6 Easy Tips on How to Dress to Look Tall and Slim

1. Highlight the smallest parts of your body

One of my favorite styling concepts is highlighting your assets and camouflaging your perceived flaws.

Hiding the narrowest part of your body is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. Instead, this is where your garment should finish.

In this example, I’m wearing shorts that fall at the widest part of my legs and an oversized sweater that doesn’t show my waistline.

You can’t see my arms or my neckline either, which are also some of the slimmest parts of my body. The outline of my body looks larger and shorter than I actually am.

In this example, I’m color-blocking my entire body which also divides it. This creates the illusion of a shorter frame.

The cropped pants reinforce the effect, combined with an oversized vest that hides my waist so I appear bigger. 

You can see the difference when I wear this dress that cinches my waist and falls just below my knees at the slimmest part of my body.

The skirt also has thin vertical stripes which are elongating. The contrasting color underneath paired with leaving some of the buttons of the dress open also creates an elongating line from the neck.

These small details affect how lean and tall you look.

2. Avoid color blocking

Many people don’t think about the use of color. Of course, color is energy and it enhances your complexion, but wearing high-contrast colors can make you appear shorter.

Stark color contrasts form horizontal lines that divide your body. Each of these lines makes you appear shorter.

The colors don’t have to be bright, either. All that matters is the contrast.

Here, the oversized white hem discontinues the vertical line shortening my legs. This is further aggravated by the addition of a long blazer.

Remember, every time you elongate your torso, you automatically shorten your legs.

Lengthening your legs is crucial when you want to create the illusion of a taller frame.

Dark shares are the most slimming but don’t rule out light colors.

Here, I’m using lighter colors, but I’m continuously creating vertical lines using the thin stripes of the shirt, the open neck, the long fitted coat, and finally the high-rise jeans.

A long unbroken collarbone creates a polished look and makes you appear slimmer, even with a beige look.

3. Use vertical lines

When you want to look taller and slimmer, vertical lines are your best option. They don’t have to be striped either.

Any line that is long along your body will create the effect, such as something around your neck. A long line down your center is always very elongating. 

4. Long over short and short over long

One of the most flattering tricks is to use proportion to your advantage.

In this example, I’m wearing a cropped jacket over a knee-length dress. This defines my waist and creates the illusion of lengthening my bottom half.

Conversely, a long jacket with a mini skirt that hits above or at the knee has a top-to-bottom slimming effect.

5. Fabric is key

The two things to consider about fabric are movement and weight. If it’s too heavy, it’ll create unnecessary bulk. If it’s too thin, it will cling to every bulge. If it’s too shiny and bright, you will add pounds.

Consider midweight fabrics like light wools like microfiber and cotton wool, gabardine cotton, cotton blended with silk, and some synthetics.

This dress shows all the bulges and doesn’t make me feel good wearing it. Although it elongates my legs, it’s too unforgiving a fabric to wear without shapewear.

This dress has a slightly thicker fabric that won’t bulge as much. 

6. Fit is the thing

While oversized clothes can be comfortable, you’ll end up looking bigger than you want to look.

The outline of your outfit is how people will perceive you.

This oversized blazer and these oversized pants completely hide my silhouette and create a widening line across my body. 

Instead, wear slim cuts and limit yourself to one stunning eye-catcher that will elongate your body by creating a continuous and unbroken line.

Opt for tailored pieces that follow your natural curves without adding to them.

How to dress to look tall and slim 

I’ve shared with you my favorite slim outfits and now you know how to make yourself look taller and slimmer just with your clothes.

Let me know which tip is your favorite in the comments below!

Next, check out these 6 Easy Fashion Mistakes to Avoid This Summer.