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Fab Body Guide: Making Short Look Tall

Wed, 04/09/2008 - 3:00pm by FabSugar
7,916 Views - 50 comments

I was looking at the most recent Rachel Bilson pictures when something occurred to me: Were she taller, her disheveled, London-inspired outfit would have been flawless. But since Rachel can't make herself grow, there has to be a way to rock this outfit and make it look more flattering.

Before I offer up some obvious and not-so-obvious solutions for shorter gals who want to mimic her outfit, let's dissect what's wrong with her look. Rachel's not quite 5'4", so an overly-layered ensemble makes her look frumpy and stout. The tiered dress is too long for her petite frame, as is her leather jacket. The Jovovich-Hawk for Target frock is A-line, so it makes the actress look like she has wide hips. To top it all off, she's wearing flats.


To see some of my solutions for making short look tall, read more.

  • A shorter version of the dress or jacket would have given the illusion that she's taller.
  • A narrower dress bottom would have made her look less wide.
  • Assuming her dress and jacket don't come in shorter versions, all Rachel needed to do was throw on a pair of high heels or wedges to make the outfit more flattering.

Squint your eyes and imagine Rachel's look with lace-up heels. Much more flattering, right? "But what if wearing heels to the supermarket isn't my idea of fun, Fab?" you may ask.

  • If that's the case, shorter girls who want to wear flats should don shorter hemlines and cropped jackets.
  • Don't overlayer unless it's cold outside! The more you layer, the frumpier you look.

Source

View Photos: Rachel Bilson
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50 Comments Add a Comment

  • aesthetiix's picture
    aesthetiix
    1

    true, could be a very cute outfit if she were taller...

    if only we were all model sizes Sticking out tongue

    38 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • foxie's picture
    foxie
    2

    I don't see what's wrong with the way she looks in the outfit, to be honest. But good tips & I need them, being only 5' tall.

    38 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • hcrummer's picture
    hcrummer
    4

    you're crazy. The dress is a little overwhelming on her width-wise, due to her being very slim. However she doesn't look frumpy, and she certainly doesn't look stout! I don't think it looks too long on her at all. I'm not a fan of the outfit, but to call her stout? Lol.

    38 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • Jessiebanana's picture
    Jessiebanana
    5

    Maybe I'm being defensive as a girl of 5'4" (and 3/4) myself, but I think she looks cute. Is she rocker sexy in this outfit, no, but I think she is getting the look she was going for. Too much hype in being tall.

    38 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • no regrets's picture
    no regrets
    6

    and why is she wearing a $29.99 dress from target? isn't she rich and famous?

    38 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • berrymix's picture
    berrymix
    7

    I love her but I agree, this is not her best look. I think it's the dress. It's not cute at all.

    38 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • linday_love's picture
    linday_love
    8

    I actually like her petite figure. I wish i had it, i look like giraffe.I admire that she doesn't always wear heels like eva longoria and other celebs that wanna look and feel tall.she's gorgeous!I don't think anyone should go in the mirror and say oh will this make me look taller or shorter

    38 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • linday_love's picture
    linday_love
    9

    no regrets she loves target and there is a whole list of celebs that like target tooo!

    38 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • emalove's picture
    emalove
    11

    I have the same body type as her and I'm the same height...I don't think this outfit is that bad and I would never call it "frumpy", but I think it would have been better with heels.

    38 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • sugarrr's picture
    sugarrr
    12

    I wish i was petite! but where did she get this fab dress?

    38 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • v y x's picture
    v y x
    13

    I know from being a short girl myself (at 4'8"), that sometimes you just want to wear whatever you want to, no matter how short it makes you look. I used to live in heels but now, I don't mind how tall I look, it's become more or less 'well, I'm short anyways...why not make the best of it?'.

    38 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • phree2b's picture
    phree2b
    14

    Wow! Excellent point.
    Good tips and rachel must have been having an off day, like we All do once in awhile. But she was documented, Thank God we are not!

    38 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • noodleloo's picture
    noodleloo
    16

    Did anyone else notice that she is wearing a Jovovich Hawk for Target dress? I tried this one on though and it was not very flattering. Its cute on Rachel though.

    38 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • emilyblondie's picture
    emilyblondie
    17

    I think she looks cute!
    Besides, I don't like heels. I can never find them in my size. Which for the record, ranges between a 2 1/2 to a 4, possibly an elasticized 5.
    I'm not really bothered by my height of a whopping 5 feet, but I do find it funny that you want her to have an even shorter dress, it's already a few inches above the knee, and my mom gets annoyed when i wear really really short dress, even with tights.

    38 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • phree2b's picture
    phree2b
    18

    Hi noodleloo!
    Yes, I did notice & I thought that was cool.
    Someone else wrote and said what was she doing wearing a Target dress and she's a Movie Star?
    I think that she is allowed to like something if she thinks it's cute even if it is inexpensive. And I am allowed to like something even if it is expensive and I am not rich & famous.I Love High end, Inexpensive, Thrift, Vintage, What catches my eye. Is'nt that what it's Really all about, Freedom to "Be"?

    38 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • tidesong's picture
    tidesong
    19

    I think she looks very nice in that outfit! In fact I think it gives off this modern victorian vibe.

    38 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • i am awesomeness's picture
    i am awesomeness
    20

    haha I'm even shorter than Rachel. I love long flowy skirts and stuff kinda hippie-ish but I know I could never wear them because I'd look even smaller and younger than I really am. And I already hate that people think I'm 13 or something and I'm 18! lol

    38 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • i am awesomeness's picture
    i am awesomeness
    21

    and what's wrong with Target?! They make totally cute stuff and you know you can go in there with not much money and get something lovely when you walk out. Just because you're famous doesn't mean you don't like a good deal!!! I know that I'll still love Target even when I'm rich ahahahaha

    38 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • hkcupcake_'s picture
    hkcupcake_
    22

    Thank you! I'm short and know it's hard to pull off certain trends :S

    38 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • petite42's picture
    petite42
    24

    I agree about the jacket length, but not about the rest of the suggestions. The skirt is already short on her - it's above the knee. The skirt width = have you considered she wanted the allusion of a curvier, fuller figure?? Some thin women with thin hips crave the hourglass look, and a fuller skirt is one way to get that.

    Otherwise, I do not think she looks too short. But I do think she looks frumpy - her hair is a mess and the jacket just doesn't work for me. It looks like an afterthought. And is that a hoodie underneath it? That part really throws me - it looks wrong.

    As for the recommendation that petites shouldn't layer, well, if it's cold out, we're going to layer for warmth!!! But I would've layered a cardigan instead.

    38 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • ur_momm's picture
    ur_momm
    25

    I think all she should change about this is the jacket length, cropped would be better... but seeing these pictures, i would never think wow she looks short or she looks frumpy.

    38 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • syako's picture
    syako
    26

    I think that this is an excellent case of a woman not dressing for her body type. While the dress may be cute on the model or at the store or on someone with longer legs, it does really CONSUME her. The fact that it is tiered like that and goes to her knees does make her look really weird. And the jacket/tights/flats does nothing for her.

    I don't think that Fab is saying she should start dressing like Eva Longoria. I think she's pointing out that women are all different and so the way one clothing item looks on you will look totally different on someone else - hence the need to know what your body type is and what is flattering on you.

    Plus, this is the first time (in my memory) that Fab has ever called R-bil out so it's not like she's picking on her and actually she usually dresses really well for her petite frame.

    Instead of dissecting this, let's take it for what it is - help for us to look even MORE Fabulous! Which is why we're on FabSugar right?

    Eye-wink Kiss

    38 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • ranksubjugation's picture
    ranksubjugation
    27

    people shouldn't razz her for wearing clothes from target! sure, she's a star, but she isn't even lined up for anything right now (as far as I know). Hollywood is so finicky; it would be dumb to spend every penny you make on designer clothes when the money isn't guaranteed to keep coming in forever.

    38 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • absolutely fab's picture
    absolutely fab
    29

    I agree. She looks frumpy. Its too much and all the layers overwhelm her. I'm 4'11 and extra conscious about the clothes I wear--sometimes to a fault. Thank God for heels! Great tips, Fab.

    38 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • EkaterinaBallerina's picture
    EkaterinaBallerina
    30

    I think she looks adorable. I'm 5'3" and I also have to be really careful about what I wear. However, I live in ballet flats. I wear almost nothing else. And having been someone who's been rather short for most of her life, I don't see anything wrong with it. Why do we have to look tall? I never wanted to be tall! Towering over people just seemed weird. Plus it makes public transport a cinch to ride!
    I think what bothers me most about this post is the insinuation that there is something wrong with being short and we need to constantly fake being taller.

    38 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • syako's picture
    syako
    31

    I don't think that's the insinuation at all!!!! You guys are just ripping this apart way too much.

    I'm also 5'1 and I don't feel offended or pressured to "look tall" by this post. I also don't think r-bils needs to "look tall." She looks FRUMPY with the way these clothes fit her.

    No one said you HAVE to wear heels if you're short --- Fab said that if she wanted to wear those items as is it would have been better with heels. Flats work for short people too and dressing for your body type does not mean that you "want to be tall" it means that you want to look put together and appropriate.

    geez.

    38 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • SmallTownFab's picture
    SmallTownFab
    32

    I am always drawn to celebs who are shorter when it comes to fashion choices. I am only 5'4" and it's not that I need to look taller, I'm happy being petite, but i do have an issue looking frumpy. I hardly ever wear skirts or dresses that are past my knees, unless they are full length and i wear flats with shorts, minis and skinny jeans. Another celeb who dresses well for being a little on the shorter side is Leighton Meester from Gossip Girl. She always looks great, even when she's standing next to tall, gorgeous Blake Lively...just like Rachel Bilson did next to Micha Barton.

    38 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • lovelymess's picture
    lovelymess
    35

    Why is the solution to every dress problem "Shorten it!"? I am so SICK of knowing what the tops of everyone's thighs look like. I think Rachel's skirt length is fine. I'm excited some people are still wearing dresses that look like dresses (as opposed to looking like shirts...or in some cases, actually wearing shirts and forgoing pants altogether). Hate to be hostile, but it does get frustrating.

    38 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • FabSugar's picture
    FabSugar
    36

    Hi girls. I want to clarify that I think Rachel looks great. I wouldn't have featured her if I didn't Eye-wink I'm just saying that she would have looked even greater with heels and a slightly shorter dress. This is merely a guide for shorter gals who want to make themselves look taller. xo.

    38 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • phree2b's picture
    phree2b
    37

    Hi FabSugar!
    Yes, of course it is a guide and I took it in a positive light.
    I think we are All ready to go on to the Next topic. Nicely!
    Come Children, Hold the hand of the person next to you...

    38 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • oblio000's picture
    oblio000
    38

    i think rachel looks absolutely fine. and the dress is already short so there's really no need to shorten it, especially since it was the daytime.

    38 weeks 4 days ago Report Comment
  • catita85's picture
    catita85
    39

    I think the jacket could be a tad shorter, but I like that dress and the overall look.

    38 weeks 4 days ago Report Comment
  • LikeThoseShoes's picture
    LikeThoseShoes
    40

    the dress could DEF be shorter and i think if she were to alter the hem at the bottom... take it in and make it look a little asymetrical that would be awesome!!!!

    38 weeks 4 days ago Report Comment
  • LikeThoseShoes's picture
    LikeThoseShoes
    41

    *** OH and FASHION is FASHION!!!! whether your peices be from Target, Neimans, your Grandma's attic or a Thrift shop. its all about throwing good looks together... not how much you spend.

    38 weeks 4 days ago Report Comment
  • phree2b's picture
    phree2b
    42

    YAY! LikeThoseShoes, YAY!
    Well said, Ditto, Right on, Oh H*ll Yeah, etc. etc.
    It's how you put it together and how it makes you feel.
    Rock that Fashion with your Bad self!

    38 weeks 4 days ago Report Comment
  • futonfighter's picture
    futonfighter
    43

    What the hell? IMDb lists her as: 5'1¾" and usually they add an inch or a half. Just looking at pictures of her she doesn't look near anywhere near 5'4" - Alyssa Milano looks (and is) taller.

    I thought the proportions were off for her to be the height mentioned above. She's