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.
Peixoto
Isabella Midi Dress Pink
$248.00
Anthropologie
Alice & Olivia
Luciana Slip Dress
$189.99
Rue La La
Dress The Population
Alexis Midi Dress
$112.99
Rue La La
Alexia Admor
Khloe Sheath Dress Beige
$79.99
Rue La La
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).
NYDJ
Plus Cargo Feather Cropped Jean
$31.99
Rue La La
-58%
Ermanno Scervino
Bordeaux Cotton Cropped Cargo Womens Pants Red
$227.00
$543.00
LUX LAIR
NYDJ
Plus Sheri Marvelous Ankle Crop Jean
$28.00
Rue La La
Theory
Treeca Cropped Slim Pull-On Pants White
$245.00
Neiman Marcus
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.
Vince Camuto
A-Line Maxi Skirt Blue
$49.99
Rue La La
Jil Sander
Blue A-line Slip Skirt Size XXS
$78.53
HEWI
Alexia Admor
Ilana A-line Skirt Green
$59.99
Rue La La
Alexia Admor
Ilana A-line Skirt Blue
$49.99
Rue La La
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.
Kenneth Cole
Cowl Neck Midi Dress Brown
$53.99
Rue La La
BHLDN
Sienna Off-The-Shoulder High-Shine Satin Maxi Dress White
$228.00
Anthropologie
-50%
Ganni
Ruched asymmetric velvet minidress Black
$190.00
$380.00
Mytheresa
-33%
Mac Duggal
Ieena for Mac Duggal Ruched Off-The-Shoulder Midi Dress Red
$200.00
$298.00
Anthropologie
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.
Marc Jacobs
The Mini Dual Bag Black
$350.00
Neiman Marcus
-30%
Sensi Studio
Mini Frayed Crossbody Bucket Strap Green
$175.95
$252.00
Anthropologie
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.
Body Beautiful
Seamless Strapless Full Body Slip Black
$29.99
Rue La La
Maeve
Jessica Strapless Swing Top by Maeve
$98.00
Anthropologie
Maeve
Knit Tube Top
$138.00
Anthropologie
Maeve
Lowen Icon Sweater-Knit Tube Top
$88.00
Anthropologie
Original text and content: Steph King