How To Look Taller

Height has always been a glam factor for women. It is associated with long legs, super models and attention. Tall women often get noticed more than the others. If you are of petite size or vertically challenged like me (I’m only 1.57m!), you probably might try to find ways to look taller. Being petite has its benefits, it’s more about enhancing what I have and making it work its best. Here’s a little ‘cheat sheet’ on how to make yourself look taller.

Skinny Jeans or Pants

Skinny jeans are probably the best invention since sliced bread. I know that sounds cliche but it really work, at least for me. The key is to create an illusion of long legs and silhouette. Avoid wearing large loose blouse and stick to tight fitting tops instead. The extra fabric from a loose top adds bulk to your frame and will work against the ‘lean legs’ effect. Wear heels that are of same color with your jeans or a color that is close to it to create a visual flow. Try to avoid wearing white skinny jeans because they tend to enlarge than elongate.


Skinny Jeans

Skinny Jeans

Nude Pumps

Flesh colored pumps are also a great way to ‘lengthen’ your legs. Nude pumps blend well with our skin tone and elongates us by adding height to ladies a shorter frame.


nude pumps

nude pumps

Mini Skirts and Shorts

If you have slender legs, opt for bottoms with short hemlines, such as mini skirts and shorts. Avoid wearing round or A-line skirt and choose something that are more fitting instead. Pair it with neutral toned wedges, ankle booties or pumps and you’ll get an instant boost in height. The focus is on your legs and you want to show as much of it as possible to create a taller illusion.


shorts and heels

shorts and heels

Vertical Pinstripes

The old adage that says horizontal lines widen and vertical lines lengthen still holds true. Our eyes tend to follow along the lines. If there’s a white horizontal line, we can’t help but notice it running across and if it’s vertical, we look down instead. Personally, I think wide vertical pinstripes will not work because they are way too contrasting and cause people to focus on the patterns than your height. Instead, choose a dress or a bottom with fine or narrow vertical lines. The key is to complement your height and not overwhelm.


vertical stripes

vertical stripes

Monochromatic Fashion

Monochromatic means single color. You can wear black from top-to-toe or clothes and accessories in the same color tone, such as different shades of purple. If wearing the same color all over is too much for you, you can incorporate it in half, such as wearing a bottom and shoes of the same color tone with a different top, or a top and bottom in same color and different shoes. The unity in color helps to guide our eyes to look from top to bottom, thereby making the person look tall.


monotone fashion

monotone fashion

High-Waist Shorts or Pants

High waist pants works excellently well to elongate your frame by making your legs look like it starts from the waist. Wear them with a pair of heels or pumps of the same color and you’ll look as if you have grown a few inches taller overnight! If you have a short torso, its best to avoid this because it will make you your body look even shorter or disproportionate. For those with tummy problem, try to pick something that doesn’t cling to your tummy, such as high-waist skinny jeans. Opt for a looser cut, like straight cut or a palazzo high-waist pants and avoid baggy cut.


high-waist pants

high-waist pants

So there you go, 6 short tips that can help you look taller. Do you have other wonderful tips that work in adding height? I love to hear from you, please share it below!

(Image Credits: Header, Image 1, Image 2, Image 3, Image 4, Image 5, Image 6)