5 Short Girl “Fashion Rules” - Part 1:

(Me in an old (vintage!) Oscar De La Renta printed dress)

A couple of weeks ago I asked whether you have a set of fashion rules you follow, and I touched on some “well known rules” for short girls – I feel I have some valuable input here as I am 5’2”!As I have gleaned many of us have “ fashion rules” even if your rule is you don’t really care about fashion and your clothes are functional and practical.

Rightly or wrongly, I am not that kind of girl… comfort is of course important but practicality is never high on my list. My fashion philosophy is more “If I love it, I’ll make it work...”Anyway I thought I’d look at some “short girl” rules in a little more detail:

1. Heels. A short girl’s fashion must. Adding inches to your height makes most outfits look better and if you are anything like me – my posture improves in heels. Having decided this is a “good” rule – it would follow that short girls shouldn’t wear flats. But ultimately shoe choice, in my opinion, comes down to – what you walk well in, and what you feel comfortable and confident in.

2. Ankle straps. Sandals and shoes with ankle straps are apparently a fashion no-no for short girls but I don’t agree. As with any rule (or let’s say “guideline”, as not sure fashion actually needs rules) I feel we need to find what works for us. I take the point that ankle straps can shorten the line of your leg but you have to work with your own body’s proportions and personally I love an ankle strap. Play with the length of your dress or trousers to find the right balance. And if you are not great at walking in heels - ankle straps can give you more support.

(Christian Louboutin sandals)

3. Prints. This is a case-by-case subject. Smaller prints with fewer colour ways definitely work. I think prints that are too big, garish and busy do not work for short girls. However big prints can work if you take the fabric into consideration – for instance big prints on chiffon/translucent fabrics can work really well. I feel personality plays a big part in this rule. Some people whatever their height can pull off prints and some just can’t.

(Topshop Unique's Elystan blouse)

4. Hemlines. So the general rule here is shorter girls should wear shorter hemlines. Whilst this is logical and I am often in miniskirts or shorts - it is not always appropriate. Also, body shape and even age (!) comes into it. Ten years ago my shorts were really short - now they are more mid thigh…(something my 17 year old son is very grateful for!). As for midi lengths – I touched upon this in my post, “Do you have a list of fashion rules you follow?” - you never want to be drowned in a outfit, so if a dress is nipped in at your waist, the material is not too voluminous and the hem cuts your calf in the right place – you’re onto a winner. As for maxis – I would only wear something floor length if I were going to a ball and for me, the longer the better. I actually like a pool of fabric on the floor so I have to pick up my skirt as I walk. Fabric is pivotal for this hemline – think skimming rather than swamping…

(My fave Self Portrait dress - I know I have used this pic before - but it is the best example of a midi dress I have!)

5. Underwear. All I would say here is choose wisely. Above all you need to feel good and your underwear is the foundation to any outfit. Do you like “shapewear”? If you do, that’s great, I personally don’t; guard against a VPL at all costs (this is my pet hate); and if need be, don’t be shy about going without - no one needs to know you’re not wearing any underwear! I don’t remember thinking about underwear options when I was younger but as I get older and after having children I find the right underwear or lack of can make an outfit.

Ok there you have it, Part 1 of 5 Short Girl “Fashion Rules”… a few things us shorter girls could consider…what do you think? Feedback gratefully received... Part 2 later this week x  

Do you have a list of fashion rules you follow?

 (A night out - Gianvito Rossi sandals, Dolce and Gabbana skirt, ALC top and Ally Cappelino bag)

There are rules and regulations everywhere, even in the world of fashion. And whilst I love structure, I’m not a huge fan of being told what I can and cannot do or wear…One of the things I come across a lot when googling fashion is “What short girls should avoid wearing.

”Whilst I find these lists useful as “guidelines” (I’m 5’2”), if I steered clear of everything I was told not to wear because of my height: midi skirts/dresses, maxi skirts/dresses, stripes, shoes with ankle straps, draped blouses and dresses, prints and carrying oversized handbags to name a few I would have never discovered some of my greatest wardrobe loves - sandals with ankle straps for instance:

(Brian Attwood sandals)

Totally avoiding midi and maxi lengths as a short girl is a weird one too - as you immediately cut out so many options. And though I often wear shorter dresses and skirts – I choose my outfit depending on how I feel and what I am doing that day and sometimes it’s just not appropriate to be wearing a short skirt - at my son’s parents’ evening (!)

What I would say about longer length dresses and skirts, actually clothes in general, is fabric is key. Recently, designers have been using a lot of matelassé fabrics for their clothes and these don’t work for me. They feel too stiff and I feel swamped, so in this respect the rules are right.

However, there are always exceptions. You may have seen on my socials I have been raving about Self Portrait dresses. The lace is quite heavy - but the cut and the nude linings work and if I hadn’t tried, I wouldn’t have ended up this this gorgeous number:

(Self Portrait Azaelea dress)

Now obviously I am looking at this from my diminutive perspective. But I discovered the other day my mate Cristina, who is 5’10”, who shares my love for fashion, also finds fashion can be a challenge.

There must be a list of "tall girls rules" too – but like me, but she has learned what works for her.

Apparently cropped jeans are a nightmare as they often end up looking like Capri leggings. And dresses can also be tricky, as the waist doesn't always sit in the right place.

This hadn’t occurred to me at all, as I thought being taller made fashion altogether easier.

I guess my own rules come down to shape and proportion – mine, and the clothes I try on. Fabric (as I said), colour, print also come into play.

We all know our body shapes and have bits we want to accentuate and bits we’d like to skim over… we build our own set of fashion rules and our personal style follows.

And perhaps most importantly, we instinctively know what we love and what we don’t,  and how good we feel in what we are wearing.

I’m going to leave you with a non-fashion quote, which I feel is relevant here from Sir Isaac Newton (I have as scientific past in case you didn’t know). Newton said, “ You have to make the rules, not follow them.” I completely agree…so what are your fashion rules?