Designer A-Z 
GMD’s Dress Code Guide: Heels and Hems
Nowadays not only are we fraught with decisions on fabrics, colours and necklines, we also have that all important heel and hem decision, a deadly combination that if married incorrectly can ruin that all important look. Unfortunately, heel and hem combinations aren’t easy to mirror off of friends and strangers you may feel have mastered the marriage. They are extremely personal and depend strictly on the length and width of your own legs from your hips all the way down to your ankles. A hemline that stretches a millimetre too long or too short could turn your look from va va voom to va va doom. Here’s how to prevent these fashion flaws…
Mini: When wearing a mini dress whether short/tall/curvy or slim this dress is always going to make your legs appear longer and therefore you appear taller. If you are petite and this is a desired effect then look no further! Team it with light-strappy sky-high heels and you’ll add inches. If you are particularly slender then perhaps opt for a more substantial heel such as a pump to add a bit more volume to the look. If you are tall then you can opt for either a heel or a flat depending on height desired. Women who wish to slim down their legs should opt for a lighter more slender shoe. We love this Puff Sleeve dress by Opening Ceremony that will take you from day to night with ease. Wear it with ankle boots for an alternative look. Just ensure they have heels for women who want to elongate their legs further.
Short-Midi: Test the look on yourself by holding a dress up to your body in front of the mirror so that the hem sits at the lowest point of your knee. If this is the widest part of your leg then consider wearing a dress of this length with a heel to detract from this fact and balance out your frame. The shorter you are the higher your heels should be in order to lengthen your legs further. We love DVF’S Alexy Jersey dress.
Long-Midi: Just like the short-midi, this length will need a mirror test. Hold a dress up to your body so that the hemline hits just below the knees and they are no longer visible. Most people will find that this does hit the widest part of your leg and therefore the prior rules apply. Simply experiment with the height of your heels until you achieve your desired look. The shorter or wider your legs are the higher the heel required. We love Yves Saint Laurent’s Blue Linen dress.
Floor-Length: Finally, a floor-length dress will flatter all frames. Taller girls can often get away with flats and shorter girls can often get away with high-heels. Long-dresses are particularly slimming therefore the higher the heel the slimmer the look. The material of the dress is key to your look however as the lighter the dress’s material the lighter the material of the shoe will need to be. For example a silk summer dress would look clunky with heavy leather pumps but a delicate sandal would be perfect. We love Adam’s Crepe Column Gown.
For styling advice please email: enquiries@girlmeetsdress.com. Happy hiring! x
By Caroline Dawe
