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.
-70%
Farm Rio
Embellished cotton midi dress Green
$176.00
$585.00
Mytheresa
-30%
Ganni
Velvet midi dress Red
$222.00
$317.00
Mytheresa
-60%
Poupette St Barth
Coco floral cotton midi dress Red
$228.00
$570.00
Mytheresa
-60%
Farm Rio
Embellished cutout printed midi dress Red
$196.00
$490.00
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).
-39%
Max Mara
Linen Cropped Trousers Green
$246.00
$402.00
Balardi
-15%
Max Mara
Cropped Trousers Black
$200.00
$235.00
Eraldo
-57%
Blanca Vita
Blanca Vita Cropped Tailored Trousers Green
$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.
-7%
Semper
Flared Skirt Grey
$212.00
$229.00
Balardi
Dunst
Buckle A-line Midi Skirt Grey
$161.00
Eraldo
Calvin Klein
A-line Midi Skirt Beige
$119.00
Eraldo
Ming Wang
Abstract Floral Soft Knit A-Line Skirt Purple
$185.00
Ming Wang Knits
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
Ruched asymmetric velvet minidress Black
$233.00
$465.00
Mytheresa
-40%
Norma Kamali
Diana asymmetrical mini dress Green
$130.00
$216.00
Mytheresa
-20%
Norma Kamali
Draped asymmetric midi dress Silver
$208.00
$260.00
Mytheresa
-30%
Norma Kamali
Diana asymmetrical ruched minidress Pink
$195.00
$279.00
Mytheresa
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.
-60%
Aesther Ekme
Ora Mini suede shoulder bag Beige
$360.00
$900.00
Mytheresa
-10%
Furla
Furla 1927 Mini Crossbody Bag Beige
$362.00
$402.00
Balardi
-20%
Ganni
Bou Mini floral canvas tote bag Red
$476.00
$595.00
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.
-40%
Faithfull The Brand
Strapless linen top Black
$153.00
$255.00
Mytheresa
Wolford
Fatal Sleeveless Top Black
$174.00
Balardi
-30%
Staud
Atticus bow-detail strapless top Black
$161.00
$230.00
Mytheresa
-79%
New Arrivals
Tops
$107.00
$517.00
Yoox
Original text and content: Steph King