Petite Top Heavy

If you are a Petite Top Heavy lady you need to be aware of your vertical body proportions as well as those relating to your generic body shape.

There are a few different reasons why you might consider yourself to be Top Heavy...

  • You are an Inverted Triangle shape with shoulders wider than your hips - and petite
  • You have a heavy bustline which makes you look larger up top than your bottom half - and petite
  • Your torso is longer than the length of your legs
Petite top heavy #petite #top heavy https://www.style-yourself-confident.com/petite-top-heavy.html

Balance and proportion...

Balance and proportion is important.

The body is considered to be divided in half at the leg break (where your body bends) and if the top half of your body measures roughly the same as your bottom half, then you are perfectly in proportion.

If you are Petite and completely in proportion, then you will probably find that clothes ranges designed specifically for the Petite lady will be perfect for you.

However, if your proportions are not equal, that is your torso is longer than your legs, you can create balance by visually adjusting the length of your body. You can do this with both the shape and the color of the clothes you wear.

The aim for Petite top heavy is..

  • Horizontally - to visually balance slender hips with the width of broad shoulders
  • and Vertically - to visually balance the torso and the legs - minimize the top and elongate the bottom half

You can see here that the figure on the far right is drawn with a dropped waist which makes the legs look shorter in relation to the torso.  Whereas on the left the high waist it gives the impression of longer legs.

Don't be over critical of your figure but hone in one the points that matter to you most as a Petite woman.

Petite top heavy #petite #top heavy https://www.style-yourself-confident.com/petite-top-heavy.html

For dresses...

  • Choosing a dress (all in one) will always elongate the figure
  • Minimize shoulders with wide shoulder straps
  • A scoop neck or V neck will bring the eye down and away from shoulder line
  • Choose a style to 'raise' the waistline visually - keep a belt or shaping high
  • high waisted tunic style is perfect 
  • Keep detail to the bottom half of the dress
  • Keep hemline shorter to elongate legs if appropriate
  • Never finish a hemline at the widest part of your leg
Petite top heavy #petite #top heavy https://www.style-yourself-confident.com/petite-top-heavy.htmlLengthen bottom half with high waist, longer length, V neck and stripes from Chico's

For tops and jackets...

  • Keep detail to a minimum above the waist and darker colors are best
  • The petite top heavy lady should avoid boat shaped necks and shoulder detail
  • Minimize broad shoulders and large bust by keeping tops fluid with little to no structure
  • Keep tops shorter - above the hip line or nipped in at the waist to elongate the bottom half
  • For jackets, single breasted or buttonless is good, kimono shape or waterfall


Tops for petite top heavy #heavy bust #top heavy https://www.style-yourself-confident.com/petite-top-heavy.html
  • Avoid sleeves that are cut-in, muscle back or halter neck. They will all emphasize broad shoulders.

Trousers or jeans...

The aim is to visually lengthen the leg to balance.

  • high waisted trousers are great
  • avoid tapered trousers which shorten your legs, and also cropped trousers that cut the leg in half
  • pants should create a vertical line, choose straight legged or wider legged trousers
  • create vertical lines with stripes or a crease down the front of pants 
  • you can wear small pattern and detail to draw the eye down but keep it in proportion to your size
  • pants should be long enough to cover your heels and the front of your shoes or boots
  • bootcut jeans are good to balance your shoulder line but ensure they are long enough to elongate the legs
Petite top heavy #petite #top heavy https://www.style-yourself-confident.com/petite-top-heavy.html

Hosiery, shoes and boots

  • Match skirt or trouser leg to hose, shoes or boots
  • Wear heels or wedges when comfortable and appropriate

Underwear

  • If you have a heavy bustline, always wear a well fitted bra to lift and minimize. It also adds length to the area between bust and waist.

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