Body Smart Holiday Dressing

TALL

L'Wren Scott, designer

"I've spent my life obsessing about silhouette, shape, and proportion," says fashion designer Scott, who is 40-something and 6'3". She believes in clothes that "transcend the day-night difference"—like this exquisitely fitted leaf-pattern sheath. And a hemline at or below the knee is a Scott signature.

If you're tall...

• Be fussy about fit. Sleek is best; lots of fabric over a large area starts looking like a circus tent.

• Experiment with prints. They make a long, lean body seem curvier.

• Be wary of minis. They can make you look as if your skirt shrunk.

• Choose eclectic shoes. Stilettos? Sure, but kitten heels and pointy flats are cool, too.

• Go wide. Horizontal details that shorter women avoid—square necks, ankle-strap shoes, crosswise stripes—are fine for you.