Short lady, long pants.
On failsafe outfit combinations, ignoring the rules, and making your own.
The other day a comment on one of my Instagram posts made me laugh.
I was wearing an oversized shirt with pants that swept the ground, as I often do, and a user commented: “You can pull this off because you’re tall.”
I had to giggle because in actuality I am five foot four — which is reasonably short, by anyone’s standards.
Growing up I was always directed to the dead-centre of the front row for school pictures, and all through my teens I was built like a child. Puberty didn’t do much for my lack of stature; my hips and thighs got fuller, but everything else stayed small.
I remember reading The Olsen Twins’ coffee table book, ‘Influence’, from cover to cover when I was about 16. It was my gateway into the world of fashion (along with my growing collection of Russh and Vogue magazines) and in this precious tome, both Mary-Kate and Ashley did a personality quiz.
They answered questions about their favourite designers, items of clothing, artists and the like.
One of the questions asked, “What would you most like to be?”
They both answered the same thing: “Taller.”
It was comforting at the time to know that my style icons had the exact same hang-up.
I have never been even close to tall, and in my twenties I used to wish for it. Please, please, let my legs grow longer. Let my torso extend by an inch or two.
It was only well into my thirties that I discovered the outfit proportions that really work for me — and for my frame. Albeit quite ironically.
Once I leant into the comfort of oversized silhouettes, I felt 10 feet taller in my clothes. This went against everything I’d inhaled in those magazines, and once even spouted myself as a young fashion writer: if you’re petite, you should wear clothes that hug your figure; shorter hems will make your legs appear longer…
I have categorically found that shorter hems make me look… short. And I tend to avoid them unless I really need some relief from the heat.
An outfit I’ve been deferring to for a few years now, that’s really become my go-to style uniform, is a roomy top with a longer pant.
If you’ve followed me for a while you’ll have seen me in countless iterations of this combo — plisse pants, crochet pants, velour trackies, knit flares - teamed with heavyweight t-shirts, collared shirts or shackets.
In the ‘utility’ section of my wardrobe (which contains my day-to-day, throw on and go pieces), there’s a huge stack of oversized tees and an even bigger pile of fluid pants. I switch them out depending how I’m feeling on the day.
Today, I’m in a long black tank top layered over black silk pants. Yesterday I wore white lace flares with a giant cream t-shirt.
Some of the best-perfoming fashion content on all the outlets I’ve worked for exists in the realm of rules — of ‘do’s and don’ts’. It does especially well at this time of year, when we’re all craving a reduction in mental clutter.
We want simple guidelines that make getting dressed less of a mess. We want to know the secret formula.
Theoretically, my petite frame should not be drowning in fabric.
But styling against my proportions has actually been the trick to understanding what makes me feel most confident. And it even tricked someone into thinking I was tall — lol.
I hope that in 2026, we can all start to find some clarity on what we like to wear and what we really feel best in. I would personally like to absorb less content about micro-trends and what the “cool girls” are wearing, and more inspiration from tastemakers that have figured out their own formulas.
What content would you like to see more of (maybe here?) this year? Let me know below.
Until next time,
Tam x
Love this! As a 5'3 girl I feel this. But are you always getting all your pants taken up or are there particular brands that do a shorter leg that you tend to buy from? x
Love it! I think fashion rags' advice and old fashioned "image consultants" tips often veer on outdated.