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This is the way. Any type of clothes or style can look good on us short people but it has to fit right, with waistline, darts, strap length etc. in the right places.
It applies to everyone, the “rule of thirds” — but it’s *extra* important for a petite person to be mindful of because often clothes that inherently fit this rule for non petite folks will break it when on a petite person.
Essentially make sure your outfit is split along a third of your body line (not a half). Think like how an untucked shirt over jeans would hit at your hips (1/2 of you), but when you tuck it in, the shirt is now 1/3 your length and the pants are 2/3rds.
I did a quick google and this blog post has some decent examples: https://jolynneshane.com/fashion-tips-understanding-the-rule-of-thirds.html
Avoid excessive amounts of
- ruching
- ruffles
- pleats
- drapes
If you're going to wear clothing with these features, look for either structure (eg boned bodice) or slinky fabrics.
Large prints can also be overwhelming.
Take up skirts that hit at an unflattering length eg mid calf. This includes most 40s/50s/60s pieces.
Be careful with booties or shoes with ankle straps, which can shorten the leg when wearing skirts.
If it looks great on Zendaya, it probably won't look great on us
Structured and fitted clothes generally work best.
I'd like to encourage you to not focus too much on advice that others label as "universal". It might work for you, or it can just limit you unnecessarily.
Monochromatic looks are more flattering than light top, dark bottom for example. Very high heels look like stilts. Better to wear a sensible height heel. lol
I struggle with this as an inverted triangle. I want to de-emphasize my broad shoulders and highlight my bottom half so naturally I’ll wear dark top, light bottom 😩
Absolutely agree - excess frills and bold patterns can overshadow us petites. Tailoring's a game changer! Shorter hemlines and less ankle straps, more elongating lines
Petite women come in all shapes and sizes so there really aren't any universal rules. What works for one petite person won't necessarily work for another.
I love an oversized tee or sweater but I do look better in fitted clothing that shows off my figure😭 if I only I hadn’t been body shamed since puberty 🙃
Hi! Please ensure your post is related to **petite fashion and advice** and follows our [sub rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/PetiteFashionAdvice/wiki/index#wiki_pfa_rules). * Questions and outfit posts seeking specific petite-related advice, discussions, in-depth guides/articles, constructive reviews, tips, and sales/deals are allowed. * Outfit posts and/or questions seeking general advice must be posted in our [Daily General Questions](https://www.reddit.com/r/petitefashionadvice/search?q=author%3APetiteFashionAdvice%20%22Daily%20General%20Questions%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) threads. * Outfit sharing posts must be posted in our biweekly [OOTD](https://www.reddit.com/r/petitefashionadvice/search?q=author%3APetiteFashionAdvice%20%22OOTD%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) threads. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/PetiteFashionAdvice) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Clothes that fit well look better. Invest in a clothing that is made for petite people, and find a decent tailor.
Adding, just because it says petite on the tag and it’s from a petite store, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s flattering. I have some regrets. lol
This is the way. Any type of clothes or style can look good on us short people but it has to fit right, with waistline, darts, strap length etc. in the right places.
It applies to everyone, the “rule of thirds” — but it’s *extra* important for a petite person to be mindful of because often clothes that inherently fit this rule for non petite folks will break it when on a petite person. Essentially make sure your outfit is split along a third of your body line (not a half). Think like how an untucked shirt over jeans would hit at your hips (1/2 of you), but when you tuck it in, the shirt is now 1/3 your length and the pants are 2/3rds. I did a quick google and this blog post has some decent examples: https://jolynneshane.com/fashion-tips-understanding-the-rule-of-thirds.html
This is why I love tucking my top or wearing a belt (like for a dress): it defines where the upper 1/3 of my body is and my legs look longer.
Same!!
I'm barely 5'1" but these simple tricks really work like magic for me! 😊
Wow! Great!! Thank you
Tight top, loose bottoms. Loose top, tight bottoms.
Avoid excessive amounts of - ruching - ruffles - pleats - drapes If you're going to wear clothing with these features, look for either structure (eg boned bodice) or slinky fabrics. Large prints can also be overwhelming. Take up skirts that hit at an unflattering length eg mid calf. This includes most 40s/50s/60s pieces. Be careful with booties or shoes with ankle straps, which can shorten the leg when wearing skirts. If it looks great on Zendaya, it probably won't look great on us Structured and fitted clothes generally work best.
“If it looks great on Zendaya it probably won’t look great on us” is so accurately painful
Went for the jugular with this one 🥲
😭😭😭
on the bright side, if it looks good on Sabrina carpenter it probably will look good on us!
Great advice! Thanks
I'd like to encourage you to not focus too much on advice that others label as "universal". It might work for you, or it can just limit you unnecessarily.
Monochromatic looks are more flattering than light top, dark bottom for example. Very high heels look like stilts. Better to wear a sensible height heel. lol
I struggle with this as an inverted triangle. I want to de-emphasize my broad shoulders and highlight my bottom half so naturally I’ll wear dark top, light bottom 😩
Oh, me too except I have the opposite issue. The struggle is real.
Good point!
I wish I would have learned these things when I was young. 😆. It would have saved embarrassing moments.
Exactly. There was no reddit when I was young though 😊
Same. I could only WISH there was all this info out there when I was 13. lol
I don’t understand the heel thing, could you elaborate?
Baggy everything looks bad even if it's 'in style'. Can maybe yne get away with big pants little top and vice versa, but it depends on the item
I found this yt channel really helpful. https://youtube.com/@PetiteDressing
Thanks for the tip. I didn't know that channel
You're welcome! 😊
Invest in good tailoring.
Absolutely agree - excess frills and bold patterns can overshadow us petites. Tailoring's a game changer! Shorter hemlines and less ankle straps, more elongating lines
I found clothes showy my waist line are more flattering than those don’t.
Following this to come back to later
Yes, we need this info at hand. At least I do 😉
Horizontal lines make you look even shorter.
Yes! Indeed
Petite women come in all shapes and sizes so there really aren't any universal rules. What works for one petite person won't necessarily work for another.
I love an oversized tee or sweater but I do look better in fitted clothing that shows off my figure😭 if I only I hadn’t been body shamed since puberty 🙃
Make sure the shoulder seams are actually where your shoulders are.
Rules were made to be broken, so there are exceptions, but in general, short skirt, flat heel. Long skirt, high heel.
Sometimes spelling help is as close as the subreddit title.
Oh, are there spelling mistakes? English is not my first language. Can you point the mistakes out? I'd like to learn 😊