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.

I'm 5'2" and size 12/14 and I live in over-sized things and flat shoes. I'm also a fan of the maxi and wear patterns. I'm an apple shape which can restrict my choices but height isn't a huge issue, particularly as skinnies don't trail the floor as badly as other jeans and most shops do short lengths now. My legs are probably quite long in proportion to my height with a short torso but I can buy any tops, I don't bother with petite ranges, trousers in a short length are not always the same as petite which is smaller all over. I do agree with keeping oversized things to one area, i.e. teaming a roomy top with skinnies

Theres a lady in my office who is 5' and she always looks really stylish. I don't think Ive ever seen her in trousers but she always has a lovely dress or skirt and top on which are always really fitted, she has loads of curves and they suit her well.

Am 4ft 10 and a size 12 but quite dumpy with it (a huge tum and big hips). I have been a size 14 and a size 8 as well. And I can honestly say that it's more about body type than height. When I am slimmer, I can wear anything and still look good but I struggle when I am larger to look good. I have maxis (wear with wedges), bold stripes and patterns but mostly in size 10.

The thing that really helps me is that clothes fit correctly. So sleeves/hems are the right length and waist on clothes hit at the right place, and it's not too voluminous. When I have money I use a local tailor, I have the waist lifted and maybe taken in if its a dress, get the hems taken up. I'm finding it a little trickier to do this with very little money but for cheaper items I do it myself but I still take it to the tailors for more expensive clothes.

mrscampbellblack. I'm not aware of your blog. Where can I find it?

I'm 5'2 ish and don't find it's my height that dictates what I wear so much as my shape - I'm a size 12-14 hourglass with big boobs and very stumpy short legs so fitted stuff flatters me the most. I've got a maxi dress (plain black jersey) that I think looks really good but it is from the Next Petite range so the proportions are right and I don't think I look like I'm wearing my Mum's clothes.

I'm 5'1 and a natural inverted triangle- shoulders broader than my hips, ample bosom, flat bottom, straight through the waist to the hips (quite apple shaped) and plump tum.

There are lots of things I know help me to feel good about my lack of height- eg- wearing same colour top and bottom, but I do concur with others who've already said they believe dressing for body shape is far more crucial.

Proportions are really important, no cropped trousers, for example.

Me and my sister have always had a running comment- she got the legs while I got the boobs! You gotta make the most of what you HAVE got.

Cool - its here - a few of us are 5ft3 and under.

I am just under 5'2" (waves to fellow shorties!) and take 3 things into account with clothes. My height, my body shape (I am hour glass), I am short waisted (stupidly short on top and 29" legs) and my colouring (deep winter). I think the thing that makes the biggest difference is body shape but its hard for anyone to look stylish without taking all four things into account. It means I don't necessarily follow the fashions.

I wear shift dresses or body con dresses for work and avoid those low waist shapeless dresses like the plague. I also love tea dresses and fit and flare type dresses. Dresses are best if petite but not the end of the world if not.

Tops are hardest. Petites are a must have but rare to find nice ones. Those smock type tops that are popular in summer are a disaster for me so I stick to either shirts that I unbutton as low as possible to create a V or cowl necks. I like tops, jumpers and cardigans to be fitted and ending at the waist. Too short and it emphasises my shortness, too long and it drowns me.

Bottoms, I think I look best in skinnies and straight leg trousers and jeans. Again this is more about shape than height.

Can I join you.

I'm 5ft and an inverted triangle so I have broad shoulders and huge f-cup norks. Plus I put weight on my stomach so my top half isn't the best part of me.

I agre slim fitting is better, but my norks make it hard to get things to fit.

Hellooooo!!!! Another shortie here. I feel all my clothes look better on me if I have the extra height provided by some wedges as I can no longer walk in heels. I find it extremely difficult to find non ugly wedges for wide feet though.

I'm 5ft 3. I wear pretty much what I like. Its not what you wear, its how you wear it that counts