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The little black dress is a wardrobe staple for women. Little black dresses are appropriate for the office or the office party, the club or the club house, but finding a little black dress that flatters your figure is not always an easy task. If you have a long torso, you might struggle to find dresses that don't make your legs look even shorter than they are. The trick to finding the best black dress for your elegant torso and short legs is to find a dress that creates the right proportions and then accessorize to highlight your assets.
1.
Show off those shoulders. Shape or detail at the top of the dress draws the eyes upwards and away from your shorter legs. Stick to strapless, boat neck or scoop neckline dresses that add a little width to your shoulders to balance out the length of your torso.
2.
Hit the right length. Any black dress that hits you below the knees cuts off your legs at an awkward point and makes your legs look shorter. Pick a black dress that ends right at or above the knee. Avoid short dresses that hit at mid-thigh; short dresses draw attention to your waistline and disrupt the proportional illusion you're trying to create.
3.
Stay in shape. Avoid A-line skirts that flare out around your hips. Instead, stick to fitted black dresses that hug your shape and hit you around the knee. If you want something with a little more movement, opt for a flare that starts just above your waistline, almost at your bust, to shorten your torso and lengthen your legs.
4.
Create a waist. If you have a long torso, your waist sits a bit lower than the waist in most dresses. Use a wide belt to create a waist higher than your natural waist to shorten your torso and create the illusion of longer legs. Keep the dress sleek and solid with a black belt or add a splash of color and draw eyes upward with a striking red or blue belt.
5.
Add some glitz with bold accessories. Keep accessories away from your wrists; they'll draw attention to your waist when your standing with your arms at your side. Instead, keep eyes near your face and shoulders with bold necklaces and earrings. Embrace color with over-sized gemstones like aquamarine, turquoise or tiger's eye, or add a spin on classic pieces made from hammered or antique gold.
6.
Elongate your legs. Bring a pair of heels with you to try on your black dresses. A heel over 2 inches makes your legs appear longer and leaner, so be sure to pick a dress that matches the style and texture of your heels; if your black dress has a lace overlay, a matte leather heel is much more fitting than a patent leather heel.
Don't eliminate a dress because the hem is too long. Take it to a tailor for the perfect fit.
Always try on dresses before you buy. What's on the rack may not look the same as what's on your body.
