You can dress to look taller

Many women, regardless of their height, would like to dress to look taller.

It's not not just Petite women who like to create the illusion of height. For many, it's to do with increasing confidence and charisma.

There's no magic wand to stretch you but there are lots of simple tricks you can use to visually influence the eye and help yourself to appear taller.

Size doesn't matter, confidence does!

Confidence is walking tall with confidence wearing clothes that fit and flatter your body shape and height.

It will take just a little more care to find clothes that fit you properly because petite body proportions are different to other Body Types. You'll find it well worth the extra effort.  So check out a few style tips for the Petite body Shape.

These special ladies may be pint sized but their characters and charisma stand tall! 

2 Stand tall and confident

• Good health, diet and exercise will help you retain a more slender figure

• Adopt a tall and confident posture and you'll show off your body to best advantage.

3 Choose heels and slender shoes

• High heeled shoes/boots help with posture and do great things for your legs

• Heels encourage you to tuck your bottom in to give a more slender effect

• Make sure heels and platforms are moderate and proportionate to your size

• Avoid heavy clumpy shoes and ankle straps which 'cut' your leg in half and make them look heavier and shorter

• Slender shoes with a low vamp and peep toe will elongate the leg
  

4 Dress to look taller in all one color

• Dress to look taller by wearing the same color or similar shades top to toe

• A column of color will make you look taller - it doesn't have to be black!

• Match hose and shoes to elongate the leg

5 Avoid horizontal lines

• Avoid cutting yourself in half with horizontal lines

• Wearing different colors adds width, visually reduces height

• Keep horizontal lines and color breaks to a minimum 

• If you have to wear separates keep lighter colors to the top half
  

• Tight or flouncy clothing adds width

• Diagonal or assymetrical lines help to avoid horizontal

6 Don't let your clothes overwhelm you

• Get everything into proportion - don't let yourself be overwhelmed!

• Clothes that don't fit properly add bulk and extra inches

• Dress to look taller with softer more fluid fabric and a neat line

• Shoulders are the first horizontal line the eye sees, make sure they fit

• Big coats are heavy and add width - choose a 3/4 length coat

• Short neat jackets and 3/4 length sleeves 

• Short skirts lengthen your legs unless you have wide hips when you'll look shorter

8 Add length to your bottom half

• Lengthen your legs with high waist pants/skirts, avoid low slung or drop waist

• Avoid turnups and ensure trouser legs cover the top of your shoe

• Ensure shoes/boots match pants or hose

• Avoid a bulky skirt, choose pencil or a bias cut to drape straight down

• a handkerchief hem can deflect from a straight across hemline

• Avoid hip slung jeans or dropped waist skirt

9 Choose accessories in proportion

• Keep accessories in proportion to your small figure

• Forget over sized bags they'll make you look smaller

• Ditch enormous jewelry and wide belts

10 Your hairstyle and makeup matters...

• Short neat hair or wearing your hair in an up-do will add inches - long shapeless hair can add weight

• Layered or highlighted hair is 'lighter'

• Keep hair close to the side of your face and add blush/bronzer to slim the face
  

• Take care with your makeup application - your face is the first thing we see