Wide Legged Looks for Petite Women
The hottest look for 2021 is wide-legged jeans or trousers. We have moved away from the years-long hold of the skinny jean and silhouettes have gone WIDE and loose. That said, I know there are a lot of die-hard skinny jeans fans out there and if that’s your thing and it suits you, stick with it. I like to mix things up a bit and it’s exciting to try new looks so I’ll be investing in some wide-legged jeans like from H&M.
There is still a bit of a 70’s vibe in the air in the fashion world - a hippy chick kind of look. If you are 5ft4” or under, then as a petite lady, pulling-off this might fill you with dread.
Can a shorter girl wear wide-legged trousers or jeans? What should I wear them with so I don’t look even shorter? Don’t worry, I’ve got lots of ideas and YES you absolutely can wear this trend.
It’s all About High-Waisted
The first rule I’m going to give is to go high-waisted on the cut of your jeans or trousers. High waists will elongate the bottom half of your body and create the illusion of a taller frame. Luckily, the wide-legged trousers in the shops now are more or less all high-waisted. This is your time!
‘Petite’s come in all shapes and sizes
‘Petite’ doesn’t mean really tiny in size too, it is about height. You could be a size 6 or a size 16 and be petite if you are 5ft 4 or under. There are brands that cater specifically for petites across all sizes. Try ASOS Petite and Curve range, NEXT are great for Petites and now stock a wide range of brands for something higher-end try Bomb Petite or Chi Chi London for event wear, both have excellent petite ranges in all sizes.
Following an influencer to get ideas always helps give inspiration to your wardrobe. @curvygirlchic is a great petite ‘plus-size’ influencer to follow if you are over a size 14.
Colourblock
The next rule or trick is to wear the same colour on the top and on the bottom half. This also gives the illusion of height and elongates the body as well as being slimming too.
Tuck in your top to elongate legs
Another really great trick is to TUCK your top into the high-waisted wide-legged trousers or jeans. If you have a longer top, the horizontal line cuts off the body having the effect of shortening the legs. Much better to tuck which then makes the legs look instantly longer.
Wear a vertical stripe
It’s also good to wear vertical stripe when you are shorter. Straight up and down stretches and lengthens out the body, making the eye go up and down, giving the illusion of height. If you don’t like patterns then a side stripe on a trouser or jogging bottom works just as well. If you are larger on the bottom half, then a side stripe trouser is a better option than a full pattern and will have a more slimming effect than a full pattern would.
Now for some top tips.
If you have a tummy that you want to hide then go for drapey style tops. AVOID empire line because it actually makes the tummy look bigger even though you’d think it would hide it. What you want to avoid is ‘bulking up’ with lots of material - you are small in stature so easily drowned in patterns and material. Keep materials light and soft and patterns small so they are in harmony with you. Ruching detail on tops is good too.
Also, 3/4 length sleeves are really great for petites. The bit of arm showing also has the effect of elongating and stops that look of being drowned in material. Boden isn’t usually my personal style but I do recommend them, I really love the Petites range they have. They do excellent tops and really great flat shoes too.
Onto shoes. So many people get stuck on what shoes go with wide legged trousers and jeans, never mind when you are petite as well. The answer is usually heels but they are not the most practical choice. If you are a person who can wear heels then good for you - go for it! The same rule applies with the tonal look - wearing the same colour shoes as your trousers will elongate your body and have a slimming effect. Or if you go for a lovely light nude suede heel, that will be in harmony with your small height and looks great with denim.
Another thing you can do is draw the eye up with sparkly or statement jewellery in bright colours or a bright scarf. Trick of the eye!
Great statement necklaces and earrings at Anthropologie
Here’s a run down of the top tricks and rules to follow to pull-off wide legged jeans or trousers when you are 5ft 4” or under:
Always tuck in your top if possible to elongate the legs
If you have a tummy you are conscious of and don’t want to tuck - go for a draped top which will disguise the tum and won’t overwhelm you.
Opt for 3/4 sleeves or pull sleeves up
Opt for light, silky or chiffon materials on top half to stay in harmony with your shorter frame
GO HIGH-WAISTED! In jeans and trousers. There’s a reason the designers have gone back to this - it is a flattering shape on ALL women.
Yes you CAN wear cropped or long trousers if you follow these rules with it
Vertical stripes elongate
Wearing the same colour trouser as your top is a clever trick. It gives the illusion of height and is slimming too.
Use statement jewellry to draw the eye up. Scarves work for this too.
Wear heels whenever you can. If not, then check out Boden’s pretty flat sandals or trainers or ankle boots will all work.
I’m excited about Summer and finally getting out of this lockdown! Brighter times are ahead.🌈 Much Love, Lisa
Lisa Gillbe is a Personal Stylist based in London UK. She is also the host of The Style Stories Podcast, a podcast about fashion, image and style aimed at women over 40. LISTEN HERE.
If you’d like to know the exact cuts of clothes to wear for your body shape, grab Lisa’s FREE body shape guide here.
