Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale (Buy Direct) is in progress now through August 3. New fall items are offered at sale prices prior to August 4, when they'll be sold at higher regular retail prices. Of special interest to petites are new fall dresses and separates in some of fall's trendy colors. Lots of stylish new pumps in basic black and purplish berry hues especially caught my attention in the shoe department.

Black is back in a big way for this fall. Of course, black never really left at all, but not so infrequently we hear some stylist opine that navy is the "new black" or that "red is the new black." Not this year. Black will be one of the top colors for this fall.

Many designers draped their runway models with black for the new fall season. Here are some ways designers styled their black creations:

• Balenciaga - dress with a black skirt and a white top
• Ralph Lauren - plaids with black and either white or strong color
• Calvin Klein -
black everything - suits, coats, dresses, pants
• Betsey Johnson - black and red dresses
• Narciso Rodriquez - black dresses, coats, and jackets

Wearing an all-black ensemble is a good way for petites to look taller. For the leanest, tallest look, select shoes that flatter petites - in this case, classic black pumps will do the trick.

Pictured: Jennifer Connelly in black and white Balenciaga dress from the fall 2008 collection
Photo Credit: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images