I am short and when I have serious meetings it feels like people are not taking me seriously. What shall I do?

There are two points to think about if you are short and want to be taken seriously in meetings. The first is dressing in clothes that visually trick the eyes into making you look taller, and the second is using colour to create a high authority impression in the work place.

The visual illusion to create an impression of being taller is to use uninterrupted vertical lines to elongate your figure; this is because they draw the eye up and down the body. Another aspect to consider is to dress in the appropriate scale for your height and bone structure. By scale I mean fabric weight, size of pattern, texture and use of colour.


For example if you are very petite and you wear a huge granddad thick woollen jumper you will look drowned and shorter. In contrast if you are large and wear something very delicate you will look bigger. Perfect fit jackets with shorter, classic (just under your bum) or hip bone length will be best. Avoid long heavy coats and skirts to the floor.

A well known trick is to buy your trousers long and wear heels; pointed shoes will make your legs look even longer. Skirts with knee length skirts will have the same effect.

To create a high authority look, wear a suit to meetings in your best darkest neutral colour for example black, dark brown or navy and contrast it with the best white for you. If you have a golden complexion a cream will be best for cool skin tones white is more flattering.