I hate breaking my ankles trying to wear the highest of heels to elevate my 5’2 frame. No more! These are my style tips to help you look taller, no heels required.
I remember staring at myself in the mirror for hours. Picking apart every inch of my skin, wishing with all my heart, that I could just be tall and skinny.
It hurts my soul to even type that but that’s a common memory shared among most women. My self-hate towards my body and inevitably, towards myself, began as early as eight years old for me.
Now, more than twenty years later, I look in the mirror and smile. Every day isn’t a fantastic body confidence day but every day is a day that I remember how blessed I am to have this body.
And I do my best to treat her with the love and respect that she deserves.
Most style advice for women who are petite or plus size is centered around ways for you to make your body look like something that it’s not. MoraRae Studio is not that kind of place.
Here, I offer style advice for petite plus babes that’ll help you love what you have, not try to change yourself.
So, for today’s style advice, I’m going to help you utilize what you have by using fashion to transform your perspective of your body and hopefully help you to love yourself a little more.
In this article, I’ll be breaking down How to Look Taller Naturally, without Wearing Heels:
- Wear the Right Tops & Blouses
- Wear the Right Dresses & Bottoms
- Give Jumpsuits and One-piece Styles a Try
- Shoes Can Help, No Heels Required
- Add a Longer Layer
- Sleeves are Important
This article is dedicated to how to look taller without wearing high heels.
Style Tips to Look Taller Without Heels
Wear the Right Tops & Blouses
Cropped Cuts
Cropped tops are your friend! Don’t believe the lies out there that say plus-size babes can’t wear cropped cuts.
A cropped top for a petite plus-size body, will accentuate your waistline and use the rule of thirds to proportionately break up your outfit.
All of which will help you appear taller.
Try a cropped t-shirt, blouse, blazer, or jacket in your next outfit, and see how you like the look on you.
Deeper, Open Necklines
I talk about this style tip a lot because, in my opinion, it’s the easiest one to adopt.
Choose a neckline for your t-shirts, blouses, and dresses that is deeper and more open.
Think of necklines like frames for your chest, neck, and face. A frame can make or break an image right? The same goes for your style.
The best frame for your petite plus-size body is a v-neck, scoop neck, or sweetheart neckline. These open necklines will draw the eye up and down your body.
Highlighting your face and visually elongating your overall shape. Win-win!
Off the Shoulder Blouse
Another top tip (pun intended) for you is to choose an off-the-shoulder silhouette.
This works in the same way as the note above on open necklines.
An off-the-shoulder look, is not only sexy but also figure-flattering and keeps your shape from looking frumpy and stumpy.
Instead, creating a look that is elegant and elongated.
Want more fashion advice to help you love the skin your in? Check out 7 Petite Plus Size Fashion Rules that were Made to Be Broken
Wear the Right Dresses & Bottoms
Let’s Talk Hemlines
When it comes to dresses and skirts, mini and midi hemlines in fit and flare and empire waist silhouettes will make for the best leggy look.
This is not to say that you should be afraid of maxi dresses or skirts.
You can still rock these, just choose options with a higher waistline or a front/side slit.
The higher waist will help your torso look longer and the slit shows off a little leg, both making you appear taller, sans heels.
Now, for Pants
If you’ve read my style guide on the best pants for petite plus size, you know that I believe straight-leg pants over super skinnies are the best pant option for you.
The straight leg will draw attention away from thicker thighs or calves and instead, give a streamlined look to your legs.
Wide-leg and flare pants can also help you to appear taller.
Just make sure your pants have the right inseam for your petite height, most petite inseams are 25 to 27 inches.
Give Jumpsuits and Onepiece Styles a Try
Wearing a one-piece look, whether that’s a jumpsuit, romper, or maxi dress, can create something called the column effect.
This means pretty much what it sounds like.
You create a visual column when you wear one complete statement piece or color, head to toe.
Choose jumpsuits and rompers with vertical details and solid colors, as they will flatter your figure best.
If you want to go for a print, choose one with a smaller scale, so you aren’t camouflaging your shape with a big block of pattern.
Shoes Can Help, No Heels Required
Now, the tip you’ve probably been waiting for, shoes! When it comes to choosing shoes to help elevate your look, that doesn’t always include high heels.
The easiest way to make your legs look longer without wearing high heels is to wear the same color shoe as your pant.
When you do this, the color extends from your pant down to your toe, giving the illusion of a longer leg.
Then, you want to look for shoes with a pointed tip versus a rounded or square toe. The point of the toe, visually draws your foot out, helping to lengthen you.
Lastly, choose nude color shoes when wearing skirts, dresses, and shorts (make sure the nude matches your skin tone), and boots that are knee-high or over the knee will also help your legs look longer.
Add a Long Layer
This tip may feel counterintuitive because if you’re short, wouldn’t a long layer make you appear shorter?
No, not necessarily.
Adding a longer layer when you are petite plus size, can actually lengthen your overall appearance.
The trick is to select longer layers, like trench coats, cardigans, and dresses that are long but won’t have you tripping over hemlines.
Look for longer layers that will stop at your ankles or just a few inches above or below them.
Also, pair longer layers with a belt or waist tie, to define your waistline.
Sleeves are Important
Last, but certainly not least, I want to talk about sleeves! I feel like sleeves are never given the attention that they need.
When you are petite, your overall proportions are shortened, so things like sleeves can make or break a look.
The best sleeves to choose to help you look taller are, form-fitting and 3/4 sleeves.
Exaggerated or oversized sleeves are not your friend. They will overwhelm your petite plus frame and broaden your shoulders and arms, giving off linebacker vibes.
Not, the look we want my love.
If you have an item you absolutely love but the sleeves are too long, don’t be afraid to roll or push up your sleeves.
This can help you achieve that 3/4 look with minimal effort.
Other things play a role in lengthening your body as well, like great posture. I am not an expert on how to have the best posture, so check out this video to learn more about how posture can help you appear taller.
The final tip I have for you to appear taller without wearing high heels is to remember to wear your confidence.
Confidence will transform anyone, no matter their size or what they are wearing.
Stand proud, hold your head up high. Look people in the eye when you talk to them, your presence and voice are needed in this world. So take up space!
If no one’s ever given you that permission before, well here you go. I give you permission to be loud, bold, and seen. Don’t diminish your shine to make others feel comfortable.
No, my love, we are all here to shine like the stars that we are.
This is your petite plus-size guide to looking taller without having to wear high heels.
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