If you haven’t already figured it out, I’m quite short, and generally put, very petite. Shopping for petites can be hard because if you’re not careful, clothing doesn’t hit you in the right spot. Low and behold, I have to get everything altered. It may sound like a pain, but it actually ensures that my clothes fit me perfectly and makes even inexpensive pieces look luxe. Often people try on items and either accept that they don’t quite fit properly, or they decide that they don’t like how they look because of the fit. Most of the time, both of these issues are completely fixable.
Shopping for petites is particularly hard if you are trying to pull off trends that used to be considered for tall people only. Examples of this are wide leg pants and maxi skirts/dresses. Both styles are thought to be for those with long sweeping figures, however when tailored correctly, both styles actually elongate a petite frame. Maxi skirts and dresses are my favorite to wear during summer, and when paired with heels, make me look miles taller than I really am! Just make sure to hem the length right above the floor when you’re in flats so that you’re able to wear it with both flats and heels.
If hemmed correctly so they aren’t dragging, high wasted pants and long skirts create the illusion of a long line, and make your leg-line appear taller. Who doesn’t want longer legs?? Another great option when shopping for petites is finding stores that cater to your sizing.
Great store options when shopping for petites are:
While Banana Republic and Nordstrom have fabulous petite sections which always aim to please, I’ve found that both H&M and Zara seem to have clothing catered to shorter people. I’m not sure why, but I’ve never had a problem with length or fit from either of these stores, which often makes me wonder how people that are taller actually shop there.
A great trick that I’ve learned for pants is to always looked for the “cropped” or “ankle” cuts, as those seems to be the perfect full length for petites, no altering required!
So there you have it. Shopping for petites can be hard, but using these simple tricks will make your life easier and your clothes fit better!