It's hard being vertically challenged. I, myself, am not, but a great many of my friends are. Alanna of Trebond is a warrior maiden with a spin of adamantium and will that would make a mule clap with pride, not unlike one of my favorite people in the entire world, actually. She's 5' tall and has a dramatic hourglass figure that makes her look like she should be painted on the nose of a plane. This is also not unlike my Good Twin. This kind of figure, however, isn't always easy to dress. While my roommate, we'll call her Bombshell Bettie (I only use my own real name in the blog), can dress for her figure, it isn't always easy for others.
For Alanna I went with light grey's and added some lavender for her eyes and her magic, since they are the two (along side her swordplay) that she is best known for. The chiffon skirt has an elastic waistband and soft movement add drama to any outfit, but you have to watch the hem length. The skirt should hit just above your knee, it makes your legs seem longer without making the skirt seem short. If you can't find one the right length, get one a little long and find a decent tailor nearby. Most dry cleaners do hemming for a decent price, so shop around your house or where you work. I paired the skirt with a simple shell with nice darting and a curved silhouette so that when you tuck it into your skirt (yes, tucking in. this is why I chose a skirt with a nice waistband, even if it is elastic) it makes your curves more dramatic, showcasing them instead of masking them and giving you the illusion of being bigger than you are. No one likes to look bigger than they are, but thus is the downside to curves, you have to watch what you wear.
The skirt and top being relatively simple, you don't want to go too crazy with the blazer, but the blazer polishes everything up. The blazer, just like the skirt, needs to be fitted properly. Again, your local dry cleaner will be able to do most alterations on site, and if they can't they usually have someone on call that can. Jackets can't be too short, either, but neither can they be too long, just as the sleeve needs to hit the proper place on your wrist. In this case the blazer has a faux peplum effect going on that can be quite flattering to the right figure (ie: someone with hips - sadly this is another one of those things that I wish I could pull off, but can't.) The hem of the blazer needs to not go past your hips. Any longer and it lengthens your torso and shortens your legs, not something you want to deal with. Also, please note the neckline. Deep V's make you seem longer, taller, and bring attention to your face. Note also that I chose to do this with the jacket, not the shell, because this is a work function and the ladies need to stay contained.
Do not, I repeat, do not use a giant purse if you are petite. All it does is seem over sized and ruin the effect of the rest of the outfit. Choose, instead, a purse that is no wider than the length of your forearm, this is a simple measuring tool to use and not one that you are likely to leave at home. Shoes, too, are important. I went with flats here because I thought this pair was cute. Pointy toes help lengthen your legs, another optical illusion that you can use in your favor, and matching it to the shirt adds brightness to your legs. I love a pop of color, sometimes my shoes are the only thing I am wearing that isn't black, I think it's fun.
Hair should be simple, this is meant to be Alanna, she's a tough warrior chick. So leave it down, braid it back, toss it up in a bun, or pull it back in a tail. As for makeup, doll up the eyes. Make them the focus, as it should be, and keep everything else to natural colors in simple tones. In honor of sir Faithful, I have made all of the jewelry star shaped. Remember, the cat was actually a constellation and there to keep an eye on her, keep her safe. If only we all had a cat like that. Simple jewelry, simple clothing, effortless (sort of) look.
I, personally, think the athletic petite figure is one of the hardest to dress. So often women in this category need to go into kids sections to find an appropriately fitting dress or spend twice as much as everyone else on alterations. I chose a dress for this one, a knit that is stretchy enough to hug the upper body and still drape and move around the legs. Some things are pretty universal with petite women, no matter their body shape, keep the hem of the skirt just above your knee. You want your legs looking longer than they are and let you seem tall. Well, I, at least, have always wanted my legs to look longer, so I like to pretend most women do. The soft grey is neutral enough that it will go with everything in your closet and gives you that core of steel.
I chose a bolder purple because the grey was so soft. The jacket should be fitted as close to the body as you can get while still having a range of motion (if you can't move your arms, it doesn't actually fit) and the hem should not fall lower than the hips. This lengthens the legs, the deep V of the jackets lengthens the torso, and suddenly you seem a couple inches taller, and this before you put on the pumps! A jacket can be the strongest item in your wardrobe if it fits properly. Get it altered so that the sleeves and the hem are at the proper lengths, and after that you can wear it with dresses, skirts, slacks, and even jeans. It will class up just about any outfit you have, and a bold jacket with simple, flattering, lines in a color you often wear will go with just about every neutral shade in your closet.
This time I picked slingback pumps with pointy toes, though I didn't make the heel all that high. You don't need extra high heels just because you are short. Pointy toes with nude tights and a properly hemmed skirt can go a long way toward long legs. With the dress I also paired a skinny belt, you'll want to wear it just above the swell of your hips, before the skirt starts to flare. This makes the flare seem more dramatic and gives you more curves. The purse is kept simple, the lines needed to match the rest of the outfit and the purse should be no wider than the length of your forearm, otherwise it seems too big for your body.
When doing your makeup keep the focus on the eyes, choosing simple, natural colors for the rest of your face. Keep the hair simple as well, don't spend too much time, just toss it in a neat bun or ponytail to keep it out of your face. Again, in honor of Faithful the Cat/Constellation, I went with a star theme on the jewelry, keeping it pretty simple for the most part. I am, as always, a big believer in less is more when it comes to jewelry and so I only do a few pieces.
Remember, the woman makes the clothing, not the other way around, but that doesn't mean we have to simply accept what society and the media tell us is "in" and "right" for us. Dress for you, because you are the one you have to make happy.
Stevie
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