We have to hem all our jeans, wear heels twice the height of our friends’ and worry about how weird it would look to roll up the sleeves of our coats. Dressing a petite frame isn’t easy, especially during a season when extra fabric and more oversize, boyfriend-style pieces are trending. Here, five easy styling tips for wearing the king-size clothing trend when you’re 5’4” and under.
How to Wear Oversize Pieces When You’re Petite
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Published Nov 3, 2017
Something Navy
Keep Your Silhouette Balanced
Wearing a big, chunky sweater dress? Pair it with slimming over-the-knee boots or skinny jeans on bottom to balance out the extra bulk up top. Alternatively, you can rock a form-fitting tee up top and wide-leg trousers or a flowy skirt down below. Just make sure to limit yourself to one oversize piece per ensemble.
Get the look: Theory dress ($495); Marc Fisher boots ($229)
Belt Everything
Listen up, petite ladies: A belt is your very best friend. Baggy sweater? Belt it around the middle. Oversize duster coat? Make sure it can tie around your waist. The trick is to pull all that fabric in so as to define your curves. That way, you don’t get lost in all the material.
Get the look: Boohoo coat ($15); Reformation T-shirt ($28); Agolde jeans ($158); Sole Society shoes ($40)
Keep The Rest Of Your Outfit Feminine
Anything oversize (particularly blazers) can feel masculine and overbearing on your tiny frame. To keep the look ladylike, rock a floral dress or frilly blouse with your larger boyfriend-style pieces.
Get the look: Free People blazer ($168); Joie dress ($428); Stuart Weitzman boots ($575)
Song of Style
Opt For Cropped And High-waist Styles
The problem with bigger sweaters on your shorter frame? They tend to swallow you like a paper bag. The solution: Look for styles that hit a little higher up to highlight your waist and give definition to your middle, then pair them with high-rise pants or waist-hugging skirts. Hourglass silhouette: check.
Get the look: Amanda Wakeley sweater ($680); Frame pants ($1,095); UGG sandals ($100)
Memorandum
When In Doubt, Tuck It In
Trust: Anything oversize looks ten times more flattering when tucked at the waist to highlight your narrow middle and prevent you from looking like a wool blob. And that goes for too-long button-downs, crew-neck sweatshirts and flowy blouses, too.
Get the look: Faithfull the Brand sweater ($169); Trouvé skirt ($79); Sam Edelman shoes ($120)
Get more outfit inspo from Coterie member Krystal Bick of This Time Tomorrow.
