It’s the same old story: the top shelf in the supermarket is much too high for you, and you need a stool just to get the baking tins out of the top kitchen cupboards. Pants in boutiques are too long, the sleeves on your tops fall past your hands—these are problems that so many shorter women face.
Do you sometimes wish you could grow an extra inch or two? Look on the bright side: you can always wear high-heeled shoes and still be smaller than most men! Because unfortunately, we can’t make you any taller. But we can help you with a few tricks. Besides wearing shoes with high heels, there are a few other styling tricks to help shorter women look a lot taller. Find out how in this article.
Fashion that stretches
Cheat your way to a taller look with a few little tricks! There are various styling options to make this possible visually.
Pants and skirts for short women
Finding the perfect pants is a real challenge for shorter women. The standard pant sizes available in shops are often too long. But you can have one or two tricks up your sleeve to help you out here. Take advantage of ¾ length pants and show some skin around your ankles.
Combined with flat, white sneakers, this not only gives you a casual look, but also visually elongates your legs. If you get cold quickly in winter, simply combine boots or ankle boots with shortened pants.
Is showing your ankles just not your thing? No problem! You can also create a similar stretching effect with the opposite principle. So-called Marlene pants, some of which even reach just beyond the tips of your shoes, appear to give you an extra few inches in height just as well as pants that show your ankles, thanks to their straight cut. Slightly flared culottes or midi skirts also make for an elongated figure thanks to their A-line, as the cut draws the eye to the waist.
In general, when it comes to pants and skirts for short women, try to ensure a high fit that emphasizes the waist. High waisted pants or high-fitting skirts are a particularly good trick for short women. The slightly raised, accentuated waist elegantly balances out and visually lengthens short legs—neat, right?
The right top for short women
There are several ways to visually lengthen the upper body and ensure balanced proportions, which can, of course, be combined together. Short cut jackets and blazers are a good way to ensure well-balanced proportions. They go very well with high waisted pants or A-line skirts. V-neck T-shirts are another option. A V-neck stretches the upper body and is thus a great cheat to make you look a whole lot taller, in addition to pants that show your ankles.
Insider tips for an elongated silhouette
If you tuck your top into the waistband of your pants or skirt, you will make your legs look that little bit longer. And it’s not only incredibly easy, it’s also very trendy! Make sure that the top is not too long, otherwise it won’t look quite so good.
You can also rely on two-piece tone-on-tone looks. Monochrome outfits such as plain-colored jumpsuits, pantsuits, or dresses visually stretch your figure, making you look not only a few inches taller but also slimmer. This effect is strongest in dark colors such as dark blue or black. But even a cream-colored combination can look particularly elegant and make you look taller.
Tone-on-tone too boring for you sometimes? Certain patterns can also help to visually stretch your figure. You must have heard the well-known saying, “Stripes make you slim”. We like to add “and tall too!” A pair of pants with vertical stripes or a slightly flared A-line midi skirt with chic lines creates the illusion of long legs in no time at all.
In general, small patterns suit short women very well. Fine, intricate patterns emphasize a feminine look and appear more delicate, while large prints can come across as more striking.
When it comes to the cut, you can dare to show your figure. Don’t hide your curves under unnecessarily large oversized tops—emphasize your feminine silhouette. A wide waist belt or close-fitting midi dresses are ideal for short women who want to look taller.
Short women—high shoes?
When it comes to footwear, the most obvious tip is often also the most effective—high shoes make short women grow several inches taller in a matter of seconds. And if you want to go even higher, go for pointed shoes. These visually stretch the legs and feet, making them look longer and slimmer.
The right accessories for short women
Short women = small accessories. It’s a perfect match. In particular, long, intricate necklaces, especially in combination with a feminine V-neck, can visually lengthen the upper body – they’re not only chic, but also practical.
The same applies to bags as to patterns: small is beautiful! Large bags can make you look smaller than you actually are—and that’s exactly what we want to avoid. That’s why it’s better to go for a small bag that can safely store your purse and cellphone—maybe just let someone else carry the shopping bags?
