How to Dress Appropriately for Your Body Type

Hey, you! Put down the shirt-belt! For most of us ladies, we see a fashion trend and want nothing more than to run right out and pick it up. We know deep down that we might not rock it in the same way as our favorite celebrities do, but that doesn't mean that we can't make it work... right?

Ladies, for us the most important thing is to work with what we have and play with the balance of our body types. For you, I've outlined some fashion do's and don'ts of the fashion world for petite, average height and tall women.

1. Short Women 5'3 and under.

Petite women should avoid maxi dresses at all costs if they don't want to look short. If you don't know what a maxi dress is, these are the ankle length bandeau/halter-top print-dresses that have been very in-style this year. However, just because they are popular does not mean that they are flattering on every body type - much like anything. If you are a small lady and you want to make yourself look taller, please don't wear these. They absolutely squash the body and the length draws attention to your height - or lack thereof. Instead, opt for a dress that hits at the knee or just below. This will allow your legs to show which will help to lengthen them instead of hiding them, therefore lengthening your body at the same time.

Skinny or straight-leg jeans are also great for women who need a little height. To my smaller ladies, avoid Capri-pants. They will do absolutely nothing for your legs, and will cut their length in half. Instead, skinny or straight-leg jeans do just the opposite! They contour your legs making them appear to taper off at the bottom, automatically making it look like you've got longer legs.

And of course, the accessory that I envy petite women the most for - a sexy pair of heels. Heels do wonders for making legs look long and shapely, so invest in a pair and work those legs!

2. Women of average height, 5'4-5'7.

You lucky women can get away with almost anything. You can choose to play with your height, adhering to whichever "rules" you wish to make yourself appear more or less petite. The most important thing for women who fall into this category to remember is the shape of your body - where do you carry the most weight? How is your body proportioned? Style is all about balance, and clothes are the perfect balancing tools.

Do you have a long torso? Try wearing jeans or pants that hit at or just below the belly-button. Wearing low-rise pants will make your torso appear even longer, but if the waistband of your pants hits you a little higher in the waist, your midsection will appears a little more balanced in proportion to the rest of your body. To go along with pants like this, wear tops that hit at the top of your hips. This can make your body look fantastic and perfectly proportioned - it is all about playing with your body's balance!

Short torso? Wear long tops that almost cover your butt. It mimics length in the midsection, and this tip actually applies for women of any height.

3. Tall Women 5'8 and up.

Now this is the club that I'm a part of and have done a lot of trial and error, and observing of other "members" to see what looks the best. Believe me, it isn't easy.

Something that is most often associated with height is elegance. Well, I can be the first to tell you that a lot of us big girls feel anything but elegant. Awkward or huge, even Amazonian? Maybe. Elegant? Well, that takes a lot of time and a lot of self confidence.

A common misconception is that tall women want to, or should want to make ourselves look shorter. However, I am here to tell you that it isn't about making yourself look shorter at all. It is about, much like women of average height, working with your proportions.

If you have long legs, you can pull of pants of any style - flare, straight, skinny, boot-cut. But - and this is a big but, ladies please listen to me: Buy your pants size in "long." If they are too long, you can always hem them but you can't make short jeans longer. There is nothing less cute than a tall, long-legged girl wearing high-waters.

Long midsections are often difficult for tall women to deal with because of shirt sizes. However, like women of average height tall women can even out their bodies by wearing pants that hit just above the hip and shirts that are of about the same length.

Speaking of shirts, tall ladies: you are just about the only people who can make ¾ length shirts look good. Why is this? Because longer bodies typically means longer arms, and so as a result the sleeves on ¾ sleeve shirts hit in the right spot - right above the elbow. If you think about it, this would make them more "1/2 sleeve tops," but consider this: a shirt with real ¾ length sleeves would awkwardly hit the middle of your forearms. However, taller ladies with longer arms make these tops work wonders! Invest in a few and make them work!

It is important to remember that dressing yourself every day is an art form. It becomes about playing with your body's proportions, accentuating your best features and balancing the parts of you that you feel need to be. Remember, don't hide your body - work with what god gave you and make it fabulous!