Fashion That's Flattering: Short Girl Edition
I could start off this segment by talking about how most clothing websites showcase their products on luxurious, tall, and toned models, appealing to everyone's unrealistic expectations of how they think they will look when they buy the same outfit. I could tell you to get an electronically organized closet, like Cher’s iconic dream closet from Clueless, that efficiently prepares outfits for you. Or we could forget it all and just hire a personal stylist who is trained to know what fits your body type for a few grand. As a college student, there’s no way I can be bothered with all of that just to keep up with the trends. Consequently, I’ve made the mistake of aimlessly buying pieces that are the latest fads in the fashion world. As a short gal who’s 5’1 on a good day, some of my outfit choices during this period of trial and error have cost me most of my money, my energy, and almost all of my confidence. Once I learned to avoid certain pieces as a short girl, I not only realized how much time, energy, and money I saved, but I finally started to have a healthy relationship with fashion.
Image Courtesy: Closer
On countless occasions, I forced myself to hop on the cute-and-comfortable trend of boyfriend jeans, maxi skirts, maxi dresses, flowy dresses, and layering outerwear. It is not for us short babes. Even when it comes to not-so-heavy-duty fashion, there are the little things that make a huge difference like more v-necklines, not being afraid to show more skin, and no low-waisted pants. The goal is to create the illusion that we are blessed with long legs from head to toe while maintaining comfort in a pair of flats or sneakers. Some A-list celebrities like Kim Kardashian (5’2), Kourtney Kardashian (5’1), Vanessa Hudgens (5’1), and Lady Gaga (5’1) are the blueprint for petite women. When it comes to wearing long dresses, always make sure it cinches at the waist and shows some skin. Opt for wrap dresses with a tighter waistband that shapes our torso, or high legs slits, or a plunging neckline that give the illusion of having a long body to work with. If you’re not into showing skin, I found that form-fitting dresses are the way to go, especially if it’s a two-piece outfit.
Once I learned to stop buying boyfriend jeans that devoured my bottom half and agonizing skinny jeans that I constantly had to pull up, I started explored the happy medium of flared and wide-legged denim. These options are not only high-waisted and slightly form-fitting but also reveal some skin from your ankle, even with a wider cut at the bottom. I recommend pairing them with a crop top to elongate your torso. I know you’ve come across an influencer in the streets of N.Y.C, wearing a comfy sweater layered with a trench coat. I tried this look as a petite girl, and I looked like a little marshmallow. While marshmallows are adorable and everyone loves them, I suggest compromising with tighter clothes underneath an oversized coat.
Above all, fashion is meant to be a therapeutic form of self-expression that welcomes and accepts all bodies and styles. It mirrors memorable periods in history, and periods in your personal life, so allow your fashion taste to start as a seed and blossom into a mature flower.
Strike Out,
Writer: Racquel Gluckstern
Editors: Breanna Tang & Lexi Fernandez
Graphics: Alexandra Rivero
Tallahassee
