The clock is ticking, your hair’s still wet and you should’ve left 20 minutes ago—but you’re still scrounging through your closet in search of the perfect look. Hey, we’ve all been there (me, personally? Too many times to count!), but that’s where having a go-to outfit formula comes in.
As an editor living in New York City, my 5 to 9 frequently consists of parties and press events, which, oftentimes, I have to run to straight from the office. Now, it’s hard enough nailing down an ensemble that works just as well in a corporate setting as it does at a cocktail party, but throw in the fact that I’m a petite gal—for whom cool, slouchy pieces and flowy dresses aren’t the best bet—and it adds a whole other layer of style strategizing.
But one day it struck me, the perfect formula for looking chic, feeling put-together and flattering my 5’1" stature: a button-down top tucked into a fitted, high-waist skirt. Colors, prints and even skirt lengths matter not—the combinations are endless, and can therefore adapt to practically any occasion. Plus, it’s a guaranteed winner for my fellow shorties, who benefit from the sleek, leg-lengthening effect of a slim-fitting, high-rise skirt, along with the V-shaped peek of décolletage that comes with leaving a button open. And since our waists remain defined, even the slouchiness and volume of a slightly oversized piece up top won’t result in our figures getting lost or overpowered. The best part? It can save you a ton of time getting dressed.
Scroll on to see how I (and some fellow petite fashionistas, like Oscar-winner Mikey Madison) pull off the look.
