Choosing the right type of shoes is important for anyone who is short (I know this from first hand experience, since I’m 5’2″ myself), and this is especially critical if you are also a plus size. The right shoes can elongate your frame and make you appear taller and leaner, while the wrong shoes make you look heavier and bulkier than you are. Let’s first understand your body’s unique features, and then we’ll go over the best shoes for you.
Traits
- Petite frame – Your height is usually no higher than 5’4.
- Short legs – Apart from this, it’s also likely that they are stubbier.
- Curvy lower half – Your hips and voluptuous and you flaunt thick thighs.
- Midsection bulge and chubby limbs – It’s possible that you gain extra weight in different areas of your body.
- Lack of waist definition – This can vary from one individual to another, but it’s more common for plus-size girls to have little to no waist definition because of the weight they have in their stomach area.
- Round and big bum – You carry more volume in your bottom half, which means that you have nice, shapely buttocks!
Celebrity examples
Below are examples of celebrities with short plus-size body shapes.
- Ashley Graham
- Lizzo
- Danielle Brooks
- Gabourey Sidibe
- Tess Holliday
Below are the best clothes for short plus-size shapes.
Below are the best outfits for short plus-size shapes.
Pointed Toe Shoes
Anything that brings an elongating vertical line to your short and plus-size figure is definitely something that belongs in your closet and when it comes to footwear, pointed-toe shoes tops this list! Not only are they very versatile and elegant-looking, but they also play a visual role in making your figure appear slimmer and taller.
One of the key features of this shoe style is the extended, tapered shape right at the tip of the show, which visually extends the line of the leg to make you look taller and more slender. This visual effect helps downplay the wideness of your figure and makes the eyes think that you stand taller than you actually are.
You may opt for heels or flats – whatever your choice is, the fact that it features a pointed tip can instantly improve the overall balance of your petite and heavy frame.
Nude Pumps
One of the key factors in balancing out your short and plus-size proportions is to choose the right color of shoes. I always suggest matching your shoes to your bottoms, but if you’re wearing shorter bottoms such as mini skirts or shorts, nude pumps will always be your safe haven.
What’s the deal behind wearing nude-colored shoes? Well, nude pumps create the illusion of longer legs by seamlessly blending with your natural skin tone. This color-matching effect creates an uninterrupted line from the foot to the leg and therefore visually elongates your lower body to create a taller stature.
The subtle heel of the pumps adds height without the dramatic elevation of heels. Additionally, pairing them with outfits in similar tones creates a monochromatic look which creates a cohesive color scheme that eliminates the interruption of contrasting colors to give a seamless and polished appearance.
Low Vamp Heels
The “vamp” of the shoes may not be a familiar term, especially if you’re just starting your venture into fashion. Basically, the vamp is the upper part of the shoe that covers the front of the foot and when this features a lower cut, particularly the instep and the top part of the toes, it naturally exposes more of your foot.
The fact that low vamp heels expose more skin means that the illusion of longer legs is being visually created. This shares the same style concept as wearing nude-colored shoes, as it prompts visual continuity and this is what makes your gorgeous legs look a mile long!
Knee-High Boots
Boots will always be a fall and winter staple, although I have to say that being a girl with a short height myself, choosing the right length of boots is a tricky territory to tread on. My continuous fashion research and of course, trial and error, made me realize that one of the best boot styles for short plus size girls would be the knee high boots.
These boots visually extend the line of the leg as they create the optical illusion of longer limbs by providing a streamlined and continuous look from the foot to the knee. This unbroken line distinctively induces a cohesive and elongating effect, which enhances your figure overall.
Apart from its visual style benefits, I have to say that knee-length boots are great in terms of seasonal adaptability. They can be worn in different seasons as they provide warmth in colder months and style in transitional seasons.
Ankle Boots
Now if you feel like wearing boots but don’t really want too much coverage as what the knee-high boots offer, your petite plus-size frame will also love the charm of ankle boots. The abbreviated height of this boot style can also elongate the legs by creating an illusion of increased height while also highlighting the slimmest point of your leg, which is your ankle.
This sense of elongation is a very effective way to balance your proportions so that it can naturally downplay the thickness of your lower body, specifically your thighs and legs. To add to these superb style advantages, ankle boots also offer versatility in pairing with various clothing styles, plus, their compact design ensures they won’t overwhelm your petite figure.
Neutral-colored Wedges
As we have briefly discussed earlier in this article, your choice of color when it comes to shoes can play a very important role in balancing your short and plus-size proportions. Neutral colors are not just classy, but they are also versatile as you can wear them with a wide variety of outfit ensembles!
Apart from neutral colors promoting a continuous vertical visual line in your silhouette, wedge heels can also give your short frame a dramatic height elevation without much discomfort. Wedges, in general, offer stability and comfort compared to traditional high heels, and this is what makes them a practical choice for girls out there who carry more weight in their bodies.
The wedge design features a wider base, which distributes weight more evenly to reduce the strain on the feet. This, in combination with a flattering neutral shade, can really bring the best out of your proportions.
Over-the-Knee Boots
Need something to cover you up a little bit more? If you feel like your legs need more coverage than what knee boots can offer, here’s a very stylish option: over-the-knee boots! The extended length of these boots draws the eye upward, so they effectively detract attention away from the fact that you have shorter legs, therefore creating a more balanced silhouette.
Apart from this, over-the-knee boots also provide a sleek and streamlined look that flatters the curves of your plus size figure. They provide ample coverage for extra warmth, without adding unnecessary bulk so you can freely pair them with shorter bottoms as well.
Skin Tone Flats
As a short girl myself, I know the urge of wanting to look dramatically taller, that’s why wearing heels used to be my sole option in the past. But then again, they can be quite uncomfortable and we all have to admit that nothing is ever more comfy than a pair of flats!
So how do you make flats work in creating a leaner and taller stature? Go for skin-tone colors. The style principle is still the same as what I have mentioned earlier as matching your shoes to your natural skin tone creates an unbroken line that seamlessly connects your foot to your leg.
This minimalistic visual approach contributes to an overall streamlined and elongated appearance to counteract your short height and wider body.
Peep Toe Shoes
Typically available in various styles, peep-toe heels can be a dainty choice for short plus size girls out there as they add a touch of femininity and flair to any outfit while also providing visual elongation. Remember how exposing more of your foot creates a longer leg line? Peep toe is also a shoe style that does the same for your frame.
This “exposure” creates a sense of verticality that visually extends the legs and also cuts down their thickness. Just remember that when choosing peep-toe shoes, consider the color and design to ensure visual continuity in your lower body.
Avoid Chunky Trainers
Chunky trainers are super trendy these days thanks to their comfy, street-style charm. However, anything chunky adds bulk to your figure, and that is the very last thing you’d want for your plus-size figure.
The visual characteristics of chunky trainers can really overwhelm your short height as well, resulting in a much stubbier look.
Avoid Strappy Sandals
Strappy sandals are without a doubt, very stylish and popular in the fashion world for many years, but this style can visually cut off the leg line, potentially making the legs appear shorter. The straps can create horizontal lines across the foot and ankle and this will disrupt the vertical flow of your outfit and contribute to the perception of a shorter overall frame.
Not only that, if the straps are too wide and dramatic (like those of Gladiators), they will visually add bulk to the foot and ankle area and this can be counterproductive for your goal of creating a more streamlined and elongated look.
