13 Petite-Girl Style Tricks Emma Roberts Always Follows

For petite girls, fashion can be a bit tricky. If you’re 5’3” or under, everything from chic tailoring and smart trousers to jeans and maxi dresses can be difficult to pull off without looking, well, swamped. But short of getting everything tailored, are there any styling tricks out there to help fashion girls on the petite side?

Enter: Emma Roberts. The 5’1” star has one of the most impressive wardrobes in Hollywood. Naturally, having her super stylists Brit and Kara Elkin on call is a major bonus, but even if you’re not an A-lister with a direct line to the fashion experts, we can all still learn a thing or two from Emma’s perfect outfits.

From the best jeans for petite girls to pulling off maxi dresses and more, keep scrolling for the style tips we’ve learnt from Emma Roberts.

Smart black trousers teamed with a longline black top is a great combo for making your whole body look longer. Keep the shapes sleek, and remember to add heels—preferably black ones.

When it comes to the best jeans for petite girls, Emma Roberts knows that high-rise is the way to go. They’ll help to make your legs appear longer thanks to the higher waistline. A flash of ankle always helps to tease out a few more inches too.

For fancier affairs, column dresses are a great way to create the illusion of extra height. Especially if you’re wearing heels underneath. Avoid high necklines if you’re going full-length, as they’ll cut you off rather than lengthen your neck and chest.

Tucking a shirt or T-shirt into high-waisted denim is a super-speedy way to elevate a casual look.

Petite girls can wear maxi dresses; you just need to look for the right shapes. Anything too flowy will swamp a petite frame, so keep things fitted, and add in heels. Vertical prints also help elongate your body: Look for stripes or clever graphics à la Emma’s Moschino dress.

Though super versatile, midi dresses can actually make you look shorter if they land in the wrong place. Aim for dresses that just skim the knee rather than ones that end mid-shin, as that extra bit of skin will give the impression of longer legs.

Whether it’s a faux-fur jacket like Emma’s or a pair of comfy ankle boots, nothing is quite so iconic as leopard print. Look for thigh-skimming coats to avoid drowning a petite frame.

Love them or hate them, “naked” dresses aren’t going anywhere. Take a tip from Emma and look for luxe prints in sheer fabrics. Sturdy basics that won’t let you down are also essential.

Take your best-loved denim (high-waisted, remember), add pared-back heels to elongate your legs and let a ruffled top do the rest. Cropped styles will help elongate your body, just like a tucked-in blouse.

When sneakers are too casual and it’s not a sandal situation, patent brogues are your new go-to for adding polish to an off-duty jeans combo. Even better if they have a slight platform.

If you’ve not yet invested in a pair of cropped flares, you should: They look great on everyone.

While we’re all for investing in cropped flares, don’t sling the skinnies just yet. They’re a versatile wardrobe essential, especially if you opt for a black ankle-skimming pair like Emma’s—they’ll elongate your legs in an instant.

If you’re already pint-sized, overly cutesy details can feel too twee. The trick is to balance things out with sophisticated accessories (hello, Chloé bag) and luxe fabrics for a polished finish.

Next up, the S/S 18 looks everyone needs to see.

Opening Image: Getty