Gianvito Rossi — All Posts — Parry Ray in Harmony

(Me - in Gianvito Rossi sandals, Philip Lim skirt and a Tibi top)

Earlier this week I started looking at some “fashion rules” for short girls. As I said I feel I have a little authority here, as I am 5’2”.Here are my next five rules, and whilst I am coming from a vertically challenged perspective I do feel these five points could be relevant whatever your height.

So here goes:

The shape of your clothes. Beware of clothes that are too oversized or shapeless. Add a belt to create a more flattering shape, or tuck a particularly draped blouse in. There is nearly always a ”get around” to make something work for you.

(A old fave - my burgundy drapey Pyrus shirt)

2. Experiment with coordinating and clashing. I often read us short girls are better off wearing block colours or monochrome. Sometimes one colour head to toe or a black and white outfit look wonderful. But there are so many beautiful things out there to try. For me, fashion is all about enjoying what I am wearing and showing you my personality and how I am feeling on any given day. Some days I definitely feel more subdued and some days I feel “WAAAAHHHHHHH”!! So experiment - this season more than ever the clashing of patterns and colours is everywhere. And even you feel you make a mistake - it is only fashion…so have fun with it…

(A few faves from my wardrobe - A Peter Pilotto dress, Philip Lim top, Zara beige camisole...)

3. Dress for yourself. This might be a little contradictory given the subject of this post - because I am saying don’t follow someone else’s rules - but we all need to know the rules so we can choose which to follow and which to ignore. Knowing what you like to wear and what suits you is what it is all about. Ultimately, I believe the right fashion choices can boost your confidence - and confidence is a beautiful thing.

4. Less is more. There is a famous Coco Chanel quote, “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.” This is a great one for anyone really but especially us short girls. You don’t want to look “overdone” in your choice of outfit or accessories. Less is definitely more. For instance, personally, if I wear long earrings, I never wear a necklace. I never have an arm full of bracelets or rings on every finger. If my dress is simple, I can go a little crazier with my shoes or vice versa. I adore getting ready to go out whether I am working, meeting friends or going somewhere special but I also leave five minutes to give myself an impartial look over, and if I’m feeling brave - I ask my 19 year old daughter – she will never sugar coat what she thinks and I am actually very grateful for that!

5. Don’t forget your hair. This follows on from my previous point. And anyone who knows me knows I feel strongly about my hair – looking after it, and making it work for me. Your hair is a pretty pivotal accessory. If as a short girl you decide to wear something “full on” – go simple with your hair. My default is to leave my hair down - which is fine but it can look too big at times, in which case I just tie it up in a ponytail or chignon. Again, less is more.

(Me - freshly washed hair)

So there you have it, my “Fashion Rules” for short girls. Let me know what you think – and what your rules are, if any x

Shopping is an addiction I enjoy, and dresses and shoes are two of my weaknesses. I think maybe shoes edge it slightly. I will pretty much always start an outfit from the bottom up.

I think Marilyn Monroe said, “Give a girl the right pair of shoes and she can conquer the world.” I’m with Marilyn on this one… perhaps not the world, but certainly your bit of it. A lovely pair of shoes gives you "instant sassy" on your feet.

Anyway, I thought I’d share a few of my favorites that go with pretty much anything, and my most recent footwear purchases, from the Christmas sales.

Firstly, Sam Edelman. Sharkskin Anastasia Kid Suede Shoe. Not crazily expensive for designer shoes and really comfortable. To be honest, these tick so many of my boxes. Shoe boot - check. Comfortable - check. Suede - check. Grey - check. I love all colours but there is something very chic about grey in my opinion. I think these come in black and a burgundy too and are still on sale. For me, these are a "do anything, go anywhere" shoe. The next pair are Vicmatie, an Italian brand who have boots sewn up, as far as I'm concerned. Also, grey, suede, but I promise there is some variety coming! These are probably my most sensible pair of shoes/boots. Sturdy and hard wearing, provided you spray the suede to protect it against the rain. In my head these are basically flat... Now come the two Christmas splurges that I secretly put on my credit card. When a pair of shoes feels and looks good sometimes budgetary constraints go out the window and lust takes over...These are the first offenders ;-) They are Dolce and Gabbana, Crystine lace ankle boots. Again a shoe boot, but so delicate. I was deliberating for a long time about lace shoe boots and some were ridiculously expensive and and a lot of the high street versions didn't look like they would stand the test of time. Whether I spend £20 or £200, I really like things to last. This next pair were a real extravagance but in my defence the leather is like butter, they fit like a glove and are an awesome colour. Without fail, when I wear these someone compliments me on the shoes. They are Gianvito Rossi. Whilst looking through my current favs, I rediscovered, these lovely black, suede boots from Office. I love Office. For me, they produce fantastic shoes and boots that are often so close to an exact luxury brand design at a fraction of the cost. These are a few years old. I remember lusting after a pair of Christian Louboutin boots that I simply couldn't justify, even in my contrived mind. Then one day I was running chores in Wimbledon town and I walked into Office for some R&R and, to my delight, found these. Not exactly the same as the Louboutins obviously, but a definite nod in the right direction. Admittedly they are a bit scuffed, but they make me smile. As you may have realised I am a heel girl. I’ve been wearing heels since I was sixteen, I'm short (5'2") and walk a lot better in heels. Put me in pumps or sneakers and I tend to waddle like a duck. Heels seem to make me stride along and improve my posture.

To me, the shoes that stand the test of time are the ones that don’t date, go with a multitude of outfits and are comfortable.Shoes that I can’t walk in, or stand in for hours, when I’m performing for instance, are no good to me.

Like anything, walking high heels takes practice. I’m not for one minute saying I am the perfect heel wearer, but no one likes to see someone tottering and stumbling along in shoes they can’t walk in.

Just to reinforce the power of my addiction, I took a picture of the bottom half of my shoe cupboard (!).I know some people take photos of their shoes and put them on the outside. I like to label them, by make, style, material or an event that reminds of the shoes. I have some shoes from Aldo that I wore in a music video several years ago, that I think you can see at the bottom. I would love to know what your current fave shoes are and if/how you like to organise them. Leave me a comment below so we can compare collections!