You may not have known that Victoria Beckham, Rooney Mara and Scarlett Johansson are all ladies that fall under 5’4″. That’s because they know how to add a few inches to their height with some very clever styling tricks.

Clothes are a great tool to deceive the eye and obtain the objective you are after. It’s like using perspective in art. That’s what I love about styling… its’ about playing around with angles, shapes and colours to create balance.

Here, I show you 7 ways to master the illusion:

1. Wear Monochrome

Wearing a monochrome outfit is a fantastic trick to visually add inches to your height. Wearing the same colour in different shades creates a column of colour which visually makes you look taller. Aside from looking chic, it’s also very flattering on petite body types, and is one of the simplest tricks to look taller (and slimmer too!).

2. Do Vertical Lines

Another fool-proof way to elongate your frame is to wear a garment with vertical lines.

Horizontal stripes can expand your frame and can make you look bigger than you are. Vertical stripes in comparison keep the eye running up and down which helps to visually elongate your frame and make you look taller!

3. Opt For High Waisted Bottoms

High waisted trousers, jeans or skirts have the ability to make you look taller in seconds. They hit you at your waist (typically the smallest area of your tummy) which is very flattering.

If you have a long torso, low waisted styles will highlight the disparity of your proportions. Mid or High rise jeans or trousers should be a staple in your wardrobe and for good reason. In addition to balancing out your frame, it also raises the visual appearance of where your waist sits. As our legs start from just below the waist, this has a flattering leg-lengthening effect

4. French Tuck

The “French tuck,” is a term for the simple styling trick of tucking in only the front of your shirt. Try a French tuck when you’re wearing a top that’s a little too loose to be fully tucked, or when a full tuck feels too conservative.

A French tuck can define your waistline while still allowing for the drape effect of a longer, looser top, giving you the best of both worlds. When done right, a French tuck leaves a shirt or sweater loose in the back, balancing the proportions of the outfit and making you look taller.

5. Embrace V- Necklines

V- necklines create a visual point towards the floor which draws your eye downward and makes you look taller. While, I’m not saying you should ditch every neckline and only wear v-necks, they are a great option to help slim your frame.

Experiment with your existing tops and blouses and wear a necklace or undo the first few buttons for the same effect.

6. Make your shoes do the work

A good podiatrist would probably wince at this tip, but a pointed toe shoe (or one that tapers in slightly at the front) is one of the easiest ways to lengthen your legs.

Pointed toe flats create the look of an extended leg thanks to the vertical line that is created with the shape of the pointed toe.

7. Crop your trousers

I use this trick all the time when shopping for my wardrobe – a cropped trouser will be your best friend. Wearing trousers that are cut a little above the ankle will make it appear like you are too tall for the trousers. It will instantly add inches to your height.

Trousers that show some part of your legs, work the same way as v-neck tops. So the trick here is to make more of your skin noticeable to create a visually longer vertical line on your body. Mom jeans are a good example of cropped trousers (not all mom jeans are cropped, by the way).

Hopefully at least one of these tips will have you feeling taller whenever you need to pull the trick out of the bag.

But just remember, as long as you feel happy and comfortable in what you wear, then you’re doing something right!

Until next time,

Your personal stylist,

Numba x