A pointy heel is like a sentence that ends with a period. A round toe is like a sentence that ends with a…..
Flares are just flattering. Their proportions make your legs look long and thin, and they draw your eye up. It’s a jean style that never seems to fade from popularity because they make your waist seem small ( in relation to the wide flare hem) and they look fantastic with a pair of heels or heeled boots.
Because flares always hit the ground, they draw your eye down to the floor, whereas a cropped ankle might disrupt this.
You could also try a jumpsuit that has slight flare. Jumpsuits, when they fit correctly, can help elongate your body and give that column-color approach we discussed.
While I love a good print, large-scale prints provide multiple places for you eye to lose focus. Which means they do not embrace a vertical impression.
As you can see in the image below, the large-scale print has your eye darting back and forth horizontally to take in the print. Whereas the fine stripe (or no print) outfit has your eyes take things in from top to bottom seamlessly.
side by side of busy print dress versus pinstripe dress so you can see how the stripe dress lengthens my body and the busy print (while cute) tends to overwhelm
While the printed dress is flattering, because both the body and sleeve is fitted, the pattern is so busy it is hard to focus on anything else. I want to stress again, that none of these outfits are inherently wrong, and this before-and-after is to highlight clothes that help you look slimmer and taller.
Fitted dresses or wrap dresses that accentuate your waist are some of the most flattering dresses out there. They help highlight your body and give your outfit definition. Slits can also help you achieve this effect.
While I love dresses with volume or looser options, they tend to not help you look slimmer or taller. So decide on your goals for the outfit when selecting your dress.
woman wearing a wrap dress with v-neck. v-necklines help draw the eye down- which has a lengthening effect and helps you appear taller
Vertical, vertical, vertical. Are you tired of hearing me say it yet? While, I’m not saying you should ditch every neckline and only wear v-necks, they are a great option to help slim your frame.
They create a visual point towards the floor which draws your eye downward. See the image above for a visual representation.
It does not need to be a plunging neckline to have this effect. Leaving a few buttons undone on a shirt, or having even a small v-neck will help.
Dressing for your proportions is incredibly important. You never want to cut your body up in half, because you will always appear shorter this way.
You want to cut your body up into thirds, or if you’re really skilled in style into sixths.
This can be 1/3 on top, and 2/3rds on the bottom- which is an ideal proportion to look taller and slimmer.
And while the alternative, 2/3rds on top, 1/3rd on the bottom helps less with appearing taller, it is still an ideal proportion to work with. And you can add a pair of heels if you want to make this proportion more slimming.
I love a great statement sleeve or puff sleeve, and they certainly have their place. But, they can also be a major distraction to keeping your looks streamlined and vertical.
Does Stress Effect Height IncreaseBecause they create a horizontal detail at the top of your look, they can distract your eye and eliminate that length we want to create.
Longer sleeves, and 3/4 sleeves also create vertical space in your outfit, which can help your eye travel vertically.
So, these tips are all about using fashion styling techniques to give your body length and create a vertical illusion. However, not every outfit you wear will fit into these tips. And that is totally ok.
Shapewear is a totally acceptable alternative to give your outfit a little slimming boost. They are especially helpful to smooth out bulges in silk dresses or light fabric pants that can highlight curves and bulges more easily.
Longer necklaces achieve a similar effect like the v-neck does. It draws your eye down, which helps keep your outfit vertical.
It can be an easy jewelry addition if you like these types of necklaces. Avoid anything with a large pendant or statement piece that will stop the eye from continuing down the outfit.
The fewer breaks you have in the outfit, the easier your eye will travel down the outfit vertically. Nude pumps (or shoes) help your legs look long and continue that nude tone down vertically without a stopping point.
The fewer breaks you have in the outfit, the easier your eye will travel down the outfit vertically. Nude pumps (or shoes) help your legs look long and continue that nude tone down vertically without a stopping point.
Similarly, matching your shoes to your trsouers or pants can help keep that line long and reduce any visual breaks. Bonus points if you use a pointy toe!
So cropped trousers can be your friend when trying to dress taller and slimmer. However, you have to use them carefully and really pay attention to where the trouser hits.
If it is cropped too high, you will get too much calf skin showing and that will create too much of a break between your pant hem and your heels. And if you don’t have enough space between your pant hem and your shoes, it will appear like your pants are too long for you and shorten you.
So what is the magic number? I like to shoot for between 1” and 2” between the top of my shoes and my hem. I would also opt for a higher rise pant to create the illusion of longer legs.
black skirt suit with graphic tee, logo tights and combat boots, showing how a mini skirt can help you appear taller
I save this tip for last because just like crop tops, mini-skirts are certainly not everyone’s cup of tea. But they do make you look taller.
Opt for a high-waisted mini-skirt that hits a few inches above your knees (4 in or more is best). This will lengthen your legs (even if you don’t wear heels), and give focus to your long bottom half.
I have a lot of people mention their weight as a roadblock to their style, and that is a very complicated relationship to overcome. I have styled many body types, and have always found that weight is not a determining factor for good style.
So, I wrote this post to hopefully help you narrow in on some mistakes you might be making, and give you a bit more confidence in your look.
