How to Look Taller in Shoes

Picking the Right Shoes

Use insoles to help you look taller in shoes you already own. If you don’t want to buy a new pair of shoes, you can alter the ones you already have with a pair of insoles. Insole pads come in a number of different styles, including fabric, gel, and silicone, and simply slip inside your shoe, making them invisible. You can find insoles at most footwear stores. If you need to use your insoles with high heels or open toed shoes, look for specialty insoles designed specifically for that type of footwear.

Get shoes with heels for a major height boost. Heeled shoes come in a wide variety of sizes and, on average, can give you anywhere between 1 in (2.5 cm) and 3 in (7.6 cm) of additional height. Though heeled shoes are quite noticeable, they go well with a variety of outfits and are considered appropriate for most formal occasions.

Get hidden heeled shoes for a secret height boost. If you want to enjoy the benefits of high heels without calling attention to yourself, look for footwear that hides heels inside the shoe itself. Not only do these hidden wedges lift you further off the ground, they are often more comfortable than traditional heels because they have full arch support.

Try platform shoes for a subtle lift. Platform shoes are a type of flat footwear that have an incredibly thick outsole. They make your legs appear longer by lifting you further off the ground. If you want to avoid calling attention to your elevated soles, wear long pants or a maxi skirt that covers the tops of your shoes.

Put on elevator shoes for a noticeable height boost. Similar to platform shoes, elevator shoes have additional material added to their soles that lift them further off the ground. However, the shoes contain this lift to the outer heel and include an additional insert within the heel itself. Elevator shoes normally have a distinct, fancy style, so save them for high-class functions.

Buy air-cushioned shoes for a stylish lift. Though designed for use in sports and other athletic activities, shoes with air-cushioned soles have the added benefit of making whoever wears them appear taller. Manufacturers like Nike and Reebok offer shoes with built in air-cushion technology, and since the companies are incredibly popular their designs are stylish by association.

Wear shoes that show some skin to make your legs look longer. If you’re wearing a long skirt, dress, or pair of pants, put on a pair of shoes that are cut to show a little more of the top of your foot. This will help you expose as much skin as possible, making your legs appear longer. For example, instead of wearing ankle booties that cover the whole top of your foot, you might wear a heel that's open all the way down to right above your toes. Wearing nude shoes that match your skin tone will also help make your legs look longer.

Wear long boots with short outfits to make you look taller. If you’re wearing an incredibly short skirt or pair of pants, contrast it with boots that go over your knees. This sharp contrast will bring attention to your legs and make them look longer.

Putting Together a Flattering Outfit

Buy form-fitting clothes to accentuate your figure. Baggy clothing items, including stretched t-shirts, loose dresses, and oversized suits, drape down over your body and make it appear significantly shorter. You can combat this with fitted clothes, which bring attention to your physique while making your legs and torso appear longer. You don’t need to wear things that are extremely tight, just items that fit you well.

Put on v-neck tops to make your body look longer. V-neck tops have large, upside down triangles cut into the front collar, revealing the area immediately below your neck. By showing some extra skin, the v-neck draws people’s eyes to the top of your chest, making your upper body appear longer.

Wear high-waisted pants, skirts, and dresses to make your legs look longer. Most lower-body clothing items have waistlines designed to sit on or around your hips. However, fashion retailers also sell specialty pants, skirts, and dresses with much higher waistlines. When worn with a short or tucked-in shirt, these clothing items shift your waistline up and make your legs look longer.

Use flared jeans or maxi skirts to accentuate your legs. In addition to shifting your waistline up, you can also bring your clothing’s hemline down. Flared jeans, maxi skirts, and other extra-long clothing items will make you appear taller simply by virtue of their added length. To be effective, the item’s hemline should sit between your ankle and the bottom of your foot.

Put on accessories that draw attention to your upper body. Hats, scarves, glasses, pocket squares, tie pins, and other accessories are not only fashionable, they can make you appear taller by drawing people’s eyes toward your upper body. Don’t use more than 2 or 3 accessories at a time, though, as it will bog down the look.

Wear single-shade and vertical striped outfits to create a tall look. Vertical lines make your body appear longer by leading people’s eyes up and down as opposed to left and right. You can create a strong vertical line by making all your clothing a single shade, or you can create multiple lines by wearing items with vertical stripes on them.