4 tips for wearing culottes when you’re petite.

Bomber. Culottes. Cami. Bag.(c/o) Necklace. Shoes. Sunglasses. Watch.(c/o) Black Bracelet. Gold Bracelet.

Last weekend was our church’s General Conference.  It’s one of my highlights during the year, basically a weekend where we get to be together as a family and listen to inspired words from our church leaders giving us guidance, encouraging us to be better and love as Christ loves.  I always make a big breakfast on Sunday morning (homemade cheese danish–yum) and we all snuggle up in our jammies and enjoy being together.  My well is so full today.

After conference yesterday I made a big batch of chili, stuck it in the crock pot and we went for a long drive up north through the country, Arlington and then Mount Vernon, and stopped for a walk next to the river and playing at the park.  My husband snapped a few pictures of me and the kids and I promptly realized that 2/4 of my children are about to lap me in size.

This is what happens when you’re really petite.  You kind of forget how short you are and then suddenly you see yourself in a picture and realize exactly how short you are.  Because my kids are kind of small for their age and my ten year old it almost as tall as me.

I’ve been crushing on the culottes trend for months, (I just think it’s so chic and classy) but it’s a tricky one to pull off when you’re short.  The proportions have to be literally perfect or you look like a genie costume gone wrong… I’m no stranger to hemming my pants, but I love it when I find a pair that I have to do literally nothing to, like this pair of culottes I found at Ann Taylor.

After trying a few different pairs and styling this set, I’ve figured out a few tricks for wearing them without looking shorter.
1- The length needs to be right.  A few inches lower than your knee, and a few inches above your ankle. If the length isn’t right, take them to the tailor.  (Pants hemming is the least expensive alteration you can get and worth it.)

2- Try a nude heel.  It will help your legs look a lot longer, trust me.

3- Consider proportions when choosing your top.  I opted for this cropped pink bomber and a drapey cami.

4- If in doubt, go black.  Buy a pair of black culottes if you’re still unsure.  Black is so much easier to pull off in a pant like this and it will actually make your legs look slimmer/longer.

There you go!  My simple tips for make culottes work for you.  So what do you think?  Are you on board with the trend?  Do you have any tricks for styling them?

more great culottes and bomber jackets: