This Is the One Shoe Shape Every Petite Woman Should Stock Up On

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From Simone Biles to Florence Pugh , there’s no shortage of petite fashion inspo. Style a monochrome look , show some ankle, rock a crop top, choose a jumpsuit … short girl styling tips are anything but boring. And now, the latest piece of TikTok fashion advice to lend you the illusion of height? Stock your closet with some pointy-toe shoes. Before you protest that they are toe pinching heathens from the depths of fashion hell, hear me out. Or, rather, take a look at the examples below and behold the transformations. And should you be sold on the idea after seeing the magic on Pugh herself, I’ve rounded up five pairs of pointy-toe shoes that are comfortable AND will give you legs for days.

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Why Pointy Shoes Work for Petites

“While you’ll see a lot of tips to wear nude/skin-toned hues as a way to elongate your legs, I find that a pointy toe works for me even when it comes to fun colorways and funky designs,” says PureWow Senior Commerce Editor Stephanie Maida , who’s 5’1’’. “The shape itself just works wonders to create the illusion of a longer leg and extra height.”

Karwai Tang/Contributor/Marc Piasecki/Contributor/Getty Images

In the video above, TikTok creator Bella Nguyen illustrates the dramatic visual shift by first wearing a pair of square-toe Mary Janes with a double strap. Then, she shows a side-by-side wearing a pointy-toed pair of shoes. Though the shoes are the same neutral color and height (two inches), there’s a marked difference. Similarly, the photos of Florence Pugh show that, though in one photo she’s obviously wearing sky-high platforms, the overall line of her legs feels truncated, as though they end abruptly, while the outfit styled with pointed-toe mesh pumps elongates the line and allows it to taper off gently, creating the illusion of increased height.

Shop Pointy-Toed Shoes

1. Margaux The Point Flats

Margaux

If you know me, you know I RAVE about Margaux shoes. With an ultra-plush footbed, multiple widths and inclusive sizing, they are worth every penny and I own multiple pairs. The pointy-toe rule doesn’t apply exclusively to heels, so if you’re a ballet flats kind of gal, my money’s on these.

2. Stuart Weitzman Stuart Pump

Nordstrom

Kitten heels are everywhere right now, and Stuart Weitzman makes an iconic pair. I have these as slingbacks, which are sadly discontinued. However, the Stuart pump, with its elegant V-cut, is a close match with a (very) manageable two-inch heel. While I wouldn’t designate these shoes as ones to wear running around New York City, I would wear them happily for an evening out.

3. Larroudé Kate Hi Boot

Larroudé

A brand worn by both Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez, Larroudé makes a coveted pair of pointed-toe leather boots, the Kate. They’re available in black and ivory, with a 3.8-inch stiletto heel and the brand’s signature cloud memory foam in the insole.

4. M.Gemi The Lustro 90mm

M.Gemi

PureWow’s Senior Director of Special Projects and Royals, Rachel Bowie , clocks in at 5’4’’ and raves about M.Gemi’s The Lustro, which features a 3.5-inch heel. “I am obsessed. I have worn them on numerous occasions and the block makes this shoe feel incredibly sturdy and balanced while keeping my feet blister-free and comfortable, too,” she says. “I have worn it for multiple hours in a row, to dinner parties but also work events.”

5. Vivaia Aria Mesh Flats

Vivaia

We all need a pair of machine washable shoes (because life is inevitably messy). And, mesh ballet flats are ubiquitous now, thanks to both Alaïa’s fishnet Mary Janes and The Row’s mesh slippers that hit the runways. After testing a pair of Vivaia flats last year, I was shocked at how comfortable and cushioned they were. With their Aria mesh flats, you can now be trendy and comfortable. Sounds like a double win to me.

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PureWow's editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.