Petite Fashion - Dressing for your size

You're petite. Sounds sweet and delicate, like a compliment, doesn't it? In reality, it's just a polite way of saying you're short. And just because we're "petites" doesn't mean we're tiny all over (unfortunately!).

The frustrating thing about being short is that clothes never look as good. Take two women who take the same dress size - one tall, and one "petite" - and put them in the same dress, and I'm sure you won't take any bets on who looks better. Being vertically challenged is a challenge, no two ways about it.

Of course, I'm not belittling (sorry) the challenges facing the very tall woman - at least I can go into a regular dress shop and make a dress fit by taking up the hem!

If you think the best way to dress for your size is to shop in the "Petites" section of your local department store, think again. Many Petite fashion ranges assume that we "little women" are simply downsized versions of our taller sisters, in perfect proportion. Inconveniently, most of us aren't!

It's the lucky petite who has long legs with a short torso. They probably don't think so, because the rise on Petite jeans will be perfect for them, shirts will sit beautifully - but the legs and arms won't be quite long enough.  On the other hand, normal-sized jeans will sit too high and blouses will be too long, so they're between a rock and a hard place.

However, they are lucky, because (once they find something that fits) they'll always look better in clothes than their long-bodied, short-legged sisters. They can carry off almost anything tall women can wear, with the exception of big patterns and chunky jewellery. If they don't mind other people towering over them, they can even wear flat shoes!

Nature just isn't fair. Many short women have a normal-sized torso, and it's only their legs, and sometimes their arms, that are short.

If you're in that category, the rise on petite jeans will be uncomfortably low, and blouses and shirts may be too short to tuck in. In fact, the only thing about Petites pants that works for you is the leg length!

On balance, if you're in this category, you'll get a much better fit in Separates by shopping in the normal ranges and getting the hems taken up.

However, the Petites range can be a great place to buy dresses, which are the best thing to disguise your figure flaws! You may find the waistline of a petite dress is a bit higher than your real waist, but that doesn't matter - in fact, it's a good thing because it will make your legs look longer.

The main things to avoid when buying clothes are:

1. Big patterns and chunky jewellery - they'll only emphasise your smallness compared to their largeness. Small patterns are fine as they're in proportion.
   
2. Anything "bouffy" - any extra width will make you look shorter still. Avoid crinoline skirts on evening and wedding dresses, circle skirts, big puffy sleeves. Instead look for long, slim lines (if you have a few lumps and bumps, get yourself some shapewear - it's much more comfortable these days!).
3. Horizontal stripes (going across the body). Stripes going up and down are OK.
   
4. Anything that cuts you in half - big belts, blocks of colour.
   
5. Big handbags, designer or not. Do you want to look like you're back at school?
   
6. Flat shoes (unless you've got long legs). Your legs are already short - flats will make them look even dumpier.