5 Secrets to Elongate Your Legs & Frame

Do you feel short and stumpy in your clothing? If you put on outfits and feel less than blessed in the legs department, there are simple tips to help give you a taller, elongated look!  So today, I’m sharing 5 secrets to elongate your body. 

There are a lot of things we can do to give ourselves some extra visual height. The key to elongating your frame is to play with proportions, prints, and colors to trick the eye. From nude heels and high-waisted pants to vertical stripes and monochromatic colors I’m sharing some insider secrets today.

The Summary

  Today, I’m sharing 5 secrets to elongate your legs & frame

  For each tip, I’ve shared 3 inspiration outfits to demonstrate the tip 

  I’ve also built several inspiration outfits shoppable via text- and image-widgets

5 Secrets to Elongate Your Legs & Frame

1. Choose Your Pants Wisely

A higher rise in your jeans or pants gives the appearance of longer legs because there’s more length of pant from your waist to your ankles.

The most universally flattering length is right above your ankle bone or a floor-grazing hem worn with heels makes your legs look incredibly long.

Higher capri pants can give you a shortened look and too long can give you a shortened look if they bunch around your shoes. Pair high-waisted pants with a cropped or half-tucked top and pointed shoes in the color as your pants for an ultra-leggy look.

Dark pants will always give you a leaner look than light pants. Of course, you can still wear light-colored pants but if your goal is to look long and lean, choose black, navy, gray, or a dark rinse jean.  

(The main inspiration outfit below was recently run here, although I’ve pulled in the links.)

Board:  White Tee | Wide Leg Pants (low stock, similar color here) | White Denim Jacket | Scarf | Similar Gold Belt | Similar Espadrilles

Shop the Board

2. Wear Vertical Stripes

Vertical lines lead the eye to look up and down not side to side which has a lengthening effect on your whole look. It’s an optical illusion that tricks your eyes. Opt for pants with vertical lines or stripes. Choose bold stripes or subtle pinstripes either one works.

Similar Outfit

Board: Chino Pant | Classic Jean Jacket | Crewneck Tee | Slide Sandal

Shop the board

3. Tuck in Your Tops

Fully tucking or half/front-tucking your tops shortens the look of your torso and allows more of your leg to show making your legs appear longer. It’s all about proportions and you’re goal is to aim for ⅓ on top ⅔ on the bottom.

Tie Front and knot-front tees achieve the same leg-lengthening trick. Combine these tops with high-rise pants for an extra elongating outfit.

If you carry weight in your middle and don’t want to half or fully tuck then choose a shirt that’s only a few inches longer than where the top of your waistband. You don’t need a crop top just choose something a little shorter than a regular length blouse or shirt.

Similar Outfit

Board:  Wide Leg Jeans | Animal Print Blouse | Slide Sandal | Leather Belt

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4. Choose a Monochromatic outfit

One color from head to toe creates an uninterrupted visual line and tricks the eye. We all know that an all-black outfit helps us look taller and slimmer but it isn’t the color itself that’s the only secret.

Wearing the same hue, especially a dark shade from head to toe will stretch you out vertically, making your legs look long and lean. Black is a go-to color because it’s easy to find a black blouse and black pants in the same shade.

Similar Outfit

Board:  Bristol Blazer | Ankle Pant | Bateau Neck Tee | Pointed Toe Sandal

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5. Match Your Shoes to Your Pants

Lengthen the line of your legs by matching shoes to your pant color, jeans or jumpsuit. Think dark with dark, light with light, and so on and so forth. This style trick creates an optical illusion that makes your legline appear longer.

Tan shoes with black pants create a distinctive break in the visual line. That’s not to say you can’t ever wear tan shoes with black pants, but when your goal is to elongate your frame avoid that shoe choice.

Matching the color of your tights and shoes or wearing nude shoes with bare-leg looks offers the same optical illusion. Try wearing black tights with black heels. This monochromatic look creates a clean line as the eye travels from the top of your leg straight down to the floor without stopping.

And you will ALWAYS make your legs look longer in a dress or skirt when you choose a shoe closest to your skin tone.

Board: Blazer | Pointed Toe Pump | Silk Button Up Shirt | Trousers

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