IT WAS RELEVANT

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I am 5'3", weigh 160 (if course need to firm up and lose 10), I can no longer wear shoes over 2 1/2" because of a neurological problem I have that affects my balance. How can you help me look good?

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I am 5'3" and 117 lbs. I don't care for cute at 60 yrs old but since I am high energy, it comes off cute easily.Not to say I am not fun, especailly with the grandbabies :D People who know me know when I am NOT cute ( like my kids and husband.) I have a successful business and cute is not good at times. Some have said I have a 6' personality in a 5' body...I like that!

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SORRY JUDITH-- If you would write your question in response to an article about how men should choose clothing to look taller, you must really need assistance, lol.
Start with your hairdresser -- short, uplifting, hair! And find stores where the people will honestly help you.
Or start with being honest -- even allowing for heredity, 150 lbs on a shortish woman, after losing 10, is a full figured woman -- my Mom was 5 inches taller and weighed 25 lbs less --- it is all good. but curvy women have to work hard not to look shorter. Some of the advice above, for men, is what you need to do too. Good luck.

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Hey BOB! Where does it say that this article is for men? I am not aware of many men that read this column. I think you need the assistance not Judith. I bet there are ALOT more women reading this and using the advice than men.

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Megan..what is alot? oh you mean a lot

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I need help in trying to appear taller; I am 5'3", weigh 160 (need toned up and lost 10 lbs.). How are women in their 50s to dress these days?

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ok

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OK, kids, let's just settle down a bit and focus on the positive.

Megan- the article was written by a man, and the information contained within can apply to both sexes. Where does it say the article was written for women only?

Judith- Losing a bit of weight would be a good start. but it sounds like you're already on track with this. Also, try pants with pinstripes, or a vertically colorblocked top or jacket with the darkest colors closest to the sides. Another look might be a skinny pant with a long tunic with a cropped jacket over. It's hard to give advice without seeing what you look like.

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Why is it desirable to look tall? I've never understood why being tall is better than being short. I'm 5-5 and if I had to be another height, I'd rather be shorter than taller.

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i'm with debi. i'm about 5-1 or 5-2. given a choice i always assumed a woman would opt for petite over tall...? are there really women who want to be tall?

when i was a preteen i was almost as tall as now, and really hoped i would not grow much more as even being as tall as i was felt a little awkward.

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Ladies and gents, I am a 40 year old woman that finally figured out what looked good on my particular shape. I def. have the hourglass thing going on, but I'm not particularly busty. I like to downplay my hips and dress to accentuate my moderate bustline. It took a lot of trial and error before I found a formula that works for me. To dress for a casual night out it's usually dark, flat fronted pants with a hollywood waist that are long enough to accomodate 3" heels. I don't spend a fortune on my clothes, but my pants need to be tailored to fit properly. Off the rack just doesn't flatter my figure. It costs only a few dollars to have a pair of pants adjusted in the waist and hemmed to properly break over the shoes you will wear with them. The difference between tailored and off the rack is amazing. And, while it's usually taboo to wear a blouse tucked into your pants if you've got a fuller bottom than top - that's exactly what I do. I'll wear a simple silk blouse that's either a lighter shade of the pants or a bold, striking color - depends on my mood. Either way, the blouse is tucked in and gently draped at the waist. The reason is simple, the dark pants draw the eye down from my bustline while the break in the color shades or tones accents my small waist - making my bustline appear larger. I have great hair, gorgeous eyes and all I have to do is add one bold piece of jewelry to the ensemble. When I'm all put together the look is fabulous! Did I happen to mention that I'm 5'9" in bare feet? Yes, even those of us who are considered tall to begin with want to look even taller to help disguise our problem areas. I think one of the best things you can do to make yourself look taller is to walk with great posture and confidence. Experiment with different styles and cuts of pants and skirts. And do the same with blouses. Find what works for you and stick to it. Of course you can mix it up to avoid getting boring, but you need to develop a basic style to build your wardrobe on. Once you find what works for you, the possibilities are endless!

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being tall sems to be a women hang up BIG TIME they had this
on dateline already. they lined up men and the short guys of
5.5 lost big time even so they where Doctors and very high profesional's.
girls we got a problem with our hang ups about height and let's get our
priorities straight. We deserve everything we get if we choose a rat over who happens to be 6.2 over a great person who happens to be
5.6 shame on all of us. Height is unimportant in life we all listen to the media brainwashing to much. count me OUT

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Height is good, but it all looks the same chained to a bed.

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Height is good, but it all looks the same chained to a bed.

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People shouldn't (but they do)give excessive importance to height or weight. People should give importance to the beauty within the individual.
We all are different and different is beautiful.
If we were cookie cutter replicated individuals, we would have a boring world.
If you are happy with your height, wonderful. You already are winner, irregardless of your stature.
People should be measured at the heart.
I have seen people who are "supposedly" proportionate and they are ugly inside. They are mean-spirited.
I have seen tall and beautiful and medium height and beautiful and short and beautiful.
No matter your height, be sure to wear a genuine-diamond smile and you will look great always. God bless you all. Arlenice 1@aol.com

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Why can't people simply answer the question that was asked? I see very few responses that are actually helpful. People are making this a gender issue? If you don't want to be tall, more power to you. Why are you reading the article then? And since when is wanting to improve your appearance a sign that you don't have your priorities in order, JB? It's all about self-improvement.

Rose and Kristy gave great examples of what can be done. Use thin vertical patterns and sleek fitted lines to remove visual bulk. Visual examples of ideas can be found in any fashion magazine. Have fun and learn to love the body you're in. Confidence adds height like no other.

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I am 5'10" tall in stocking feet. I love being tall! However, I've never made the assumption that everyone wants to be tall, or look tall. Height has little to do with how people perceive you. Some of the most intimidating women I've ever met are tiny. It's all about attitude and confidence.

I've modeled in the past, and I daresay I can look quite striking when I want to be. My style is the simpler the better. To touch on what Rose is saying, if you spend a bit of extra money on tailoring your clothing, it makes all the difference. Spending a bit extra on finely crafted pieces and accessories can also have a tremendous impact. Go for natural fabrics like silks, cotton, and rayon. Cotton/poly blend should be outlawed. You don't need a lot of fanfare and flashy clothes to look sensational.

Lastly, one shouldn't assume everyone wants to look tall. Some women, like people here have stated, enjoy their smaller stature just as much as I enjoy my height. Sometimes, I envy the fact that smaller women can pull off looks and wear certain styles of clothing that would look silly on me.

I think the original author's point was that the "long & lean" look is in, and how shorter people can achieve this. I don't think he meant "all short people are dumpy and need to look taller".

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I'm 5'8", have always been tall and never particularly liked being tall. In high school it was always hard finding a boy taller than I was. Still I feel a little awkward. I always envied cute little petite girls. Who says everybody wants to be tall? I don't.

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Rose - those are excellent tips to accetuate the positives! I'm 5' 8" myself, and have been since I was 11. I went to a sizable elementary school from 3rd up to 7th grade - that's the way it was back in the day, and high school started at 8th grade. I was THE tallest student in the whole elementary school, and taller than almost all the teachers as well. I loved it. Unfortunately, it's rather intimidating to the boys, but they catch up later on. Now it's not such a rare thing for a girl to be taller than 5'7".
Walking tall, holding your head up, pull your tummy in and having great posture will make anyone look taller, if that's your thing. If you don't want to look tall, then wear flat shoes, but no slumping - keep the great posture! And dress to flatter your best features and play down the ones you're not so fond of. Proportion and color are the two best things to work with.
I have found that if you wear trousers of any kind, do without the cuffs, do NOT wear tapered pants legs (makes you look like an ice cream cone,) always get at least straight legs, if not flared a little bit, and you'll add length. To see if they are tapered, flared or straight, and some are hard to tell on the rack, fold the pants leg up and measure the width of the hem up to the knee. If it's the same, then they are not tapered. It's the best way to find that out before you go to the trouble of trying them on.
Also, another eye-fooler is to wear hose/trouser sox and shoes the same color as the legs of the pants. It creates a longer line without the break that tends to shorten you. ALSO, wear either matching hosiery and shoes to the dress, or flesh toned hosiery and neutral shoes with any dress or skirt. If you wear hose or shoes that are a great deal darker than your dress, you cut yourself off at the ankles - the neutral shoes, like champagne or tan or taupe, or darker tones if that's what comes closest to matching your skin tone does not create the "break" at the ankle that cuts your legs short when you view them. It makes the legs look like they go "up to there." Avoid ankle strap shoes if you can - they also create that "break" in the line from your knees to the sole of your feet. If you want your legs to look longer, stay AWAY from the crops/capris/flood length pants. They do not do you any favors if you're wanting to make the legs look longer. They just cut you off and make you look stubby. Despite their popularity, they do not look good on everyone.
Have your trousers break over the tops of your shoes so that they make a long, lean line all the way to the top of the shoe, but not so long that they "stack" at the top of the foot, and wrinkle up. Wear the highest heel that you are comfortable in - doesn't have to be 3" heels if they are not comfortable for you. Pointed toes seem to help, and narrower (not chunky) heels you can see under the hem of the pants.
If you want to wear a higher waisted pant to add to the appearance of length, make sure you leave a proportional upper body above the waistline of the pant. If you wear a high waist, but look like you have a 12" upper body, it's way out of proportion and makes you look like you have no chest between the neck and the waistline of the pants.
Don't wear a flat hairstyle either. A little (or a lot, if you prefer) height in the crown helps add to the appearance of height.
If you're not "into" height, so be it. Whatever you want to be, or look like, just be the best one you can..

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