Another way to create the illusion of a curvier figure is to peg your pencil skirts. If you don't sew, a tailor can make this easy adjustment, which will narrow the skirt at the hem. Before you run out and have all your straight, pencil skirts tailored, make sure this look is right for you because you'll need to have exactly the correct hem length to pull it off. Otherwise, you may not be able to walk in your skirt because it will be too tight at the hem. Pegged skirt work best for slender women, so if you're a full-figured short woman, you may want to pass on this skirt style because it will emphasize hips.
Consider the length of the skirt because when the hem of a skirt falls across a thick part of the leg, either thigh or calf, it makes you look wider and shorter. So avoid mini-skirts unless you have slender legs, and keep the skirt length around the knee at the most flattering length. In most cases, the best skirt length for short women is just above the knee, at the knee, or just below the knee.
Most short women should avoid bias-cut skirts because they cling and show everything. Even if you have a tiny bit of tummy bulge, it will show in a bias-cut skirt.
If you wear boots with a skirt, the boots should be high enough and your skirt hem low enough that there's no gap between them. This gives you an unbroken vertical line and helps you look taller.
In the example above, the gray skirt (Buy Direct) from Gap features a waistline sash, which helps define the waistline, a flattering A-line shape, and vertical seaming for a longer look.
