Q I'm a tiny girl. What's worse is that I have a long body but short legs. How can I dress so as not to look stumpy?

A You need to bring up your waistline and hemlines. Go for high-waisted skirts and pants, which will cut the length of your torso and elongate your legs.

Skirts should end above the knee. Ditto for dress lengths, as ankle sweepers will overwhelm your petite figure and make you look clumsy.

Wear pants only if they're high-waisted and go for a straight or loose but not baggy cut, as anything too skinny will draw attention to your bottom half.

Shorts are great - the more skin you flash below, the longer your legs appear to be.

Another fail-proof trick to give the impression of length is to make sure your shoes match your outfit. The idea is to give the idea of continuity and not break the silhouette. For example, team black pants with black shoes.

Speaking of footwear, forget ballet flats. You're better off in heels - about 6cm at least.

For comfort's sake, go for platform stilettos or platform wedges as the higher front soles make them less taxing to balance in.

Picking shoe styles that show off more skin can also help to 'extend' your gams. Try Guess Footwear, 01-11 Raffles City, for sexy shoe options that start from $150.

This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times on Mar 6, 2008.