I was in Singapore for a day (hauls and report will follow soon next week) but suffice to say I was spending more time looking at clothes than I was at anything else. I also realized that some clothes I should just avoid because I’m short. A few dresses I tried on in Mango (70% off!) taught me the hard way that while they may look lovely on the hanger and on someone tall and lean, it makes me look like I’m wearing a curtain. 😛
Ok maybe I’m not as short as I think I am by Asian standards. I’m about 5′ 3″ or thereabouts. I reckon its considered average but I’m not of the lithe long limbed frame either so I can look dumpy in the wrong sort of clothes. Here are 5 clothing trends I’ve tried on and which I prefer to avoid due to my height and built.
Maxi dresses
Maxi dresses look lovely on those who have a small frame or who are tall and long limbed. When I wear a maxi dress, I look like I fell into a bale of cloth and just swathed it around me any old how like a Sheikh. Not only that, I manage to look dumpy and frumpy so its a no go.
However, if the long dress is fitted well and cut slim, I might be able to pull it off without looking too frumpy.
Large prints and baggy dresses
Large prints on a baggy dress is an immediate no-go for me. If you have a large frame it might not be a good idea to go for large prints too because it draws unwanted attention to the wrong areas. That said, I’ve pulled off loud prints on a fitted dress and it works beautifully so I guess its to do with the print and the cut of the dress.
Baggy Pants
Note how baggy features in most of my no-go outfits. I love wearing pants with flared bottoms. They are comfy… if I find one that fits well and does not flare out too much. If it flares too much then it looks like I’m wearing a long skirt which again I fail to pull off with enough panache. One caveat would be if I were wearing some decently high heels – that makes flared pants look better on me. But its killer on my feet!
My solution is to go for loose cut pants like those linen ones or boot cut pants that hug at the thighs and flare out a little after the knee. It helps retain some shape while keeping in trend.
High Waisted Pants
Blessed not only with limited height, I am also of a slightly disproportionate body length. Wearing high waisted pants or pants that sit on my waist only serve to shorten my body further and to make me look shorter than I really am. God bless the person who came up with hipsters! 😀 They elongate my body and make me look more proportionate which is wonderful.
Long flared skirts
I’d always fancied the long flared gypsy-esque skirts. However on me, a long flared skirt can make me look shorter and dumpier. Too much cloth on the body is never a very good idea if you are not quite tall enough to pull it off. On the flip side, I think I look pretty good in short skirts that show some leg! 😉
Do you have any tips for other clothes to avoid for the vertically challenged? Or is there a clothing trend you just can’t pull off whether tall or short? Do share while I run off and unpack my goodies from Singapore 🙂
Stay beautiful
Paris B
kahani says
August 2, 2009 at 5:51 pmGreat post dear, loved your descriptions! LOL I support you on every point and for those who don’t know Paris, she dresses phenomenally well. So listen to her. 😉
Personally, I will not wear babydolls, hipsters, flapper dresses… oh anything that doesn’t have a waist. I love the feminine hourglass sillhouette and not many ladies are curve-less enough to embrace the above styles.
ParisB says
August 3, 2009 at 10:57 amHey Kahani
Oh dear, my reps gone – I can’t ever slum in old tees and shorts anymore! hehe … 😀 Thanks anyway! You look lovely in “waisted” clothes – no reason to hide a figure!
Renee says
August 2, 2009 at 8:42 pmOh I thought Maxi dresses and long skirts are supposed to make you look taller since it’s covering the whole leg? I avoid them cause I’m already pretty tall and don’t want to stand out too much! I am sure maxi dresses will look nice on you … my best friend is 5’1″ and I’ve seen her in some long skirts and it’s really nice. 😀 Like you said, maybe slimmer cuts? Although, I know nothing about fashion, all I wear are jeans and t shirts 😛
ParisB says
August 3, 2009 at 10:59 amHi Renee
I personally think maxis and long skirts look nicer on those who have a bit of height – on me I look swaddled in cloth heh… I’m sure you’d look lovely with all that height!
Jenn says
August 2, 2009 at 10:23 pmThanks for the tips Paris!! 😀 I’m about your height so they will definitely come in handy!! 😀
I find that a well cut pair of pants or jeans when paired with heels, gives the illusion of length!! 😀 Also, skirts that end right on my knees with a off center slit at the front makes me look taller than i really am too! 😀
Enjoy Singapore girl!! Have a fun and safe trip!! 😀
ParisB says
August 3, 2009 at 11:00 amHey Jenn
I got back on Sunday – tired to the bones! I fully agree with you about the jeans and heels. Its quite strange how jeans/pants can work but not a long skirt! Perhaps I’ll try one that isn’t so flare and see how it works 🙂
Nikki says
August 2, 2009 at 11:00 pmI never wear long dresses that goes below the knees, I look ..weird and like …a smaller person! hahahha this is a wonderful post..i hate curtain looking outfit for me too
ParisB says
August 3, 2009 at 11:01 amHi Nikki
Maybe I’m just happy with my legs… enough to show them off! LOL… 😉
Jean says
August 3, 2009 at 1:07 amI’m short too…
Thanks for the tips!
Maybe you should write another post about what short girls should wear!!
ParisB says
August 3, 2009 at 11:01 amHi Jean
Hehe… not being a fashion maven that would be dangerous territory to go into! But I’ll give it some thought – thanks!
wortel says
August 3, 2009 at 9:18 ami’m short (and quite skinny) too! and exactly like you, i avoid maxi and baggy dresses. fitted or loose, the cut of the clothes should hug my body nicely otherwise it’ll be very bad 🙁
and oh, compared to boot cut, i prefer straight cut. boot cut makes me look shorter ^^;;
ParisB says
August 3, 2009 at 11:03 amHi Wortel
I guess its all our different body shapes that makes a difference and we should dress for our bodies. I wear straight cut pants/jeans too but I sometimes like a bit of flare which works pretty well for me 🙂
Yani says
August 3, 2009 at 1:10 pmMiss B, you’re absolutely right about how finding the right maxi dress might work – I spent 9 months while pregnant only wearing maxi dresses – and not gave a hoot about how short and frumpy it might make me look (hey, I’m shorter thank you, remember!). In fact, the yellow piece in the pic you posted might make you look fab! Just stay away from anything with heavy prints. I love just a solid colour.
But you know what – I think it’s all in the mind – and the silhouette – I’d recommend maxi dresses for anyone (slim maxis, not baggy maxis) – and YOU can sooo get away with it! I’ll say the same with flared trousers – they’re also a staple for me, only thing is that you need them with really nice high heels for added height.
ParisB says
August 3, 2009 at 1:18 pmHey Yani
Somehow though, being pregnant gives anyone carte blanche to wear anything and STILL look good 😀 I’ll keep looking for the right maxi and killer heels definitely maketh an outfit yeah? 😉 Thanks for the tips!
abby says
August 4, 2009 at 12:16 amOh gosh I am exactly the same. I don’t wear those styles. Although I do have one pair of high-waisted jeans. They’re black so it’s not too bad.
germaine says
August 4, 2009 at 12:42 amI’m even shorter la. I’m only 153cm. usually i opt for shorts plus a v-neck blouse, maybe with a pair of flats or heels. it looks great and classy all the time. I often avoid t-shirts with round collar and high collared blouses as it looks like I’m drowning and choked by the outfit. try floral prints blouses and a plain shorts, it will look great on petite figures 🙂
Saintangelius says
August 4, 2009 at 1:00 pmI hear you… *nods appreciatively*
The world of fashion serves not us 5′ 2″ peoples… Many a time I put on a pretty, long summer dress only to have a large quantity of the hem pool around my toes -.-
Amanda says
August 5, 2009 at 5:52 pmI’m 5’7 and I look WEIRD in maxi dress! I’ve seen shorter Asian girls in maxi dresses who look really nice in them.
Aoibheal says
June 20, 2010 at 10:13 pmI was bored and looking through your old entries and found this. Since I always cover up when I’m in university but I hate wearing baju kurungs (I know, for a malay its weird) and so I would always be in slacks, jeans and gypsy skirts or some random mini-dress over jeans or slacks.
Height is not a problem even when I’m 5′ 4′, I always seen myself a short but I’ve seen much shorter person than I am and beggars can’t be choosy.
But I know one thing would be good in anything with the above mentioned pieces (minus baggy-anything and waist pants)….. HIGH HEELS~~ duh