5 Styling Tips For Wearing Dresses & Skirts If You Have Short Legs

You see an outfit on a model, you fall in love with it, and you buy it. This age-old shopping process might be easy for some, but for those with petite frames (yes, petite clothing is actually defined by height) several inches shorter than your average model or mannequin, it's never that straightforward. If you consider yourself short or simply have short legs, the odds are that clothes rarely look the same on you as they do on taller women. And with dresses and skirts in particular, it can be hard to find something that truly works with your stature. 

The good news? Your legs are never too short for a dress or a skirt, and you can absolutely rock the maxi skirt trend with short legs. The key to pulling off these classic pieces is all in the styling, and making strategic choices that treat your height as an asset rather than a liability. Because when you go for dresses and skirts that work with shorter legs, you can end up looking even better than the model! To find out how to style these pieces when your legs are on the shorter side, Glam spoke exclusively to image consultant and wardrobe stylist Katie Schuppler, founder of KS Style Consulting. 

Schuppler notes that details like the hemline and waist positioning can make all the difference when it comes to choosing (or even tailoring) dresses and skirts for shorter bodies. You should always let your personal taste guide you, but there are certain patterns and styles of these garments that work better by creating the illusion of height. Schuppler has also revealed that there are a few common skirt and dress-related blunders that will make shorter legs look stockier, and avoiding them can totally transform your style game.

When shopping for skirts and dresses as someone with shorter legs, prioritize pieces that accentuate your waist. According to Katie Schuppler, this is one of the most important tips for styling skirts and dresses when you're petite. "Dresses with an empire waist or skirts that sit at your natural waist create the illusion of a longer lower body by visually raising your leg line," she tells Glam exclusively. If you can't find something with these dimensions, you can still style other skirts and dresses to emphasize your waist. "Tucking in your top with a high-waisted skirt has a similar effect," Schuppler advises. And with dresses in particular, you can create an empire waist with a belt. 

In terms of fit, it's best to avoid skirts and dresses that are too loose, since your waist will get lost in the material. At the same time, you don't necessarily want something that's too form-fitting, or it might emphasize that your legs are on the shorter side. Straight styles are usually fine, as they fit somewhere in the middle, so shift dresses or pencil skirts are great choices. The main thing is you avoid dresses and skirts that are shapeless. 

You can rock the oversized clothing trend if you're petite, but you'll still need to find a way to highlight your waist. A good way to do that is by adding volume above and below, creating an hourglass shape. However, proceed with caution when it comes to skirts and dresses that have bulkiness or puffiness around the hips and below. This usually has the opposite effect of elongating your legs. Instead, focus on adding heaviness around your shoulders with puffy sleeves or shoulder pads, which draw the eye upwards and make you seem taller. 

The hemline is a crucial piece of the puzzle that is styling dresses and skirts for shorter women. You actually have a lot of lengths to work with; contrary to popular belief, we're not telling you to ward off maxis. However, there are certain hem points that absolutely work on shorter legs, as well as those that cut your height. 

"Skirts that hit above the knee or just above the ankle (rather than mid-calf) tend to be the most flattering for shorter legs," Katie Schuppler explains in our exclusive chat. "Mid-calf lengths can visually shorten the legs unless paired with heels or a monochromatic outfit." She doesn't totally advise against a midi length, but it can work against you if you're not careful with styling. Similarly, fans of maxis can definitely still embrace this style, with a few caveats. Choose dresses and skirts that end at least an inch above the ground, as this will help you to avoid looking like the material is swallowing you. You can further short-proof a long skirt or dress by going for a fitted silhouette, and once again, accentuating your waist with a belt. A lower neckline can also help by creating visual interest above your waist. 

You can make midis and maxis work for you, but the dress that is guaranteed to flatter on a petite frame will always be the mini. In most brands, what is designed to be quite short on an average or taller frame will usually land comfortably above the knee on a shorter gal, so you don't have to worry about minis coming across as too dramatic or statement-making. There's a reason one of Simone Biles' expert styling tips for short girls is showing a little leg! 

Sometimes, styling a dress or skirt as a petite woman has nothing at all to do with the clothes themselves, and everything to do with your shoes. There are a few footwear strategies that can lengthen the legs and make just about any dress look flattering on your frame. And by the same token, some shoes can shed away inches, even on skirts that have all the right features for shorter statures. 

It goes without saying that heels will always add height, but you can go even further with certain details. "Nude shoes that closely match your skin tone, pointed-toe flats, or heels all help create the illusion of longer legs and help elongate," Katie Schuppler shares exclusively with Glam. Ideally, look for a heel that has a nude color and pointed front to tick all the boxes, but shoes with any of these features will work to your advantage. 

On the flip side, you'll want to avoid shoes that have ankle straps. They serve as a visual cut-off point on your legs, taking away any inches you have south of your ankles. You might be able to get away with nude shoes that have ankle straps, since they're less obvious, but black footwear with straps around the ankle will almost always work against you. Square and almond toes have risen in popularity in the 2020s, and they aren't strictly off-limits, but it's helpful to balance the blunt silhouette with heels, platforms, or colors that blend with your skin tone. If you find heels uncomfortable, wedges can work just as well to give you a few inches, while often being easier on the ball of the foot. Again, something without an ankle strap, such as a wedged mule, is your best bet.

Let's say you prefer waist positioning and hemlines, or maybe even footwear, that isn't short-girl-friendly. You can still get away with wearing other looks if you apply a few easy style techniques in the way of silhouettes and patterns. Speaking exclusively to Glam, Katie Schuppler explains, "A-line skirts, wrap dresses, and styles with vertical seams, pleats, or subtle vertical prints naturally draw the eye up and down and create the illusion of height." 

When it comes to A-line dresses and skirts, the hem can really sit anywhere as long as it has that distinct diagonal line that creates a visual illusion that the leg is longer than it is. Wrap dresses and skirts have the same effect, elongating the figure. While a lot of styling as a shorter gal focuses on the legs, certain designs on your upper body can also work to make you look taller. V-necks, for example, work to draw the eye downwards and stretch the figure, so to speak. 

At the same time, vertical prints like pinstripes can work wonders, even if you don't have an A-line or wrap silhouette. Generally, you want to go for thinner stripes rather than block-style stripes, thanks to their lengthening effect. Black and white makes up the signature palette of most pinstripe styles, but you can find this pattern in all colors if you look for it. We have plenty more tips for rocking pinstripes outside the office and elongating your legs with them; try mixing a pinstripe skirt with a brighter top, or even try pairing two different pinstripe patterns. Now, if you're wearing block colors, you can achieve a similar result with vertical-style accessories, such as a long necklace that drapes down the chest

Don't worry if pinstripes aren't for you; you can look just as tall by going the monochrome route. Simply put, different colors lead to visual breaks, so your figure is "cut off" where the two different shades meet, making you appear shorter at first glance. Whether you're wearing a monochrome skirt set or a dress, it will always have the effect of making you look taller. Any hue will work as long as it's monochrome, but at the same time, there are certain clothing colors that make you look taller. Generally speaking, darker tones will make you look sleek and tall, while lighter colors aren't quite as effective. Black, brown, navy, charcoal, and anything in this general vicinity is your best friend. 

This might sound like bad news to those who love playing with colors, but a monochromatic outfit doesn't necessarily mean a boring one. You can satisfy your need to mix and match by going for different textures within the same outfit. You might opt for a leather dress with a faux fur jacket or a denim skirt with a cotton tee, and it will work as long as there's no color blocking. 

Our guide to putting together the perfect monochromatic outfit notes that you can still play with tonal variation by choosing different shades within the same color family. So you might have a dark-blue skirt with a lighter-blue top, and because the variation is less harsh than going for two completely different colors, it won't create a significant visual break. Patterns can also work as part of a single-color outfit. A green gingham skirt with a solid green shirt still counts as monochrome, for example. Like the other tips, it's a simple but effective strategy for a shorter gal trying to gain some height.