HOw to dress stylishly when 5'3 and under

[BellyChancer]

I think we need a special list of our own.

I'll go first and put my rule,

1. no big loud patterns, ever, no matter how gorgeous. Let the desire for patterns manifest itself through cusions or mugs.
   
   

[surfandturf]

I think we must be the only mnetters under 5,3 BellyChancer!!! I wanted to see what suggestions everyone else had as I am under 5ft and haven't got a clue about fashion to suit me...

[Witco]

5' 1" here (waves)! I find that tailored clothes look better on me and I avoid wearing flats if possible, unless I am walking long distances. I make mistakes all the time and sometimes try on maxis (just in case anything has changed!) but it's all about proportion and getting the shape right. A minefield!

[Freddiemisagreatshag]

Dresses make me look taller (5ft2 here)

Never wear flats unless walking.

[GColdtimer]

Watching with interest. Have no tip though. I need to rediscover my style as its been somewhat lost since I had the dds and started working from home.

[LaurieFairyCake]

Bollocks to the no big patterns rule - I'm wearing one now! With navy leggings and a navy cardie. I look fine, nice even - it's a Fat Face butterfly tunic in lime, navy, white - quite springlike.

Yes to fitted clothes and wrap dresses. And drawing attention to bust, small waist if you have it.

No to 4 inch heels unless you're Kylie

[NickECave]

I don't think it's just a case of how short you are since a slim short person can get away with things which a heavier person can't. I'm 4,11 and in my youth was a size 8 and could wear pretty much anything except maxi-dresses but I'm now a norky 12-14 and my options are far more limited. Considering my wardrobe I would say:

1. no patterns
   

1. no maxi-dresses/maxi-skirts
   

1. dresses that stop just above or just below the knee
   

1. no hats
   

1. wedges or platform boots wherever possible (but not wedge trainers which I can't stand and not high heels which I can't walk in)
   

1. Jeans don't work for me so I rarely wear them
   

1. nothing voluminous ie. coats and jackets need to be slim-fitting and not boxy
   

1. no wide-legged trousers, in the summer cropped trousers work for me as long as they're tapered but I know some people think they looked "cut-off" in them
   

1. contrasting colours (eg white top and black trousers) break up the silhouette and make me look shorter, I prefer to wear colours which are tonally quite similar.

[Fedupnagging]

5ft here - although a size 12, I can look very 'dumpy' most of the time if I'm not careful!

Yes to no loud/bold patterns
Also, no skirts that end mid calf - knee length or maxi
Yes to more tailored clothes.

Or, long baggy top with skinny's or boyfriend cut trousers/palazzo pants etc with fitted top. Never go all loose fit.

Any more useful tips?

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

The trick is not to care that you are short. I refuse to totter along in heels when flats are so much comfier.

Today I was wearing pumps and skinnies with a white long-sleeved top, a scarf, and a mac when I was outside. I had 3 compliments on my outfit.

I generally steer clear of loud patterns, but that is a good rule for everyone I think!

[Fedupnagging]

That's almost identical to what I wore yesterday Alibaba but without the mac (or the compliments!).

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

Nick - I've got wide hips (also big boobs) and I find that wide leg full-length trousers are much better on me than cropped and tapered.

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

Fedup I also agree about the fitted/loose thing.

I only wear wide leg trousers with quite a fitted top, otherwise I look gigantic and like I'm 60 and heading off on a cruise!

[VenusRising]

I think it's important to dress in more tailored clothes, if you're shorter.
I wear clothes which emphasise my waist - large of nork here too.

Having said all that when I was 8 stone I could wear anything pretty much: now I have hips and boobs, and a tummy which bloats out every month, I wear block colours, wrap dresses which emphasise my waist, wear a fab bra to hoick me up, knee length skirt, and slim line trouser.
I also avoid jeans and wide leg trews, and I try and wear a heel- especially now as dcs aren't nuts young enough to run off.

I try and wear block colours, and use scarves to change my look.

[MrsCampbellBlack]

I'm 5ft and to be honest I think I can wear most things [deluded] unless they're voluminous - I just can't do volume in clothes as makes me look pregnant.

[MrsCampbellBlack]

Saying that though I'm an apple shape so there's loads of stuff I don't wear because of that. Also if I'm at my fighting weight its much easier but if I'm feeling chunky its very hard.

I do think its harder to dress well when you're short though but I wouldn't rule any item out. I've worn maxis and think they look fine - I look at petite celebs like Nicole Ritchie for inspiration.

Of course she is about a size 0 which helps But there's lots of blogs out there for the shorter woman which I like, eg, Wendy's lookbook and you know the one I collaborate on

[givemeaclue]

Any shop recommendedations for shorties?

[GraduallyGoingInsane]

I'm 5ft2 - I agree to no maxis! On the hanger in the shop they're about a foot taller than me so that's never going to work!

Wide leg trousers also look rubbish, and I have to be careful where cropped trousers but - 7/8th jeans are a yay, below the knee 'pedal pushers' (showing my age now!) are a nay!

I also find strapless tops make me look oddly short, but that could be my boobs!

[teta]

I'm 5ft 3 on a good day.I often wear head to toe block colour as this elongates my rather broad shouldered shape-navy in summer and charcoal in winter.I add colour with a cashmere scarf or coat.Today it was a burnt orange trenchcoat and a leopard print scarf.I live in M & S indigo and black jeggings as they have a real slimming and lengthening effect on me.Love maxis in the spring/summer especially in navy/blue tile prints with a white tshirt and navy jumper/cardi.I have just discovered jersey skirts from Hush in a maxi and midi length and these are very flattering.Nearly always wear heels-in winter wedge ankle boots or fly wedges and in summer wedge flipflops or fitflops for walking.Definitely don't look right in short cropped things and jackets that are normally recommended for shorties but rather longer jackets/coats.Maybe due to my rather square shape with not much waist definition.I look pretty awful in tailored things,but look great in flowing clothes and tunics.Maybe because i don't have a waist but have broad shoulders.We all sound very different in the way we dress!.

[NickECave]

As I said, I think body shape has more to do with it than height. At the end of the day, unless I put on a massive pair of heels I will look short because I AM short. I try to dress to suit my shape which is hour glass so things that look good on me probably look rubbish on someone slim and boyish and vice-versa. I can particularly vouch for this as I had a totally different body shape in my twenties to the one I have now in my late 30s post-DCs and the clothes I look good in now are completely different.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I don't care if I look short - I am. Sometimes I wear heels and sometimes I don't. I'm a norky size 12. I wear maxi skirts providing they are narrow, wide legged or narrow legged trousers as I wish etc. For me, it's more about making sure I've got things that skim over my stomach a bit - eg: I'm short waisted so belted stuff doesn't really work.

[OneLittleLady]

5ft right here. I wear whatever I fancy if I'm honest, I just don't do anything that's too baggy as it makes me look as wide as I am (sm)tall. Bit of slouch is fine, just nothing that billows. Maxi dresses and skirts are easily fixed by taking them to a tailors and having a lot few inches taken off the bottom.

[TapselteerieO]

Just under 5 ft, 10/12 bottom half Topshop, H&M. 12/14 on top due to 30G norks.

I wear long skirts and dresses, but they are fitted/tube(?) style.

I wear small pattern, tend to try and elongate by wearing the same shade trousers/shoes/cardi - break it up with pattern/texture and a scarf. Pretty boring clothes really.

I wear non bulky skinny scarves, generally with a pattern

I wear jeans that fit neatly on my butt, if I can find them, it seems to get harder. Fab jeans from the past, ascension jeans, amazingly flattering but can't get them, new look babycords, they were fitted flares, loved them. Favourite pair at the moment have a small faded pattern, from H&M - they are slim fit not skinny and seem a perfect length so they must be cropped!

Length of trousers, even petite too long for me, even with heels, choice is so limited! Especially out in the sticks - pissed off that River Island petite only available online (hate paying p&p) - so I stopped shopping in my local one. Quite tempted to try esprit because they do petite.

[PinkMangoSays]

I'm 5 3 and I agree that it's more about body shape than height. I love maxis in the summer, they are just so comfy and they don't make me look short at all.

I don't ever wear heels just for my own comfort. I tend on a day to day basis wear pumps/uggs with skinny jeans and a large top/jumper/floaty top of some sort. I'm anything from a 4-10 but can't think of anything I wouldn't wear or at least try

[BookFairy]

I'm 5' 0" (size 12 ish) and always look short :)

I wear tea dresses, ankle length trouses, and ballet pumps.

[Fedupnagging]

Yes, it is about body shape rather than height but you can create the illusion of height by what you wear.

Baggy unflattering clothes can make you look small (and dumpy) whereas better fitting and more flattering clothes give you a better line and make you seem taller and slimmer.

I don't particularly mind being small (most of the time) but like to feel like I am walking tall iyswim?

[PlumBear]

I'm with remus - I'm 5ft and there's not much I wouldn't wear. Obv steer clear of maxis and the very voluminous, but otherwise I wear what I like and think I look ok! I do think fitted clothes are quite important though, for a good silloheute. I don't struggle with top half too much because of freakishly long torso, but finds trousers a bit of a nightmare. Miss Selfridge do some fantastic super soft skinny jeans tho, which i really rate.