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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at BU chapter.

If you’re a short girl like me, chances are you’ve wanted to be just a couple inches taller at some point. Maybe you even tried to find your own ways to appear taller than you are. If you’re still on the lookout for some tips, here are my favorite ways to appear taller than I actually am.

Heels!

Well, this one is a given. But in order to really look like you’re a few inches taller than you actually are, pointed heels are the way to go. My everyday shoes are pointed Chelsea boots with a chunky heel. Comfortable enough for daily wear, and they still add about 2 inches of height. If you’re planning to wear heels for a more formal occasion, opt for nude heels or any other style that won’t draw too much attention to your feet. This way, the focus is on your body or outfit, which makes you look like you’re taller than you are. 

Wear vertical stripes.

Personally, I’m not a big fan of striped clothing but if I’m going to wear them, they’re definitely going to be vertical! According to Stylecaster, this creates lines that draw eyes up and down your body, making you look taller. This works because parallel lines are meant to make your body look longer and slimmer. 

Mix up the fit of your clothes. 

Wearing too many body-fitting clothes at once can highlight your true height and form, which is not what you want if you’re a short girl with the goal of looking tall. I’ve learned through experimentation that pairing a fitted piece with a looser piece gives the appearance of being just a little bit taller than you actually are. Some of my favorite ways to do this are pairing mom jeans with a fitted sweater, or skinny jeans with a baggy top. 

Wear outfits that elongate your legs. 

You can do this in many ways. The main goal is just to make your legs look longer than your torso. In order to achieve this effect, you can wear high-waisted jeans or tuck your shirt into your pants. This draws attention to your legs and ultimately gives the appearance of being tall. 

While I’ve come to terms with being a small girl, there are times when I’d love to look a bit taller. With these tips that I’ve discovered, mostly through experimenting with different outfits, I have been able to achieve the look I want. Give these 4 tips a try if you want to look a bit taller. You might be surprised how well they work!

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Leanna, originally from New York City, is a student at Boston University.
Writers of the Boston University chapter of Her Campus.