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.
-60%
Theory
Womens Boat-neck gathered dress Brown
$199.95
$495.00
Simons
-44%
Calvin Klein
Midi dresses Purple
$155.00
$276.00
Yoox
-37%
Contemporaine
Womens Buttoned faux-suede midi skirt Brown
$49.95
$79.00
Simons
-27%
Calvin Klein
Abito Midi Aderente A Portafoglio Blue
$176.00
$241.00
Balardi
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).
-39%
Max Mara
Linen Cropped Trousers Green
$246.00
$402.00
Balardi
-61%
Dondup
Pants Grey
$146.00
$372.00
Yoox
-57%
Blanca Vita
Blanca Vita Cropped Trousers Grey
$179.00
$421.00
Balardi
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.
-11%
Semper
Flared Skirt Grey
$204.00
$229.00
Balardi
Dunst
Gonne Grigio-Donna
$125.00
Wanan Luxury
-18%
7 For All Mankind
Gonne Neutro-Donna
$164.00
$200.00
Wanan Luxury
-33%
Rotate
Gonne Neutro, Nero-Donna
$176.00
$262.00
Wanan Luxury
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.
-60%
Theory
Womens Boat-neck gathered dress Brown
$199.95
$495.00
Simons
-79%
HUGO BOSS
Mini dresses Blue
$87.00
$418.00
Yoox
-62%
Aniye By
Mini dresses Beige
$174.00
$459.00
Yoox
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.
-59%
Simons
Womens Quilted mini crossbody bag Black
$19.99
$49.00
Simons
-22%
Pinko
Pinko Mini Half Moon Baguette Leather Bag With Logo Black
$286.00
$369.00
Balardi
-23%
Pinko
Pinko Love One Mini Bag Blue
$337.00
$435.00
Balardi
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.
-79%
New Arrivals
Tops
$107.00
$517.00
Yoox
-64%
Low Classic
Tops White
$96.00
$268.00
Yoox
-26%
Marella
Tops Blue
$98.00
$133.00
Yoox
-75%
Giuseppe Di Morabito
Tops Black
$113.00
$460.00
Yoox
Original text and content: Steph King