Dressing For Your Body: Layering For Petites - Stylehive

Tis the season to get your layer on. Winter is now giving way to spring which usually leads to erratic weather where one minute a tank top and shorts seems appropriate and the next you€™re reaching for a big chunky sweater. The layered look has been popular for quite some time thanks to stars like Mary-Kate Olsen and Nicole Richie who seems to combat the €˜closet full of clothes and too much to wear€™ issue by wearing everything they€™ve got!

Most of the time these ladies manage to make the whole just-rolled-out-of-bed-and-threw-a-bunch-of-stuff-on look work, but sometimes, they look like they€™re drowning in a big sea of fabric. Both ladies are petite and as a result, need to exercise caution when piling on the layers.

Rachel Bilson has definitely mastered the art of dressing for her petite frame. She always looks polished, sophisticated, and wears her clothes rather than letting the clothes wear her.
Here are some suggestions for re-creating the above look:
Nili Lotan Marakesh top, $275
Mint Jodi Arnold Patched Knit Cardigan, $141
Rich & Skinny Sleek Jeans, $159
S.W.O.R.D Genova Pocket Jacket, $825
Diane von Furstenberg Indochine Print Silk Scarf, $160

For more help, check out my tips to help all you petite gals rock the layered look.
Enhance, Don't Overpower:
Stick to silhouettes that enhance your body and don€™t overpower it. Avoid big chunky sweaters and piling on too many layers. Instead, stick to thinner, sleeker, more tailored items when going for the layered look

Play With Proportions
If the shirt is long, try a cardigan or blazer that€™s short. If the top is loose, wear pants that are fitted and tight. Just because your wearing layers doesn€™t mean you have to hide your frame- look for items that will add some shape - like the leather jacket seen on Rachel Bilson above which cinches at the waist, adding a little more curve. Throwing a belt over several thin layers is also a great way to add a little more shape and sexiness to the look.

Avoid Accessory Overload
If you want to wear a chunky necklace, then keep your bracelets on the thin side and vice versa. Piling on the accessories will look heavy and cluttered on a small frame.

Thin Is In
Since you have such a small shape, look for items that are small as well- thin scarves, thin cardigans, thin tee€™s, small prints - anything too large and your figure will just get lost in the mess.

Fit It
A good tailor is a life-saver- for petites as well as ladies of all other shapes and sizes. Make sure everything is fitted - especially pants. Nothing will enhance your petite-ness like pants that are sweeping the floor and are too loose.