Women’s Figure Flattery Guide: Petite

April 25th, 2005

Elongate your silhouette by making your legs look longer.


Look for…
  • Items in the petites department: they’re proportioned for a shorter woman.
  • Monochromatic ensembles.
  • Narrow silhouettes.
  • Drapey, fluid fabrics.
  • Vertical lines and detailing: seams, closures, embellishment, etc.
  • Princess and/or center seams.
  • Small prints.
  • Skirts are better than pants because they conceal the point where your legs begin, allowing you to create the illusion of longer legs by raising the waistline.

  • Jackets & Coats
  • Cropped styles.
  • Styles with simple lines.
  • One or two button closures.
  • Narrow lapels that end above the natural waistline.
  • Coats should be no longer than one inch above the knee.
  • Empire-waist styles.
  • Belts, if any, should be placed above the natural waistline.
  • High necklines create the illusion of height.
  • Tops
  • Simple, fitted styles.
  • High-waisted tops.
  • Empire line tops.
  • Cropped tops and sweaters.
  • Tops in fluid, drapey fabrics.
    • Pants & Jeans
    • Straight leg pants with front creases.
    • Longer cut styles work best; wear these with heels for a longer line.
    • Classic 5-pocket jean styles.
    • Natural waist styles to visually lengthen leg.
    • Skirts & Dresses
    • Above-the-knee and knee-length skirts and dresses.
    • Tapered straight skirts.
    • A-line skirts.
    • Button-front skirts.
    • Wraparound skirts.
    • Slim dress silhouettes.
    • High-waisted dresses.
    • Empire line dresses.
    • Wrap dresses.
    • Semifitted to fitted sheath dresses.
    • Off center slit to elongate legs.
    • Vertical detailing: buttons, seamlines, trimmings, etc.
    • Higher neckline for a taller look.
    • Accessories
    • Minimal accessories.
    • Medium height shoes.
    • Pointed toe shoes to elongate foot and leg.
    • Shoes with a low vamp (toe opening is long and narrow) for a longer line for your foot and leg.

    Run from…
    • Stiff, tailored clothing.
    • Baggy clothing.
    • Big horizontal lines.
    • Large prints.
    • Excess detailing.

    • Jackets & Coats
    • Double breasted styles.
    • Long coats.
    • Voluminous styles.
    • Styles with wide lapels.

      • Tops
      • Tops that hit at your natural waistline.
      • Baggy tops.
      • Highly embellished tops.
      • Tops made of stiff fabrics.
      • Pants & Jeans
      • Pleated pants.
      • Cropped pants.
      • Low rise pants.
      • Cuffed pants.
      • Wide-leg pants.
      • Flared pants.
      • Skirts & Dresses
      • Skirts that hit at mid-calf.
      • Long, ankle length skirts.
      • Hem detailing.
      • Overly girly styles.
      • Overembellishment.
      • Extremely full skirts (think Cinderella).
      • Accessories
      • Very High Heels.
      • Overembellished styles.
      • Styles that disproportionately large for your frame.

      Entry Filed under: Features,Figure Flattery Guide,Figure Flattery Guide,Women


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