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Dear Jellybean,
I am a lot shorter than average girls for my age. I also get very upset when people think that I am still a little kid because I am small.
I try to wear clothes the make me look older, but it still doesn't seem to work! In school I also hear a lot of rude remarks from people that I pass, I just want to know a way that I could make myself look older!
-Too Small To Be Seen
Dear Too Small,
If you want to look older, there are several things you can do:
Stop wearing your hair in a ponytail or braids, and get a trendy but sophisticated hairstyle. Look how Mandy Moore started getting taken more seriously when she cut her long, straight hair into a more sophisticated, shaggy bob. Look for hairstyle pictures in fashion magazines and tell your stylist you want to look more grown-up.
Wear makeup - but keep it minimal. Don't pile on the cosmetics, thinking that you'll look more mature - you won't. (You'll just look like a little girl who went playing in mommy's makeup drawer!) Play up one feature with makeup - such as your eyes with mascara, or your lips with a colored gloss - but never both at the same time.
Dress like you think a sophisticated older teen would dress. Notice that I said sophisticated, not sexy. Again, going overboard with overly mature (sexy) clothes will just look like you're a kid playing dress-up. Go for more stylish choices, such as skinny jeans or a knee-length skirt, paired with a fitted tee and a cropped blazer. (Very runway!) Check out style magazines for older girls/women to get some fashion ideas.
If you want to look taller in particular, try these style tips:
Wear tops whose details pull the eye down vertically. V-necks are a good choice.
Tuck shirts into pants and wear a belt around your waist, to make your legs look longer (which will make you look taller).
Opt for clothes that fit close to your body. Bulky ones - like oversized jackets and tops - will just make you look squat.
Try slim pants (in fashion this season anyway) tucked into skinny boots or ankle boots to elongate your legs.
Try dressing in all one color, matching your tights and shoe color to the rest of your outfit to create an uninterrupted line.
Finally, remember that attitude is everything. If you walk with confidence, and present yourself in a mature way, you'll seem older and more mature. Slow down your speech, enunciate your words, and work on having an air of maturity. You'll feel great, and others will see you as older.
