"You always make yourself look so much taller than you really are," my friend said to me the other night at dinner. "Well thanks for the backhanded compliment," I responded.

The reality is, I was pleased with my friend's comment. At 5'4'' it has always been one of my sartorial goals to try to look taller than I actually am .

One of the best places I have picked up lengthening tips is from celebrities. While actresses on the silver screen seem larger than life, the reality is that many stars are quite petite . But, they still have to make a big statement on the red carpet. While some stars get it right, there are always others who end up on the worst-dressed list in prints that are overwhelming, dresses that are too long and bags that are too big.

Take Reese Witherspoon , for example, of how to dress a petite figure to perfection. The "This Means War" actress is only 5'1'', but that hasn't stopped her from topping many a best-dressed list alongside her much-taller, modelesque peers like Nicole Kidman , Uma Thurman and more. She's not alone - stars like Mila Kunis , Kristen Chenoweth and more have shown that great things do indeed come in small packages.

There are quite a few tricks to take away from these stylish women: Monochromatic outfits elongate one's shape, skirts and dresses should be just above the knee, tailoring is a must (as most clothes are made for taller heights) and everything must be kept in proportion to the figure, including patterns, accessories and hair. To see how these rules applied, just take a look at the 38 celebrities below, including Salma Hayek , Carrie Underwood and Jada Pinkett Smith . What do you think of their looks?

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