How to balance a short body. As the aim is to elongate your body keeping to one colour or tone is important. Another smart strategy is the use of vertical lines (zips, piping, braid, contrast stitching) – one or two down the centre or side of a garment. The vertical line trick is made even more effective by an accessory item high on the body, to draw the eye up.
Remember that low positioned focal points diminish height. For another good tip – short hair makes short women appear taller.
Best topsDainty people don’t usually look good in big prints, so keep patterns in the small-to-medium range. Hunt for tops with details that keep the attention focused high on the body near the face.
When using the vertical line trick (described above), it’s best to choose styles that skim rather than hug the body.
Best jackets and coatsYou don’t want to be swamped by your clothes, so look for shorter, body-skimming jackets with narrow sleeves and small lapels. A single-breasted jacket left open provides some handy vertical lines to elongate your body. likewise, pinstripes can visually stretch you out.
Best pantsLook for straight leg or tapered pants with no cuffs worn as long as possible and accompanied by medium heels. pants with centre front leg creases provide useful vertical lines, smart city shortsfor work.
Best skirts and dressesBig, blousy styles will swallow you up. Instead, choose straight or tapered skirts and dresses in fabrics that flow close to the body. Keep hemlines to around the knee, or slightly above. Dresses that flow uninterrupted through the waist are better for you than belted styles.
Best avoidedThere are many pitfalls that short women can fall into. They include large belts and thick fabrics, toomany horizontal design lines, eyes-down focal points, bright colours, short boots, textured or shiny hosiery, flared skirts or pants and too many colours or accessories. And whatever you do, never buy clothes from the children’s department!
Accessorisingoversized accessories can dwarf you and make you look even smaller; think paris Hilton with heroversized sunglasses and handbags. Go for large accessories only if you want to achieve this look.
Top tipIn winter, blend your hosiery with your shoe colour and hemline. In summer, wear a shoe that blends with your skintone. Always end your hemline on a curve, for example, just below the knee where there is an indentation.
Find out more about your style personality and working with colour.
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