3 Style Lessons Petite and Curvy Girls Can Learn from Nicola Coughlan

After tuning into the spicy period drama Bridgerton every season and later binging the Irish sitcom, Derry Girls, I have become obsessed with Nicola Coughlan. From her incredible performances as Clare Devlin and Penelope Featherington to her witty and charming personality off-screen, Coughlan has won me over. The actress has found herself on the rise as one of Hollywood’s most promising stars—and one of the best dressed. But what specifically makes the star’s fashion so great is that she has seemingly nailed her style as a curvy, short woman, which is no small feat. While I lay no claim to the short girl title, I know great curvy style when I see it. Instead of hiding her shape, she accentuates it and refuses to stick to styles that may be more conventional—a true fun fashion gal. From her chic press tour looks to her killer red carpet style, here are three style tips we can all learn from the curvy 5’1” actress.

Everything to Know About Nicola Coughlan (AKA Penelope in ‘Bridgerton’)

1. Use a Belt to Break Up Your Look

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Belts are a great way to break up a look, especially if it’s monochromatic. They serve as the ultimate accessory and waist cincher. Above, the actress wears a large black belt—almost corset-like—at the center of a long coat dress. Not only does it make her bottom half look longer, it highlights her natural curves too.

2. The Higher the Waist the Better

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After conducting some in-depth research (stalking Coughlan’s Insta), I have come to the conclusion that the star loves a high-waist silhouette. It’s the ultimate styling trick if you have a shorter torso. It immediately elongates your frame. As shown above, the actress wears a long flowing skirt paired with a crop top—evening out her proportions.

3. Don’t Be Afraid of Unique Silhouettes

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It’s a total myth that shorter statures should stay away from oversize or shapeless clothing. One of the things that makes Coughlan’s style so great is that she isn’t afraid to experiment with it, both in color and shape. My favorite detail about this particular look from the actress is that she strays from the typical silhouette for petite frames and manages to make a voluminous silhouette look positively stunning. To do this she follows some of the best tips for short women. Case in point: Her baby pink dress has shorter, opaque sleeves under the longer tulle overlay and she’s showing a bit of ankle. Both of these details allow enough skin to show that the dress doesn’t seem like it’s swallowing her whole.

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