a summer guide for short girls!
Summer is coming! Time to throw away the heavy jackets, wool tights, and giant scarves into the darkest depth of our wardrobe! In a fit of boredom today I was thinking about how I could revamp my wardrobe for the summer when a thought struck me, hey, let's make a post about summer wardrobe for short girls! Because I am short, and summer is awesome. Beach party, picnic at the park, a day out with friends for delicious cold tropical drinks, it's exciting tiems! Everything in this post will mostly be what works for me on a personal level, but of course different people have different styles and all that, so feel free to adapt to your own style and/or share ideas.
Summer Staples:
1. The Shorts:
Shorts are awesome. Shorts are comfortable, light, casual, and incredibly versatile for all occasions/seasons. I try to definitely have the 2 basic colours black and white (off-white jeans shorts are usually the best) then expand to other colours/patterns for summer. There are tons of cute shorts in the shops right now - pastel, floral, polka dots, bright neon, the list goes on. Go for anything and everything, as many and varied as possible. They're more economical than pants both in terms of price and space in your wardrobe/luggage (I travel a lot so this is very important - oh, shorts are awesome for long flights as well!). The best part? They make your legs look like they go on forever. See SNSD for example. Of course, you don't have to wear hotpants like SNSD unless you're going to some exciting party. Still, shorts make even Jessica's and Taeyeon's legs the dream of all Asian girls, so there's no reason not to go for it. Good investment, as you can keep using them in all other seasons with tights.
2. The Skirt:
I wear/used to wear 2 kinds of skirts: the pleated kind and pencil skirts. Pleated skirts were fun but now I'm too old to pull them off ha ha. Skirts work in the same way shorts do - they make your legs go on forever, they're young, fun, feminine, cute, classy, anything you want them to be. Most important tip for short girls: Do not wear skirts/dresses that go past your knees. I try to keep everything down to 2/3 or mid-thigh at most, 3/4 is stretching it, but anything that touches my knees is a huge NO. Anything that goes past my knees makes me look like a kid wearing my mom's oversized clothes. It's too easy to look sloppy/stunted in a long skirt, so avoid it. Long skirts/dresses, maxi dresses for example, might look awesome on a tall model, but short people normally just can't do it. ;~;
Pleated skirts: Again, everything about shorts applies here. Go for every style and colours, the fluffier the more fun! Don't be afraid of trying out fancy styles, the trend this summer is simple tee + fancy fluffy skirts!
Pencil skirts: lol now I stick to this kind of skirts because I'm a srs bsns business major. Or something. So, black pencil skirts! Incredibly classy and sexy at the same time - a staple every woman needs to have, whether for work or for play. They are amazingly versatile and can make the perfect transition between a work day and a night out. It's very important that it hugs your body curves perfectly, but not to the point everyone can see your panty line. It should come down to mid-thigh at most, no longer! You don't want to look like you're going to the 9-5 office. Of course, there are ways to quickly turn your long office skirt into a short playful skirt, for example simply rolling the top of your skirt inside to make it shorter, or pulling it higher up to your waist (lmao anyone who used to wear school uniforms knows what I'm talking about). The style I usually go for is high-waisted non-stretchy black skirts. These work wonders for short legs, seriously. Dark plain colours work best for this style.
3. The Top:
Comfortable is the key word! I always wear tops that are 2-3 sizes bigger than my size. Breezy, comfortable, and light are what you would want to be in the summer. Of course this depends on your style, but try not to wear body-tight tops. It can be quite uncomfortable, especially when it comes to sweating. Oversized light cotton tees are the best for a casual day out or even just chilling in your house. Of course loose clothing is also best when you go on eating tours lolol. Sometimes an oversized piece can double as a dress, the great advantage of being tiny! ...I always do this. Long shirts over short bottoms work well because they make both your upper body and legs look longer.
If you want something a bit classy, go for a light dress shirt! The lighter the better, don't be afraid about it being slightly see-through (or very see-through ~o~). Definitely go for light/bright colours. You can use dark colours for your bottoms as a base, but you would want light-coloured top in order not to feel suffocated/slow-roasted in the sun. Pastel, floral, sailor stripes, plain white, anything. Note: if your top is eye-catching, go for plain simple bottom, and vice versa. For summer, simple is best.
4. The Dress:
Same tip: Don't let it go to/past your knees! Other than that, go crazy! Sundresses are awesome. I love dresses because I'm the ultimate lazyboat and wearing a one-piece is fast and simple, no need to coordinate top/bottom lolol. Of course, once again, it's best to wear something loose and comfortable made from light material.
5. The Shoes:
Definitely try to avoid close-toed shoes unless you're going to something formal. Summer is all about peek-toed and open-toed. Wear flip-flops! Sandals! Wedges! Now if you're a short girl like me, heels are awesome. However, heels are not very kind for a long day of walking outdoor or partying in the sun, as you would want to do in the summer. I try to either stick to low heels, or wedges! ino, ino, wedges can look very questionable at times, but they're the most efficient way of adding height with the lowest risk of killing your feet. They're very summery as well! Look for the super light ones with espadrille soles for example. These can add an extra of 10cm or more to your height while in fact it's mostly platform and the actual arch is not that high. Note: this is also a general tip for girls while choosing heels: go for the ones that have platform. I have shoes that look dizzyingly high but are actually very comfortable because they have hidden platform inside. Also, shoes with colours close to your skin tone will make your bare legs look longer. Similarly, if you're wearing black stockings, dark shoes will create that illusion.
Tips for people who are not used to heels: Start out with something small, low kitten heels (2 inches) with a wide base are the best. You'll barely feel anything. Keep wearing these to class, to go out, etc. for at least 3 weeks - 1 month. When you get used to them, move on to slightly higher heels, about 3-3.5 inches for a nice dinner out or short trips that don't require a lot of walking outdoor. After a while, you'll find that stepping into 4-inch and above heels is a much less intimidating task! The point is you have to make the transition slow and smooth. Never walk in high heels for over 4 hours a day when you first start out!
6. The Pants:
lol tbh I'm not the biggest fan of pants, even less so in the summer, but if I wear pants, it's mostly skinny jeans (they make your legs look long when there's a bit leftover to cover your ankles) though anything slim-cut would be fine. If you can pull off coloured skinnies a la SNSD, go for them!
7. The Hat:
I'm not a hat person, but if I were, straw hats are the way to go! Tie a cute ribbon or scarf around your hat for a summery feel.
8. The Bag:
I'm of the belief that for bags, the bigger the better. Giant tote bags for the summer are the best. They're very convenient for beach days and picnics. Of course you can use bags/purses as a dash of colour for your outfit as well.
9. The Sunglasses: Go for any and all shapes, styles, and colours. Sunglasses are a must in the summer!
Summer Styles:
Floral. When it's spring/summer, you can't escape floral. Floral is great fun. Can be very retro!
Stripes! Sailor style is very in for the summer. It makes you long for the sea~
Lace. The only lace I can do is black lace, lol. That's not very summery tho.
Pastels. Perfect for spring/summer. Always classy.
Colour blocks, if you don't want the quiet! Colour blocks are very in this summer.
If you can't deal with floral/dots/cutesy patterns/lace and you don't want to look like a parrot in a tropical rainforest either, go for monochrome with a splash of colour, whether it's a detail on your clothes or a piece of accessory. Be creative!
Natural materials.
...So that was it, a short guide on what I like to wear in the summer, haha. I hope some of you found it useful somewhat. :D Don't be afraid to show skin in the summer, everyone's doing it. Go for comfort, soak up the sunlight! Also remember: confidence is the best accessory a girl can have. :D
Summer Staples:
1. The Shorts:
Shorts are awesome. Shorts are comfortable, light, casual, and incredibly versatile for all occasions/seasons. I try to definitely have the 2 basic colours black and white (off-white jeans shorts are usually the best) then expand to other colours/patterns for summer. There are tons of cute shorts in the shops right now - pastel, floral, polka dots, bright neon, the list goes on. Go for anything and everything, as many and varied as possible. They're more economical than pants both in terms of price and space in your wardrobe/luggage (I travel a lot so this is very important - oh, shorts are awesome for long flights as well!). The best part? They make your legs look like they go on forever. See SNSD for example. Of course, you don't have to wear hotpants like SNSD unless you're going to some exciting party. Still, shorts make even Jessica's and Taeyeon's legs the dream of all Asian girls, so there's no reason not to go for it. Good investment, as you can keep using them in all other seasons with tights.
2. The Skirt:
I wear/used to wear 2 kinds of skirts: the pleated kind and pencil skirts. Pleated skirts were fun but now I'm too old to pull them off ha ha. Skirts work in the same way shorts do - they make your legs go on forever, they're young, fun, feminine, cute, classy, anything you want them to be. Most important tip for short girls: Do not wear skirts/dresses that go past your knees. I try to keep everything down to 2/3 or mid-thigh at most, 3/4 is stretching it, but anything that touches my knees is a huge NO. Anything that goes past my knees makes me look like a kid wearing my mom's oversized clothes. It's too easy to look sloppy/stunted in a long skirt, so avoid it. Long skirts/dresses, maxi dresses for example, might look awesome on a tall model, but short people normally just can't do it. ;~;
Pleated skirts: Again, everything about shorts applies here. Go for every style and colours, the fluffier the more fun! Don't be afraid of trying out fancy styles, the trend this summer is simple tee + fancy fluffy skirts!
Pencil skirts: lol now I stick to this kind of skirts because I'm a srs bsns business major. Or something. So, black pencil skirts! Incredibly classy and sexy at the same time - a staple every woman needs to have, whether for work or for play. They are amazingly versatile and can make the perfect transition between a work day and a night out. It's very important that it hugs your body curves perfectly, but not to the point everyone can see your panty line. It should come down to mid-thigh at most, no longer! You don't want to look like you're going to the 9-5 office. Of course, there are ways to quickly turn your long office skirt into a short playful skirt, for example simply rolling the top of your skirt inside to make it shorter, or pulling it higher up to your waist (lmao anyone who used to wear school uniforms knows what I'm talking about). The style I usually go for is high-waisted non-stretchy black skirts. These work wonders for short legs, seriously. Dark plain colours work best for this style.
3. The Top:
Comfortable is the key word! I always wear tops that are 2-3 sizes bigger than my size. Breezy, comfortable, and light are what you would want to be in the summer. Of course this depends on your style, but try not to wear body-tight tops. It can be quite uncomfortable, especially when it comes to sweating. Oversized light cotton tees are the best for a casual day out or even just chilling in your house. Of course loose clothing is also best when you go on eating tours lolol. Sometimes an oversized piece can double as a dress, the great advantage of being tiny! ...I always do this. Long shirts over short bottoms work well because they make both your upper body and legs look longer.
If you want something a bit classy, go for a light dress shirt! The lighter the better, don't be afraid about it being slightly see-through (or very see-through ~o~). Definitely go for light/bright colours. You can use dark colours for your bottoms as a base, but you would want light-coloured top in order not to feel suffocated/slow-roasted in the sun. Pastel, floral, sailor stripes, plain white, anything. Note: if your top is eye-catching, go for plain simple bottom, and vice versa. For summer, simple is best.
4. The Dress:
Same tip: Don't let it go to/past your knees! Other than that, go crazy! Sundresses are awesome. I love dresses because I'm the ultimate lazyboat and wearing a one-piece is fast and simple, no need to coordinate top/bottom lolol. Of course, once again, it's best to wear something loose and comfortable made from light material.
5. The Shoes:
Definitely try to avoid close-toed shoes unless you're going to something formal. Summer is all about peek-toed and open-toed. Wear flip-flops! Sandals! Wedges! Now if you're a short girl like me, heels are awesome. However, heels are not very kind for a long day of walking outdoor or partying in the sun, as you would want to do in the summer. I try to either stick to low heels, or wedges! ino, ino, wedges can look very questionable at times, but they're the most efficient way of adding height with the lowest risk of killing your feet. They're very summery as well! Look for the super light ones with espadrille soles for example. These can add an extra of 10cm or more to your height while in fact it's mostly platform and the actual arch is not that high. Note: this is also a general tip for girls while choosing heels: go for the ones that have platform. I have shoes that look dizzyingly high but are actually very comfortable because they have hidden platform inside. Also, shoes with colours close to your skin tone will make your bare legs look longer. Similarly, if you're wearing black stockings, dark shoes will create that illusion.
Tips for people who are not used to heels: Start out with something small, low kitten heels (2 inches) with a wide base are the best. You'll barely feel anything. Keep wearing these to class, to go out, etc. for at least 3 weeks - 1 month. When you get used to them, move on to slightly higher heels, about 3-3.5 inches for a nice dinner out or short trips that don't require a lot of walking outdoor. After a while, you'll find that stepping into 4-inch and above heels is a much less intimidating task! The point is you have to make the transition slow and smooth. Never walk in high heels for over 4 hours a day when you first start out!
6. The Pants:
lol tbh I'm not the biggest fan of pants, even less so in the summer, but if I wear pants, it's mostly skinny jeans (they make your legs look long when there's a bit leftover to cover your ankles) though anything slim-cut would be fine. If you can pull off coloured skinnies a la SNSD, go for them!
7. The Hat:
I'm not a hat person, but if I were, straw hats are the way to go! Tie a cute ribbon or scarf around your hat for a summery feel.
8. The Bag:
I'm of the belief that for bags, the bigger the better. Giant tote bags for the summer are the best. They're very convenient for beach days and picnics. Of course you can use bags/purses as a dash of colour for your outfit as well.
9. The Sunglasses: Go for any and all shapes, styles, and colours. Sunglasses are a must in the summer!
Summer Styles:
Floral. When it's spring/summer, you can't escape floral. Floral is great fun. Can be very retro!
Stripes! Sailor style is very in for the summer. It makes you long for the sea~
Lace. The only lace I can do is black lace, lol. That's not very summery tho.
Pastels. Perfect for spring/summer. Always classy.
Colour blocks, if you don't want the quiet! Colour blocks are very in this summer.
If you can't deal with floral/dots/cutesy patterns/lace and you don't want to look like a parrot in a tropical rainforest either, go for monochrome with a splash of colour, whether it's a detail on your clothes or a piece of accessory. Be creative!
Natural materials.
...So that was it, a short guide on what I like to wear in the summer, haha. I hope some of you found it useful somewhat. :D Don't be afraid to show skin in the summer, everyone's doing it. Go for comfort, soak up the sunlight! Also remember: confidence is the best accessory a girl can have. :D