Q&A for How to Dress when You Are Short

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What type of dress looks best on a short person?

Kathi Burns, CPO®
Image Consultant
Kathi Burns is a board certified Professional Organizer (CPO) and Founder of Organized and Energized!, her consulting business with a mission to empower people to master their environment and personal image by assisting them in taking control, making change and organizing their lives. Kathi has over 17 years of organizing experience and her work has been featured on Better Homes and Gardens, NBC News, Good Morning America, and Entrepreneur. She has a BS in Communication from Ohio University.

Kathi Burns, CPO®

Image Consultant

Expert Answer

I think the shorter the dress is, the better it generally looks if you're on the shorter side. If you're short, you usually want to elongate your legs, and showing more skin can give the impression that your legs are longer than they actually are.

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Question

Are there any shoes that aren't heels that will make you look taller?

Kathi Burns, CPO®
Image Consultant
Kathi Burns is a board certified Professional Organizer (CPO) and Founder of Organized and Energized!, her consulting business with a mission to empower people to master their environment and personal image by assisting them in taking control, making change and organizing their lives. Kathi has over 17 years of organizing experience and her work has been featured on Better Homes and Gardens, NBC News, Good Morning America, and Entrepreneur. She has a BS in Communication from Ohio University.

Kathi Burns, CPO®

Image Consultant

Expert Answer

Yes! Anything with a pointed toe is going to give you some angle, which will actually make you appear taller. If you go with round-tipped shoes, it will create a kind of stubby impression which can make you feel even shorter than you already are.

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I don't get why stripes make you look taller?

Kathi Burns, CPO®
Image Consultant
Kathi Burns is a board certified Professional Organizer (CPO) and Founder of Organized and Energized!, her consulting business with a mission to empower people to master their environment and personal image by assisting them in taking control, making change and organizing their lives. Kathi has over 17 years of organizing experience and her work has been featured on Better Homes and Gardens, NBC News, Good Morning America, and Entrepreneur. She has a BS in Communication from Ohio University.

Kathi Burns, CPO®

Image Consultant

Expert Answer

So, it has to do with how your eye processes visual information. Your brain looks for patterns, and when you wear vertical stripes, seams, or patterns, it generates the impression that you're looking at something that runs up and down. This can make you seem much taller than you are, even if it's just a visual effect!

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Question

I need a formal dress and I'm just 4'9". Should I wear a long or short dress?

Stephanie Alexandris, MA
Master's Degree, Fashion Business, ESMOD Paris
Stephanie Alexandris is a Fashion Stylist in New York City. She has worked with an extensive range of brands, including Alexander Wang, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Maison Margiela and Rick Owens while she was living in Paris, and Harper's Bazaar, J.McLaughlin, and Express during her tenure in New York City. She holds a Master's degree in Fashion Business from ESMOD France and an undergraduate degree from New York University.

Stephanie Alexandris, MA

Master's Degree, Fashion Business, ESMOD Paris

Expert Answer

You can wear either depending on if the occasion is black tie or not. If it is, go with a long dress and try a lower neckline. It can be a V-neck or round neck. Sometimes crewnecks and turtlenecks can make you appear shorter so steer clear of those. The higher the heel the better - but keep in mind that platform heels are the most comfortable.

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Question

I'm 5' 2". What shape jacket should I wear to go with a dress for a special occasion?

Stephanie Alexandris, MA
Master's Degree, Fashion Business, ESMOD Paris
Stephanie Alexandris is a Fashion Stylist in New York City. She has worked with an extensive range of brands, including Alexander Wang, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Maison Margiela and Rick Owens while she was living in Paris, and Harper's Bazaar, J.McLaughlin, and Express during her tenure in New York City. She holds a Master's degree in Fashion Business from ESMOD France and an undergraduate degree from New York University.

Stephanie Alexandris, MA

Master's Degree, Fashion Business, ESMOD Paris

Expert Answer

I would go for a cropped jacket or blazer or a regular-fit blazer. Stay away from baggy, over-sized, or long blazers or jackets as those can make you appear shorter, especially in flats.

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Question

My height is 4'9. What kind of dress I should wear?

Community Answer

Wear shorter dresses to help elongate your legs. Also try dresses with high-waisted cinches, as this will help you look more proportionate.

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Question

My height is 4'11", and I am very thin. What should I wear to look tall as well as healthy?

Community Answer

Anything that is well fitted. Avoid baggy clothing (because it will make you look even thinner).

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Question

I'm very slim and 5'4". What kind of outfit will look good on me?

Community Answer

Outfit is a matter of style. Wear anything you like, but make sure that everything is well fitted. Baggy clothes are a no go for skinny people (it makes you look even thinner).

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Question

What do I do if I'm short and nothing looks good on me?

Community Answer

Go for high-waisted bottoms (jeans, skirts, etc.) and solid upper wear (t-shirts). After which, all you need to do is look yourself in the mirror and be confident about what you are wearing.

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Question

I am 5'1 and my bust is 36E. I am constantly worrying about my look, and what to wear. What should I actually wear?

Community Answer

Try wearing deeper V-necks, as these will visually elongate the the torso and flatter a large bust. Not too deep though, if you want to limit the amount of cleavage you show.

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