If you have flipped through fashion magazines or been out shopping lately, you will find that denim is the hottest thing going for Fall.  This is definitely a “sign of the times” because a denim jean is the most versatile item you can own.  Dress it up.  Dress it down.  I’m especially thrilled to finally find a great selection of denim being offered in petite sizes.  Last week, roughly half of the Petite Department at the local Nordstrom featured denim jeans and updated tops.  Listed below are a few tips to help you shop for jeans that will flatter your petite proportions. 

For the Pear Shaped Petite: 

Boot cut or flared leg jeans in a darker shade of denim will balance fuller hips with narrow shoulders.  “Relaxed Fit” jeans offer a roomier cut in the hips and thighs.

 For the Inverted Pear Shaped Petite:

Skinny or straight leg jeans often flatter petite women who are “busty” on top but slimmer in the hips and rear end. 

 For the Hourglass Shaped Petite:

Jeans that fit the hips are usually huge in the waist.  Styles with a low rise or a curved waistband are more likely to fit both areas.

 For the Circular Shaped Petite:

To flatten and control a fuller middle section, look for jeans that feature a hidden Lycra tummy panel.

Whenever I am asked for my number one fashion tip for petite women, my answer is always the same.  Shop for clothing silhouettes with strong vertical lines.  Vertical lines and patterns are every petite woman’s friend because they draw the eye in an up and down motion, creating the illusion of height.  As an added bonus, vertical lines also have a slimming effect.  Once you start shopping with verticals in mind, you will find that vertical options are absolutely endless.
The more obvious choices include striped patterns especially pinstripes, vertical pleating, zip front closures, and wrap tops or dresses.  More subtle examples of flattering vertical lines include ribbed knits, cable patterns, princess seaming, athletic wear with racing stripes, and tops embellished with embroidery or beading that paints a vertical line on the petite figure.

Color is an excellent tool for creating optical illusions.  Brighten up your petite wardrobe with these 3 easy ways to use color to heighten your short stature:

• DRESS IN MONOCHROMATIC COLORS

Wearing the same color from head-to-toe automatically makes a short woman look taller.  This season, opt for long lines of color with separates and dresses in vibrant brights like hot pink, lime, turquoise, mango, and lemon.

• PUT TONAL COMBINATIONS TOGETHER

Wear shades of the same family of color (turquoise with sky blue, magenta with red) or colors of the same intensity to achieve the same body lengthening effect as monochromatic dressing.

• WEAR UNBROKEN LINES OF COLOR ON THE BODY

When putting together a 3-piece look, wear matching colors to the inside or the outside for the illusion of height.  For example, pair a novelty jacket with a solid bottom and matching solid tank top.  Give contemporary suiting an update with a blouse or top in a constrasting abstract or animal print.

In my book, The Petite Handbook, I warn petite women that teetering on stilettos throws petite proportion off balance and could also lead to serious injury.  Recently, I decided to ignore my own fashion advice and paid the price.

Many petite women will argue that the best way to look taller is to wear really high heels.  I urge you to proceed with caution.  This comes from personal experience.  The one and only time that I wore my new black patent 4-inch pumps, I fell down – not once, but twice on the same day – and really hurt myself.  My knee doctor will be more than happy to confirm this.  Yet my 4′11″ stepdaughter Jill still swears that high heels are her petite fashion secret.  The difference is that she can walk in them because that is all she wears.  Practice makes perfect.  So unless you are a “heel pro” like Jill, wear high heels are your own risk.  For petite women, I recommend heels no higher than 4 inches.

It is true that towering 6-inch and 7-inch heels have become the rage for Hollywood stars strolling the red carpet.  Reality is that they probably only walk in the shoes the short distance from the limo door to the theater door.  At last season’s runway shows in Paris, several models stumbled and fell off their Amazonian 7-inch heels.  I thank them for helping me prove my original point.  Whether you are 5′2″ or 5′11″, ridiculously high heels throw your balance off  and can be very dangerous.