Saturday, November 6, 2010

Looking sophisticated can be a real challenge when you?re petite. If you are 5?4? or under and don?t want to end up looking like a little girl, then here are 7 important style tips to follow to help you make the most of your small frame.

1. Don?t Buy from the Jr. Department

Yes, it?s tempting because things fit better, but Junior fashions are usually throwaway quality, and styles are way too funky and wildly fashion forward for a chic woman over 40.

2. Avoid Long Hemlines

A sure way to look frumpy and small is too wear a skirt or dress that swallows up your legs. Hike up your hemline and you?ll instantly look taller, slimmer and more proportionate. A good rule is to avoid skirts that fall below the knee or cut the leg at mid calf.

3. Get your Sleeves Altered

It?s hard enough to find Petite brands, but even then, your clothes will likely still need to be altered. Sleeves that are too long will make it look like you are playing dress-up and wearing your mommy?s clothes. They?re a dead giveaway that you are short. Best advice-make friends with a good seamstress.

4. Find Comfortable Heels

Most petite women have a love affair with heels and it?s no wonder. Those extra few inches can make a big difference in elongating your line. Nowadays you don?t have to suffer wearing uncomfortable shoes just to look a little taller. There are lots of fashionable high heel styles out there from brands like Tayrn Rose and Nike Air that combine comfort and style. Wedges also are a great alternative to heels if they?re just not your thing.

5. Accentuate your Curves

Choose clothes that skim your body and nip in at the spots where you are the tiniest because wearing baggy clothing will make you appear short and wide. You don?t want to look like a little square box.

6. Avoid the Baby Doll Look

You are little. You are over 40. Why the heck would you want to look like a little baby doll? Cutesy flowy, flouncy empire waited tops and dresses with short puffy sleeves and sweet necklines look silly. Better to stick to clothes that are more sophisticated and have long clean lines.

7. Wear a Column of Color

Here?s a trick a lot of petite A-lister celebrities use. Try wearing color from head to toe or varying shades of one color from top to bottom for a monochromatic look that creates a slim appearance. For an added boost of height, wear flesh tone shoes with sheer stockings or dark shoes with matching hose- so as not to break the leg line.

Deborah Boland and JoJami Tyler (The Glam Gals) are Image and Style Experts specializing in helping women 40 plus look and feel fabulous. They are the authors of the book, The Glam Plan~ 12 Simple Steps to Take You from Frumpy to Fabulous, as well as coaches for their Tweak Your Chic?, Image make-over program. For more tips go to www.fabulousafter40.com and sign up for their bi-weekly newsletter. You can also contact them at: info@fabulousafter40.com

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