My favorite thing about skirts is that I’m not limited to one heel height. If you know me, are a client or have been reading my e-Style Tip or Blog for very long, you know I’m a real stickler for pant length. If you want your pants to be long enough, you can vary your heel height minimally at best. On the other hand,  a basic skirt can be worn with the highest of heels for an edgy look and with flats for a more casual feel. While skirt length isn’t nearly as precarious as pant length, exploring  what skirt lengths work best for you can help you look and feel your best at all times.

Tips to help you determine your best skirt lengths:

(Oh, and these tips mostly refer to professional dress, so mini skirts and maxi’s aren’t addressed. ) The most popular skirt lengths right now are from just above the knee to just below the knee. Your best length will depend on your legs, your knees,  and your comfort level. To find the length you prefer best, start by trying on the skirts you love most. Look at yourself from the side and rear. Take note of where they hit on (Read more...)

I can honestly say that many of my clients, regardless of their height, have short torsos. More commonly you’ll hear it referred to short waisted. I am included in this group of fabulous women. If you’re still unsure of what this means, basically the length from your shoulders to your natural waist is shorter than average. If you’re short torso’d, you usually know it. Clothes can often be difficult to fit. For example, when you try on a pull over sweater, you get bunching in the torso; it’s especially evident from the back. Another garment that can be hard to get to fit right is dresses. A lot of dresses will have a fitted waist. If your torso is short, again you’ll get bunching or bagging.  Or you may have the urge to pull up on the shoulders and exclaim, “There, now it’s perfect…if my shoulders were just 2 inches higher!”  (Yes, I do it sometimes.) Don’t despair! I have an option you might not have thought of. First, even if you are average height, consider checking out the petite department for tops and dresses. I went shopping Saturday and found a great Tahari cardigan…in the petite department! I’m 5’6”, and believe (Read more...)

You’re in good company! Famous petites include Elizabeth Taylor, Rita Hayworth, Judy Garland, Bo Derek, Raquel Welch, Cher, Winona Ryder, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Kristin Chenoweth, Penelope Cruz, Eva Longoria, Salma Hayek, Victoria Beckham, Madonna, and the list goes on. The fashion world considers women 5’ 3” and under to be petite. If you’re petite, you probably already know this, but it bears repeating, because I very often hear women referring to “petite” in the context of slimness. That simply isn’t the case. Petites comes in all sizes! Below, I’ve outlined just a few tips that will help you dress for your height and body. Even if you’re not in the petite height range, I encourage you to read on, as you may find ideas that will work for you no matter what your stature. 1. You may or may not need to shop solely for petite clothing. It’s possible to be petite both above and below the waist – but it’s also to possible to be petite in only one area. I have plenty of clients who need petite tops and jackets, but petite pants are far too short for them. Then there are others who need only the shorter rise and length (Read more...)