If you're under 5'3 in the eyes of today's fashion industry you are "petite" - that is, short of stature. Even if at times you - like all of us - have looked in the mirror and wished you could change some things about your appearance, do not for one second imagine that a rather short stature is a terrible shortcoming - for the very simple reason that... well, it's not. With a little bit of creativity, good imagination and some very smart shopping sprees, you can make most of today's trends work for you, irrespective of your body shape and your overall perspective on fashion.

Rule number one: do not cut your body in half, metaphorically speaking of course. It's essential that you learn to create the illusion of a sleek, svelte body, which translates into a very important shopping criterion: go high, not wide. In other words, always seek to add a few extra inches to your figure by wearing similar-colored top and bottom halves. Avoid mixing prints and colors and go for monochrome combinations. If you're into belts, do not wear them around your waist as they will only cut your body in half, as mentioned above. Don a belt just under the bust line or push it low on your hips.

When it comes to tops and dresses, vertical stripes are your best friends. They elongate your silhouette and make you look taller and leaner. Even one vertical stripe can make a noticeable difference. Do not go for horizontal stripes, as they will have pretty much the same effect as a belt around your waist. Avoid dresses or skirts with wide floral patterns and buy dresses with vertical-style prints - for example, a dress with vertically positioned flowers whose stems extend to the lower extremity.

Do not wear flats with rounded toes. In fact, one general rule would be not to wear flats at all, but that's definitely not a viable alternative, so let's put a friendly twist on it: wear flats with pointed toes, and as for heels, go as high as you can manage while still feeling comfortable. High heels improve your posture, elongate your legs and make your ankles look skinnier. Don't wear ankle straps, because they tend to thicken the leg. If stilettos are out of the question, wedges are easier to walk on. Don't go for too chunky pairs, but choose a more delicate-looking pair.