What Not to Wear: Shoes Edition for Petite Women

If you’re a petite woman, it’s not always easy to find the right shoes - shoes that look great and feel comfortable, in other words. You might be limited when it comes to your choice and end up with a pair of shoes you haven’t really fallen in love with, which, when it comes to shoes, is more important than you might think. With that in mind, we’ve put together a guide to help you make the right choice; read on to find out more. 

Shoe Styles For Petite Women 

Being a petite woman definitely comes with its own set of unique - and irritating - fashion challenges and that includes shoes, even if you hadn’t thought about it before. One of the biggest struggles for petite women is finding small size women’s shoes that not only fit well but also actually make them look great, perhaps even complementing their size. 

For petite women, it’s essential to look for shoe styles that make the legs look longer and create the illusion of height - that’s a really important thing to look out for. Pointed-toe shoes are a fantastic choice for that reason; they’ll give the impression that the leg is longer than it really is. Whether it’s flats, heels, or boots, pointed toes are an excellent choice, and they’re versatile too. 

Tips For Finding The Perfect Fit 

Finding the perfect fit is, of course, vital, especially when you’re dealing with small size women’s shoes. The key is to measure your feet before you start trying on shoes because the more you try, the more your feet might expand due to the pressure you’re putting on them. That will give you a false idea about how things fit, so measure up first, and you’ll always have a backup to help you. 

Never compromise on comfort for the sake of style, no matter how much you might adore a specific pair of shoes - you won’t be able to wear them if they don’t fit right, so it’s just a waste of money. 

Try shopping at stores that specialise in petite or narrow sizes, and you’ll be off to a great start. 

Colour Choices To Enhance Your Height 

When it comes to colours, certain shades can work wonders and make you appear taller than you are, so they’re the ones to go for if that’s your aim. Nude-coloured shoes are an excellent choice for a caucasian petite woman, for example, and they’ll make it look as though your legs go on for longer than they really do - it’s all about tricking the eye! 

If you prefer a pop of colour, you’ll want to wear monochromatic outfits with shoes that match your tights or trousers - the continuous flow of the colour from your hips (or knees) down to the floor is exactly the kind of illusion we’re talking about. 

Make sure you don’t wear shoes that contrast with your bottoms because you’ll give a different look altogether, and it will seem as though your legs are cut off and shorter than you might like them to appear! 

Shoe Trends To Take Care With 

It’s true that the world of fashion is always changing, and there are always new trends around every corner, but it’s also true that not all of these trends are going to suit petite women, and some should be avoided altogether. Chunky, oversized shoes can look fabulous, and they’re definitely fashionable, but for a smaller woman, they can completely overwhelm the body and make your feet look disproportionately large, however we carefully choose our styles and develop them with petite size women in mind to ensure you can join new trend too. Steer well clear of platform shoes that have not been designed by petite size specialists like us for the same reason. 

Another trend to be cautious with is ankle straps. This creates a horizontal line across your feet, which, again, makes your legs look shorter unless you take care as we do to get the proportions right for petite feet. Instead, you could also opt for shoes with an open-toe design or a low vamp that shows more of your foot, making your legs look longer. 

Best Shoe Brands For Petite Feet

Investing in the right petite shoe brands can make such a big difference for petite women, and there are some brands that actually specialize in small size women’s shoes, offering a wide range of stylish and comfortable options. 

You’ll want to look for brands that make fit the priority and that are designed for petite frames so you can enjoy wearing them and feel good in them at the same time. 

How To Style Shoes To Look Taller

Styling plays a crucial role in maximising the impact of your footwear, and something like high-waisted bottoms with cropped tops combined with heels will definitely make your legs look long. 

If you prefer flats, that’s not a problem, just remember to take care when you pick any with ankle straps and be wary of the colours as we mentioned above. 

Shoe Accessories For Petite Women 

Accessories can make your shoes look wonderful, but as a petite woman you do need to be careful - straps just above the ankle can elongate the legs, but straps lower than the ankle can do the opposite, for example. Plus, you do need to be careful if you’re looking at bulky accessories, as they can be too much for your small frame. A delicate ankle bracelet,  however, could be just right. 

Celebrity Shoe Inspiration For Petite Women

Celebrities are often seen as style icons, and for good reason - they know just what to wear and how to wear it (thanks to their own personal stylists a lot of the time). Since that’s the case, it’s wise to look at the shoes petite celebrities are wearing. Some people to watch out for include Kylie Minogue, Reese Witherspoon, and Gillian Anderson, for example.