6 Short-Girl Style Lessons We've Learned from Simone Biles

Olympian medalist Simone Biles is only 4’ 8” tall, but she’s long on style. Not only does she always look pretty and pulled-together, she manages to cherry-pick current styles that work best on her petite frame. The way she mixes and matches jeans, tops, swimsuits and fancy dresses—even the $120 wedding dress she purchased online prior to her April wedding—all adds up to a master class in short-girl style. We’ve picked out six style tips to rotate into your own wardrobe, stat.

A classic figure-enhancing outfit formula is to pair matching tones. Here, Biles updates the look with a crop top that reveals a sliver of skin. The effect is chic, on-trend and when all done in white, a never-fail summer look.

With a body that earned seven Olympic gold medals, Biles can pretty much wear any style swim suit and look amazing, but we give her extra style points for pushing the envelope in an innovative short-sleeved two-piece that’s as sporty as it is sexy. And notice those drawstring sides on the bottoms; those can be tightened for an even higher-cut leg, always a good move for shorties.

Happy patterned pants and a matching top? It’s an eye-catching, unexpected alternative to a casual sundress. Wearing all-one-print lengthens the figure, and petite forms are specially proportioned to be able to rock, say, an all-over floral print while taller people might seem like an entire hedge coming at ya.

When Biles posted about the dress she wore to her courthouse wedding to Houston Texans player Jonathan Owens, she couldn’t help but reveal that she purchased it online for $120. We were not only impressed by the affordable price but also wowed by how the petite role model rocked tiered layers of ruffles without the dress looking too bulky. We were inspired to find some wedding cake confection-style gowns that would be suitable for summer cocktails. Opt for a non-petite style dress that’s midi, since it will probably work as a maxi on petite frames. Additionally, a high neckline lengthens the vertical sweep of the gown, balancing the horizontal volume of ruffles to make the whole dress proportional to a petite frame.

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Dana Dickey is a PureWow Senior Editor, and during more than a decade in digital media, she has scoped out and tested top products and services across the lifestyle space. Suitcases to sex toys, she's got an opinion on what's best. Dana is based in Los Angeles; her work has also appeared in Condé Nast Traveler, Vogue and The New York Times. Check her out on Instagram and LinkedIn.