Congratulations, ladies, you have graduated from the aimlessness and struggles of your 20s and 30s, and entered the new era of 40s! If you feel a little unease with aging, take a look at the Hollywood actresses such as Sarah Jessica Parker (5’3) and Madonna (5’3.5), for instance, who look ever more glamorous and stunning way over 40s. Forty is nothing, and it could just be your best times yet! Fashion tips for petite women after 40 does not necessarily mean more restrictions when it comes to your fashion choices, but it should mean being wiser and dressing smarter.

This combo of a red long sleeve blouse and hot pink wide leg pants is pretty, but in a cool-girl way. White leather pumps tie the look together.View Details

Sarah Chofakian$879

White Leather Pumps

Opt for a teal silk evening dress for ridiculously stylish attire. When this outfit is too much, dial it down by sporting a pair of grey suede heeled sandals.View Details

Nina$47

Silver Clutch

Tip #1: Invest in quality clothing brands

Our world today is flooded with fast-fashion brands. It seems that spending as little money as possible is always the goal. For under $80 dollars, you can copy the most trendy runway fashion. Many people think why bother to invest in fashion anyways if it changes every year? Don’t get me wrong, fast fashion brands are great in the sense that they give you the option to mix and match many outfits without spending too much. However, as the old saying goes, you get what you pay for. After 40, quality, vs variety, is more important when it comes to your fashion choices. The fabrics, the tailoring, the details…every small thing matters. High quality apparel gives you the confidence and elevates your image in others’ eyes - it is hard to do so with fast fashion brands. If you are petite, switch from ASOS and Topshop to J.Crew and Ann Taylor, or check out petite friendly styles from independent American and European designers at Petite Dressing. If you intend to spend on a classic trench coat that never goes out of style, we would suggest to consider Ralph Lauren, Brooks Brothers or Theory, which all make great timeless pieces that will last you for years to come.

Rock a beige floral trenchcoat for a clean polished look. Complement this look with orange suede pumps for maximum style effect.View Details

Pair a tan trenchcoat with an orange shirtdress for a day-to-day outfit that's full of style and character. And if you wish to instantly play down your look with shoes, why not complement your ensemble with grey snake leather ballerina shoes?View Details

Burberry$2,490

Tan Trenchcoat

Chloé$575

Grey Snake Leather Ballerina Shoes

Tip #2: Wear nice flats or low heels

We all love heels in our 20s and 30s, but we have to admit, heels are not comfortable to wear all day. After 40, whether you are that girl boss in the board room or a mother of two taking care of kids at home, you will find flats or low heels are more practical than stilettos. For petite women, that might mean you will lose a couple of inches, but you gain more comfort and confidence as you walk with more ease. Pointed toes are your best friends, if you want to elongate your legs without suffering from the pain of sky high heels. Wearing flats or low heels that match the color of your bottom will make your legs look longer.

For a relaxed ensemble with a modern twist, choose a navy blazer and navy jeans. Add a mellow feel to your ensemble by finishing with a pair of black suede ballerina shoes.View Details

Smythe$725

Navy Blazer

Citizens of Huma...$295

Navy Jeans

David Tate$114

Black Suede Ballerina Shoes

Consider wearing a navy wool shift dress if you're aiming for a neat, trendy outfit. When this look appears too fancy, dress it down by slipping into black leather ballerina shoes.View Details

Trotters$76

Black Leather Ballerina Shoes

Proenza Schouler$597

Black Leather Tote Bag

Wolford$75

Black Tights

Tip #3: No need for black all the time

Just that you may have gained a few pounds compared to your 20s and 30s does not mean you have to ditch colorful prints and wear black all the time. In fact, for petite women, our advice is the opposite, as bright colors emphasize presence and are more flattering for your petite frame than dark colors.  Go with smaller prints and avoid larger ones, as the latter could make you look more inflated than your actual weight.

If you don't like putting too much effort into your getups, rock a yellow print sheath dress. White leather heeled sandals integrate brilliantly within a myriad of combinations.View Details

Stuart Weitzman$278

White Leather Heeled Sandals

Saint Laurent$3,150

Grey Leather Tote Bag

If the setting allows a casual look, consider wearing a hot pink floral sheath dress. If in doubt about the footwear, add white leather pumps to this getup.View Details

Sarah Chofakian$879

White Leather Pumps

Givenchy$2,990

Beige Leather Tote Bag

Rag & Bone$172

White Straw Hat

Tip #4: Get a nice bag

A high quality handbag lifts the outfit instantly. After 40, we are sure you have some savings, or at least started to consider saving up and think about investing. Handbags, the age-old accessory is now considered to be one of the safest and fastest-growing ways to invest for the future, as long as you maintain them in good condition. Luxury brands such as Hermes and Chanel’s classic styles have kept their values through good and bad times of the economy. In fact, study shows handbags tend to accumulate in value even when the economy is in a downturn, because they remain the status symbols for the richest women in the world, who are usually recession proof. Now, we are in no way advocating every woman after 40 should break their bank to splurge (tens of) thousands on a Hermes or Chanel, but it is important to have an investor mindset next time you are shopping for a bag. Instead of stacking up a bunch of bags under $100, you may want to consider getting a classic piece that never goes out of style, even though they may not be the current trend on this season’s fashion magazine. Classic bags could cost 2-3 times more, but keep in mind getting a timeless bag could be one of the best places to put your money. For petite women, choosing the right handbag is important to compliment your outfit. It is advisable to get medium sized bags and avoid bags too big (which might overwhelm your short figure) or too small except for the evenings. If you are petite and plus, then your best bet might be a large structured or boxy bag that can balance your curves. You may keep the evening tradition of carrying small bags as long as they don’t seem to be out of proportion.

A grey dress shirt and blue skinny jeans make for the perfect base for a seriously chic getup. When it comes to footwear, this ensemble pairs brilliantly with hot pink leather heeled sandals.View Details

RE/DONE$168

Blue Skinny Jeans

Splendid$81

Tobacco Leather Tote Bag

For refinement with a chic twist, you can easily opt for a white coat and a white sheath dress. Add a pair of white leather pumps to the mix et voila, this look is complete.View Details

Andrew Marc$211

White Coat

Halfpenny London$2,345

White Sheath Dress

Gianvito Rossi$775

White Leather Pumps

Ash$159

Yellow Leather Clutch

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chi is the founder of PetiteDressing.com, an online shop that features hand picked petite friendly styles and a blog that shows how they look like on petite women. With their goal to make every petite woman look gorgeous, Petite Dressing provides petite styling tips and celebrity fashion news.

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