Walking tall is not always easy when you are clocking in at 4’11″—and that’s with good posture. The key to lengthening legs (and thus, creating the illusion of height) lies in the right style of sandal. Take knee-high gladiators, for instance.
They may be on-trend, but their height will likely reach your thigh and visually shorten your stems. But sandals that boast a single ankle-strap will give you the effect you desire.Stiletto Heels
A sky-high heel with delicate ankle straps is the number one way to elongate legs. The fewer straps there are, the less overwhelming the shoe will be. A nude heel is an added bonus—the neutral color tricks the eye and seamlessly blends leg and shoe. The result? The appearance of a few extra inches.
Shop the pieces (clockwise from top): Stuart Weitzman, from $395; stuartweitzman.com. Pour la Victoire, $195; bloomingdales.com. Nasty Gal, $78; nastygal.com.
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Flats
The more skin you show, the better—it will help enhance height.
Shop the pieces (from top): Alvaro, $455; net-a-porter.com. Vince, $275; vince.com. Ancient Greek Sandals, $138; ancient-greek-sandals.com.
Block Heels
Consider this an alternative to the stiletto. The block heel is perfectly proportionate for petites: It happily meets in the middle between towering heels and a kitten heel.
Shop the pieces (from top): Paul Smith, $445; zappos.com. Madewell, $148; madewell.com. See by Chloe $290; shopbop.com.
Platforms
Again, go for the sandal that shows the most skin. Platforms are amazing for petites, because they give lift without the pain. Pair them with a cropped pant.
Shop the pieces (clockwise from top): Kelsi Dagger, $164; dailylook.com. Derek Lam, $575; shopbop.com. McQ, $550; bloomingdales.com.
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