Wide Legged Looks for Petite Women
We are still very much wearing wide leg jeans, trousers and loose tailoring. We have moved away from the years-long hold of the skinny jean. That said, I know there are a lot of die-hard skinny jeans fans out there and if that’s your thing and it suits you, stick with it.
There is also still a bit of a 70’s vibe in the air in the fashion world - a hippy chick kind of look.
But can a shorter girl wear wide-legged trousers or jeans? What should you wear them with so you don’t look drowned, like you’re wearing clothes too big. Don’t worry, I’ve got lots of ideas and YES you absolutely can wear this trend.
It’s all About High-Waisted
The first piece of advice I’m going to mention, is to go high-waisted on the cut of your jeans or trousers. High waist cuts elongate the bottom half of your body and make you look instantly taller - it’s a great trick.
Sezane have some great high-waisted wide jeans as do most high-street stores now. For affordable petite ranges I really love Reiss and Next.
‘Petite’s come in all shapes and sizes
‘Petite’ doesn’t mean really tiny in size too, it is about height. You could be a size 6 or a size 16 and be petite if you are 5ft 4 or under. There are brands that cater specifically for petites across all sizes. Try ASOS Petite and Curve range, NEXT are great for Petites and now stock a wide range of brands for something higher-end try Bomb Petite or Chi Chi London for event wear, both have excellent petite ranges in all sizes.
Following an influencer to get ideas always helps give inspiration to your wardrobe. @curvygirlchic is a great petite ‘plus-size’ influencer to follow if you are over a size 14.
Colourblock
The next rule or trick is to wear the same colour on the top and on the bottom half. This also gives the illusion of height and elongates the body as well as being slimming too.
Tuck in your top to elongate legs
Another really great trick is to TUCK your top into the high-waisted wide-legged trousers or jeans. If you have a longer top, the horizontal line cuts off the body having the effect of shortening the legs. Much better to tuck which then makes the legs look instantly longer.
Wear a vertical stripe
It’s also good to wear vertical stripe when you are shorter. Straight up and down stretches and lengthens out the body, making the eye go up and down, giving the illusion of height. If you don’t like patterns then a side stripe on a trouser or jogging bottom works just as well. If you are larger on the bottom half, then a side stripe trouser is a better option than a full pattern and will have a more slimming effect than a full pattern would.
On to shoes. So many people get stuck on what shoes go with wide legged trousers and jeans. The answer is usually heels but they are not the most practical choice. Wide leg jeans do look great with pointed toe shoes or pointed toe boots. A kitten heel would work well and they are not too high. If you can’t do heels at all, trainers are great.
Another thing you can do is draw the eye up with sparkly or statement jewellery in bright colours or a bright scarf. Trick of the eye!
Great statement necklaces and earrings at Anthropologie
Here’s a run down of the top tricks and rules to follow to pull-off wide legged jeans or trousers when you are 5ft 4” or under:
Always tuck in your top if possible to elongate the legs
If you have a tummy you are conscious of and don’t want to tuck - go for a draped top which will disguise the tum and won’t overwhelm you.
Opt for 3/4 sleeves or pull sleeves up
Opt for light, silky or chiffon materials on top half to stay in harmony with your shorter frame
GO HIGH-WAISTED! In jeans and trousers. There’s a reason the designers have gone back to this - it is a flattering shape on ALL women.
Yes you CAN wear cropped or long trousers if you follow these rules with it
Vertical stripes elongate
Wearing the same colour trouser as your top is a clever trick. It gives the illusion of height and is slimming too.
Use statement jewellry to draw the eye up. Scarves work for this too.
Wear heels whenever you can. If not, then check out Boden’s pretty flat sandals or trainers or ankle boots will all work.
I hope this was useful. I have lots more petite fashion and style tips over on my podcast The Style Stories Podcast - tune in! Much Love, Lisa
Hi, I’m Lisa Gillbe, a Personal Stylist based in London UK. If you’d love some help with your wardrobe, get in touch! I provide wardrobe edits and personal shopping for busy professionals in the UK. If you are outside the UK, book one of my online sessions.
