
£129.87
GLAMOOD
-7%
Icon Denim Los Angeles
A-line denim maxi skirt - Blue
£213.00
£230.00
FARFETCH
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.
-32%
Reiss
Womens Khaki Satin Drape Tuck Midi Dress, Size: 12
£108.00
£158.00
Reiss
-55%
AllSaints
Womens Linen Skye Floral Asymmetric Hem Midi Dress, Size: 6 White
£116.10
£259.00
AllSaints
-40%
AllSaints
Viscose/Polyester Zenia Sleeveless Asymmetric Midi Dress, Size: XS Black
£119.70
£199.00
AllSaints
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
Mini Kerry Top Handle Bag Green
£69.00
Charles & Keith
Antler
Heritage Mini Crossbody In Natural Brown
£120.00
Antler
-40%
AllSaints
Leather Vega Leather Mini Bag, Size: One Size Red
£107.10
£179.00
AllSaints
Charles & Keith
Mini Moxie Drawstring Bucket Bag Brown
£99.00
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.
-75%
Balmain
Cropped Strapless Top with Iridescent Animal Print size 42
£192.64
£770.58
GLAMOOD
Aje
Sunbeam Bustier - Womens - Cotton White
£230.00
Browns
-50%
adidas
Ribbed Strapless Top with Tone-on-Tone Logo size Xxs
£15.15
£30.30
GLAMOOD
-10%
Kocca
Modern Strapless Contoured Corset Style Top Blue
£93.96
£104.31
Miinto
Original text and content: Steph King
