Petite women’s fashion is geared toward women who are under 5 feet 4 inches tall, regardless of weight.
The reality is that the average petite customer is a petite size 12, not a size 0 or 2. Here is some appropriate advice for those ladies.
Choose fitted tops that skim across your body and show off your shape. Tops don’t need to have a tight fit, especially if you’re self-conscious about any body flaws.
A petite woman will look buried under a billowy top because it obscures the shape of the upper body and can make you appear short. To visually elongate your torso, choose open necklines, such as v-necks or scoop necks. Crew necks or turtlenecks are to be avoided because they add width to your upper body instead of length.
When it comes to patterns in petite women’s fashion, avoid horizontal stripes which can make you look wider rather than taller. Petite women run the risk of having their clothing overwhelm their frames, so keep things simple. If you choose to wear a patterned top, keep the pattern size in proportion to your height; for example, choose thin vertical stripes or small polka dots rather than large flowers.
Picking out pants for a petite frame is much like selecting tops. Look for pants that are tailored to show off your shape. As a petite woman, you should aim for creating vertical lines, not adding width, so avoid wide pants.
The waistband of your pants should sit comfortably across the top of your hips, not below them or you risk making your hips look wider than they actually are. Pants should not be tapered nor too flared; it is best to stick with straight-legged styles, although skinny jeans can work well if you add a high heel.
In addition, avoid high waist pants because they will cover up most of your torso. To lengthen your legs and look taller, make sure the hem of your pants falls as close to the tops of your shoes as possible without bunching. Cropped styles will only make your lower body seem shorter.
Show at least a little bit of leg when you wear skirts or dresses. The more leg you show off, the taller you’ll look; however, that doesn’t mean you have to wear mini skirts (although miniskirts can be flattering if you are comfortable showing more of your legs). For a flattering look that is still modest, choose skirts or dresses that hit at or above your knee.
Calf-length skirts tend to be extremely unflattering on petite women. Since most of your legs are obscured and just a small portion is exposed, your lower body will look short and wide. If an occasion calls for a long skirt, choose a form-fitting style rather than a style that widens at the hem.
Shoes are an important part of petite women’s fashion. Some say that very petite women should not wear stilettos because the look is too extreme. However, moderately high-heeled shoes can be very helpful to the petite woman, as a few inches of heel can make a tremendous difference. In addition to increasing your stature, high heels elongate the leg and make ankles seem slimmer.
Shoes with a wedge heel can add height and the wedge shape distributes your weight more evenly to make them more comfortable. When you choose flat shoes, avoid any shoe styles with ankle straps or ties because they visually divide the length of your legs, making them seem shorter.
By wearing one continuous color from head to toe, you can create the illusion of being longer than you are. Dark colors are best for elongating the frame, but bright colors can work if they are used consistently on the top and bottom of your outfit. Skirts and tops of different tones can cut the body in half, making you look smaller.
Petite women need to be cautious when it comes to belts. Wearing one across the waist or midsection can cut the body in half and draw attention to your size. Belts worn lower on the hips can lengthen the torso but shrink your legs. It is best for petite women to avoid thick belts, or belts with large buckles, and to opt instead for slimmer belts.
Lastly, petite women’s fashion can be enhanced by using accessories. But be careful, too many accessories can overwhelm women with small bodies. So avoid big, chunky jewelry. Scarves and hats can be a great way to draw the eye up toward the face, and can add a splash of color to a monochromatic outfit.