How petite celebs like Jessica Jung and Tiffany Hwang dress to look taller
Stand short and proud
By Letty Seah -
While being short can feel like a major style impediment, you don’t have to wait for a major scientific breakthrough to help you add a few extra inches to your height.
All it takes is a few clever fashion tips and tricks that will give you that visual vertical boost that you need. It’s true! Scroll through the gallery to get some styling tips to make you look taller from our favourite petite celebs like Taeyeon and Jolin Tsai.
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Stripes are always in for the Spring Summer season, so you don’t have to worry about locating some cute striped options. However, that said, not all stripes are created equal.
The trick is knowing what orientations suits your body shape. While horizontal stripes create the illusion of width, vertical stripes create the illusion of height. If you are petite like Girls’ Generation member Taeyeon, opt for vertical stripes that allow the wearer to look longer and leaner. For those who are slender and small-boned, don’t be afraid to play around with both horizontal and vertical stripes.
Photo: Taeyeon/Instagram
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When it comes to skirts and dresses, as a rule of thumb, either go super long or super short if you are a petite girl and ditch the calf-length and knee-length numbers.
When you wear a shorter dress like K-pop singer Tiffany Hwang, you are showing more skin and creating the illusion of longer leaner legs. That said, if you are planning on rocking a mini, just make sure it’s not distastefully short. Let’s keep it classy, ladies.
Photo: Tiffany Hwang/Instagram
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Belts are another game changer. Case in point: Chinese actress Ouyang Nana’s knotted belt look is a look anyone can embrace (short or tall) to pack a major punch.
Shorter girls should always opt for a skinny belt that will cinch in your waist but won’t cut you in half the way a thick belt would, which in turn causes you to look shorter.
Photo: Ouyang Nana/Instagram
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When paired with the right top, high-waisted bottoms can trick the eye into thinking you are taller than you actually are by elongating the lower half of your body.
Whether you choose a high-waisted skirt, shorts or skinny jeans, make sure to tuck in you top like Korean singer Sunmi so the elevated waist is more visible. Alternatively, you can also go with a cropped top.
Photo: Sunmi/Instagram
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Certain trends look better on a small frame than others. Mini bags like this adorable shoulder bag seen on Mandopop singer Jolin Tsai are a perfect example of this. If you are a petite girl, it is important to keep your accessories appropriately scaled to your body.
This is because every time you cause your eye to take in width, you reduce the amount of height it takes in. When you tote around an oversize bag, you will appear shorter than you actually are. Smaller cross-body bags, clutches and small top-handle totes look the best on a petite figure.
Photo: Jolin Tsai/Instagram
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It pretty much goes without saying, but investing in a pair of flattering shoes is crucial for everyone.
If you want to ditch those sky-high heels, invest in a pair of pointy flat like this pair of leather loafers seen on South Korean singer Jessica Jung that will lengthen your leg line.
Also, if you find a pair of shoes that matches your skin tone, it’ll give the illusion of mile-long legs.
Photo: Jessica Jung/Instagram
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K-pop girl group T-ara’s Jiyeon proves that shorter ladies can pull off floor-grazing statement pieces, too. Even though long shapes are usually advised against for petite frames since they could overwhelm shorter figures, a well-cut maxi skirt or dress could actually make your legs look longer.
Just make sure you choose solid versions that will skim the length of your body that will create a long vertical line and ditch anything with thick pleats or tiers so as to not drown in fabric.
Photo: Jiyeon/Instagram
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Tops and dresses with a deep “V” neckline like this one seen on “Flower Boys Next Door” actress Park Soo Jin can help to give the illusion of a longer and leaner torso, which makes you look taller. Bear this tip in mind next time you go clothes shopping.
Photo: Soo Jin/Instagram
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Apart from using silhouettes and cuts to create the illusion of height, colour is also another strategy that can elongate your frame. When you dress in one colour, where you contrast shades not colour, you are streamlining your look and creating an illusion of length.
If you decide to mix different shades of the same colour, keep the darker shade on the lower half of your body and the lighter one up top to create a lengthening effect by drawing the eye upwards. Even though wearing head-to-toe black might be the easiest option, other hues like this powder blue seen on local radio jock Sonia Chew work well too. The trick to nailing the monochromatic look is to keep each silhouette crisp and tailored. Anything too baggy and ill-fitting might swallow you up and make your legs look stubby and nobody wants that.
Photo: Sonia Chew/Instagram
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