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%
Rixo
Sorana floral ruffled cotton midi dress Blue
$202.00
$505.00
Mytheresa
-60%
Diane Von Fürstenberg
Fiona cotton midi dress Blue
$219.00
$548.00
Mytheresa
-40%
Staud
Wells cotton midi dress Blue
$231.00
$385.00
Mytheresa
-40%
Velvet
Sasha printed cotton gauze midi dress Red
$220.00
$366.00
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).
-59%
Blanca Vita
Blanca Vita Cropped Tailored Trousers Green
$166.00
$406.00
Balardi
-49%
Hanita
Pants Beige
$88.00
$174.00
Yoox
-59%
Blanca Vita
Blanca Vita Cropped Trousers Grey
$166.00
$406.00
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.
-25%
Calvin Klein
A-line Midi Skirt Beige
$86.00
$115.00
Eraldo
-5%
Semper
Flared Skirt Grey
$221.00
$232.00
Balardi
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
Bardot
Womens Ivana mint green ruffled minidress
$249.00
Simons
-60%
Poupette St Barth
Celie printed asymmetric maxi dress Yellow
$232.00
$580.00
Mytheresa
-28%
Icone
Womens Asymmetric-belt pleated wide-leg pant White
$49.95
$69.00
Simons
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.
-40%
Polo Ralph Lauren
Polo ID Mini suede shoulder bag Red
$468.00
$780.00
Mytheresa
-25%
Dragon Diffusion
Mini Flat Gora Braidedtote Bag Brown
$294.00
$392.00
Eraldo
-60%
Aesther Ekme
Ora Mini suede shoulder bag Beige
$360.00
$900.00
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
-75%
Liviana Conti
Tops Blue
$61.00
$244.00
Yoox
-20%
Faithfull The Brand
Caen strapless linen top Green
$212.00
$265.00
Mytheresa
-34%
Gaëlle Paris
Tops White
$84.00
$127.00
Yoox
Original text and content: Steph King
