I was asked by a reader who is petite but has long legs for tips on dressing. Now more often than not, petite (5’4″/162cm or under) women are petite because their legs are proportionally short. But not all petite’s have short legs so some advice needs to be altered to dress well for the long…
What size are you? That’s a loaded question. I can tell you that I’m not a size. It’s not how I define myself and defining your self worth on a size is a very negative thing to do for your psychological health. I wear clothing that has size labels inside, and I van tell you…
Why should you care about the size of your clothes? Yet I see again and again women judge themselves, their value, their worth on the number that sits on a label inside their clothes. That’s it, it’s just a number. A number that has no value. You are worth so much more than any number…
Petite and Stylish: Why the Problem Isn’t You—It’s the Pants You’ve done your part. You’ve browsed every petite section, tried every cut of trousers, and experimented with tops that are supposed to “flatter.” Still, nothing fits quite right. And if you’ve ever looked in the mirror and wondered, “Is it just my body?” this is…
Finding Clothes When You’re Not Manufacturing Standard Sizes It doesn’t matter what your height or size, you can still be stylish. Learning a bit about what works for you and how to put outfits together all that really helps no matter what your height and weight. When you’re petite, finding the right clothes can be…
Before I purchase anything (in fact before I even bother to try it on, as I don’t get naked if it’s not got some chance of working), I always, always, always check the label on the clothes for: Fibre content Care instructions Why is this? Well I know that some fabrics pill easily (you know…
Reader question: “Now the problem I have is I am just 5 feet and with very petite delicate features I have been told that I’m ultra petite by a good friend, so the clothes I’m drawn to can look as if they’re drowning me. The other thing is that I’m now 64 but again have…
I’ve been asked to give the busty, voluptuous petite woman some tips on what to wear. Keep it simple, the shorter you are the more simple your clothes need to be, avoid lots of frills and flounces, details and pockets, they will all overwhelm your smaller frame. Keep your outfits as free of detail as…
Given that there is no standard sizing, we all have garments in our wardrobes that range between 2-4 sizes (or at least have found when trying clothes on that in some stores we are one size and in another we are apparently ‘larger’ or ‘smaller’), so why are we so hung up on that number…
1. Being influenced by the sales assistant who is paid to get you to buy clothes (whether they suit you or not). Retail sales staff are paid to sell you clothes. Some are even paid extra commissions based on how much they sell. So it’s in their interest that you buy as much as…
Just because you’re petite doesn’t mean you can break your style rules. You just have to do it in a knowledgeable way. You can read up lots of rules (which are of course just guidelines) here on the blog. Some of the petite style rules that I find matter the most are: Scale – don’t…
If you like the look of a straight or pencil skirt, which shape should you choose for your body? This Premise skirt from Nordstrom with pleat details at the waistband is only suitable for women who are and I shape, straight up and down and very slim, with no hips as it will give you…
The more I’ve worked with petite women (under 5’4″ tall) I’ve found that there are some elements that make a huge difference to how they appear. Scale Keep garments simple and uncluttered and small to medium in scale. Large patterns will swamp your frame, big collars will make you look smaller. Keep the scale…
Imogen, what do you suggest for petite and skinny girls. As you may have guessed, I’m really tiny, and am tired of people thinking that I am still in college, while I have been working for over 6 years. Any advice on how to look more professional and less small would be great. Thanks a…
Petite and curvy can be a little tricky to dress, so how do you take the X shape rules and then make them work for a petite height so that nothing overwhelms? And of course, your style also needs to relate to your personality too – this is part of the style puzzle that can…
Deja Pseu of Une Femme d’un Certain Age asked for help. She is petite, and in her words: “I think the biggest issue is dressing my 5’1″ body, especially finding petite (short) styles that work for my shape and are flattering. I have broad shoulders, big bust (34DD) short-waisted. Currently size 10 US/14UK. I’ve settled…
With the new Absolutely Fabulous movie and some eye-scorching fashions revealed in it I thought I’d take a look at what you can learn from the wardrobes of Edina, Patsy and Saffy. Absolutely Fabulous is a great example of just how much what you wear tells the world so much about who you are, what…
Live a long way from stores? Shop online and have it delivered! Want to get something that isn’t available in your location? Find it online! Love to find unique and interesting pieces that nobody else is wearing? Online is the way to go. Here is my ultimate guide to online clothes shopping so that you…
Do you ever feel limited by your age or height when it comes to fashion? Age and height are just numbers, not fashion sentences. While the fashion industry might skew towards the younger and taller demographic, there’s no rule stating that age dictates your style choices. So, let’s banish the notion that you’re confined to…
Hi I have recently discovered your website and finally subscribed to the email. I wonder if you can help with a stripes related question please? I read conflicting information about petites and stripes. I haven’t found an answer on your website but if I have missed it please point me in the right direction. I…
The other day I received an email pleading with me to help with dressing the petite and busty figure. This body shape can easily look disproportionate and unbalanced as the scale of the bust is large, but the scale of the overall body is small and petite. Too much fabric will overwhelm you, keep garments…
