Petite Styling Tips For Women Over 60 Including The Thirds Rule

This is a portion of the Hearst Castle and a petite woman depicting The Thirds Rule dividing images into 1/3 (top) and 2/3 bottom to achieve a balanced proportionate image that encourages eye movement from the top to the bottom creating a streamlined, elongated silhouette.

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Fit Guide. I am 5', 105 pounds, 34D,-25-33, and usually wear XS -S tops and XS bottoms.

The Thirds Rule, first established for architecture, is also applied to petite fashion today to create a proportionate fit for petite women. This simple rule simplifies proportionate dressing for petite women. Let's dive into the thirds rule and learn how to apply it to our dressing routine to create daily effortless outfits for the modern petite woman over 60.

Styling Tip #1

The Thirds Rule

The Thirds Rule was identified in 1797 by a painter, John Thomas Smith. Although, the rule started in painting, it has evolved into making fashion, architecture, floral arrangements more attractive. The Thirds Rule is all about dividing an image, body, building , etc into 1/3 and 2/3 to gain proportion and make it more appealing. In the area of petite dressing, the thirds rule is used to give the illusion of increased height by making the top 1/3 different from the bottom 2/3 instead of cutting the body in 1/2, making it look short and stocky. Eyes will always move from top to bottom elongating the image.

An example to help you understand the concept of the Thirds Rule are architecture is the picture of part of the Hearst Castle that I took on a recent trip to California. It clearly shows how making the top third from the bottom third draws the eye upward.

This is a portion of the Hearst Castle in photo taken on a recent trip to California to depict The Thirds Rule, the illusion of height by applying a cut off and making the top 1/3 different.

In the area of petite dressing the rule of thirds can be applied in four different ways:

• High-waistbottoms: Wearing high-waist bottoms stops at the 2/3 point of a petite body. When worn with crop tops or tucked in blouses, it elongates the leg.

A petite woman is wearing a crop top that hits right at the waist following The Thirds Rule to create balance and move the eye for an elongating silhouette. Same color shoes continue the eye movement to further elongate her petite body.

This crop black linen set is elongating on a petite body.

Tucking In Shirts To High Waist Pants

Tops tucked into high-waist jeans follow the Thirds Rule, giving the illusion of height.

Tops tucked into high-waist jeans follow the Thirds Rule, giving the illusion of height.

• Monochromatic dressing- wearing a single color from head to toe creates an unbroken line making the thirds rule streamlined and elongating for your petite body.

  

  Wearing monochromatic with breaks at the waist further streamlines the Thirds Rule into an elongating impact on the petite body. Showing the ankles contributes to the slimming effect. I love this nude sandals with muted flowers to give a pop of color!

Styling Tip #2- Accentuate the Waistline

Accentuate the waistline with a belt or the cut of the fabric of a dress - This tricks the eye to thinking the upper body is shorter and your legs are longer than they really are, giving the illusion of height. An hourglass shape on a petite body makes a petite body proportional and helps elongate your silhouette. Even if you have a few extra pounds, accentuating the waistline will create a better appearance than having extra fabric draping over covering the extra pounds.

The waistline accentuated with the same color belt to achieve the illusion of height.

Wearing a midi dress with the same fabric belt accentuating the waistline follows The Thirds Rule to elongate her petite body. The v-neck elongates her neck and the nude shoes with a muted flower print lengthens her legs.

Styling Tip #3 Volume

Control The Volume: If you wear wide leg pants or a flowy dress /skirt, wear a fitted top tucked in or a dress with a fitted top to balance the body.

Style high-waist, wide-leg pants with a fitted top to balance volume.

The petite woman is wearing a dress with a fitted top with a dipped waist that has a flowy skirt at the bottom of the dress. The dress is designed to balance the volume and create the illusion of height.

Styling Tip #4: Neckline

Choose a V-Neck, scoop neckline, or wrap top to expose the neck, drawing the eye upward and elongating the upper body.

The v-neck elongates the neck and the 4"inseam of the belted high-waist shorts elongates the legs and balances the outfit worn by a petite woman over 60.

The v-neck of the top and the belted high waist pants create the illusion of height on this petite woman over 60.

Styling Tip #5 Shoes & Accessories

Choose slender, neutral colored, or nude colored shoes to pair with petite outfits to further draw the eye for lengthening effect. Heels 1"-2.5" are flattering on petite women. Avoid square toe and round toe shoes. Pointed toe and almond toe shoes contribute to an elongated silhouette.

Petite women should choose slender shoes in neutral, nude, or gold colors and small purses to wear with their proportionately fitting petite outfits.

Accessories should be small and petite just like your petite body. Choose small hoops, posts, or dangle earrings. Wear small pendents on chains no longer than 16" or skinny bracelets. Limit the amount of jewelry you wear (1-2 items).

Styling Tip #6

Choose the right inseams for pants and shorts.

Pants that expose the ankle are flattering and extend the eye more than pants that are full length. Avoid crop pants since they cut the eye off at the widest part of the calf and make you appear short.

The crop linen set worn by a petite woman over 60 exposes the ankle further elongating her petite body.

Shorts: Inseams between 4" and 6" are most attractive on petite women. I am 5'0" and I prefer 4"-5" inseams to make my legs appear longer. Avoid shorts with wide leg openings and stick with shorts that fit your legs.

The 4" inseam of the black two piece linen set elongates the legs on this petite woman over 60.

These 4" inseam shorts elongate the legs and the v neck top further elevates this petite body.

Styling Tip #7 Solids & Patterns

Choose solid colors that flatter your skin tone. Vertical stripes are very slimming, but avoid horizontal stripes unless you wear them for a crop that ends at the waist. Small vertical patterns work well with petites, but avoid large patterns.

The movement of this paisley print mini dress tied at the waist with a similar fabric belt creates the illusion of height.

The thin vertical stripes on this same fabric belted shirt dress creates an elongated silhouette.

The solid navy cover-up is a great color for this petite woman and elongates her body.

Follow these simple styling tips and elevate your petite style. Follow me at www.lovingpetite.com and Petite Styling Click to Shop My Pinterest for more styles that follow these petite styling tips.