How to Dress if You're Short, Stout and Hefty (2023)

FAQs

How should you dress if you are short and heavy? ›

Pants, slim jeans, skirts, and shorts with a high waist create the illusion of longer legs, making you appear taller. In addition, A tucked-in fitted blouse, a button-down shirt, or a crop top/bralette can be worn with high-waist bottoms.

Go for slim-but-not-skinny pants that have a subtle taper below the knee. Look for "slim straight" or "athletic" cuts in the product description. For shirts, just try to trim the fat. Many "classic" or "traditional" fits will be too big for you, especially around the waist, and especially if you have a V-shaped torso.

Wear fitted clothing to flatter your figure.

Look for shirts that have darting or shape to them so they skim your body. For pants, choose a straight-leg, bootcut, or tailored look. However, avoid a relaxed fit or trouser pant. For skirts or dresses, look for pencil, a-line, or fit-and-flare options.

Avoid wearing oversized clothes – Style yourself in well-fitted clothes. I am not saying to wear a skinny fit outfit always. But the right fitting will make you look proportionate. Oversized shirts and t-shirts will make your torso longer and wide than your legs and it creates a shorter height illusion.

Go strapless

A strapless knee length or more dress or skirt will make you look feminine. If you have a muscular body, you should not wear miniskirts as they do not flatter those nice glutes. But a knee length or calf length strappy dress will give just a glimpse of them and make you look more alluring.

How can I look beautiful in short height? ›

If you are under 5 feet, the way to improve your proportion is to focus on making your bottom (legs) to look longer and top (torso) to look shorter. The easiest way to achieve that is by wearing a crop-length top and long bottom. Your bottom could be long pants or long skirts.

Go big on top, narrow on bottom

Pair any full-cut top, blouse, jacket or tunic with a slim base of trim pants, leggings or straight or skinny jeans (here's where the latter come in handy even if you no longer love them).

If you are top heavy, this could mean you have a full bust and carry most of your weight above your waist. It could also be because you have broad shoulders (or have the inverted triangle shape), which makes your upper body appear broader compared to your hips and legs.

A belly makes you shorter because it adds width to your midsection and, in essence, cuts your body in half. Instead, aim for a flat stomach and a small waist so you can lengthen your torso and—voilà—look taller.

What kind of jeans should a short girl wear? ›

Depending on how tall you are (and how much skin you'd like to show), a 25- to 26-inch inseam is a safe bet for ankle-length jeans, while a 27-inch inseam should suffice for full-length styles. We found the 21 best jeans for petite women from top brands like Levi's, Good American, J. Crew, Everlane, Madewell, and more.

What Height Is Considered Petite? Petite sizes are designed for women 5'4” and under, regardless of their size. In the petite category, sizes range from extra-small to plus-size. They also have a “P” label to illustrate a smaller and proportioned fit.

“Look for straight, tailored pieces that create a 'column' feel,” Audree Kate says. “It will create straight lines up and down your body, making you look taller.” She's not wrong—have you ever noticed how parallel lines tend to make an object (or, in this case, your bod) look slimmer and longer?

High-waisted pants and skirts, combined with form-fitted tops, can help elongate your frame. You can also add accessories that call attention to your upper half, like bigger hats and scarves. With a little tweaking, you can make yourself tall. Sit up straight and tall so you feel confident in your own body.

The key for short guys is to get pants with legs that are slim and make your legs look longer. That is why we highly recommend going with a straight or slim fit. These two types of jeans have leg openings that are the same size as the knee or smaller than the knee, which cuts down on bulky fabric.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, short stature means an estimated final height below 5 feet 3 inches for boys or 4 feet 11 inches for girls.

Wear high-waisted skirts and pants.

Aim for skirts and pants that go just above your natural waist. These will make your legs look longer by giving the impression that your legs start where your waist does. Low-rise bottoms will generally lengthen your torso and make your legs look shorter, so avoid these.

Tip #3: Instead of oversize layering, try tailored layering like suiting separates. A chic, well-tailored pantsuit looks good on any body type but especially on someone petite. A sleek blazer and suit pants are a great dressier option for someone with shorter legs. Meet your new work suit.

Choose Tops with a V-neck

Other elements of this outfit promote the idea of a slender body: the long V-neck attracts the eyes vertically, making the silhouette seem longer (and not wider). The long sleeves also give the illusion of a slimmer figure.

What dress length is best for short legs? ›

The best dress length to make short legs look longer: 2″-3″ above your knee. The most versatile length for petites: right at your knee. The ideal length to make a petite girl appear taller and leaner: ankle length.

Try wearing a camisole in a complementary color underneath your dress or a removable panel that covers your cleavage. You can also use double-sided fabric tape to hold the fabric in a position that covers your cleavage.

Loose tops that fall over the thighs stretch the silhouette. Wide or straight-cut trousers make the thigh appear slimmer. Skirts and dresses in A-line emphasize the upper body and conceal big legs. Patterns and bright colours in the area of ​​the upper body distract from the thighs.

Go big on top, narrow on bottom. If you like the idea of belly camouflage but want to show some shape too, let opposites attract. Pair any full-cut top, blouse, jacket or tunic with a slim base of trim pants, leggings or straight or skinny jeans (here's where the latter come in handy even if you no longer love them).

Exercises like cardio, yoga, and crunches may tone your muscles and strengthen your lower abs, but they won't “erase” fat deposits. The only way to lose fat on your lower stomach is to lose fat overall. A calorie deficit helps with this.

Wearing high waisted skirts and trousers. These are for those who would benefit from lengthening their legs and are usually best avoided for those with a short torso. This high waistband doesn't leave enough space between the waistband and your bust and can have the effect of making your torso look even shorter.

Loose tops that fall over the thighs stretch the silhouette. Wide or straight-cut trousers make the thigh appear slimmer. Skirts and dresses in A-line emphasize the upper body and conceal big legs. Patterns and bright colours in the area of ​​the upper body distract from the thighs.

Reduce the contrast

In this case, dark colours work best as they recede into the body, making you look leaner and taller, rather than emphasising the change in clothing. Of course, black on black is the best example, however other dark colours such as navy, grey, dark brown or deep green work just as well.

What is the correct weight for 5 feet female? ›

Women's ideal body weight = 49 kg + 1.7 kg for every inch above 5 feet.

Some stylists suggest that the length around the knee (or two inches above/below) is “universally flattering” on the vast majority of women, but in any case in my opinion it is necessary to evaluate well, better if in front of a mirror and with a critical eye.