“36-24-36, ha-ha only if she’s 5’3”…” minus a couple inches for me, but Sir Mix-a-Lot had it just about right. He’s sure got my back, and if you’re petite, he's probably got yours, too. But, he’s on the short list of people who actually do understand the petite figure. The rapper knew what was hot then, and one thing is still for sure: petite is in!
Shopping petite can be a miserable experience. Low rise covers half the navel, the lower back is revealed by a gaping pant waist, sleeves hang past the thumb, and dresses fall inches from satisfaction. Though I shouldn’t admit it, I’m guilty of once purchasing Capri pants in lieu of ankle length. It didn't work; don't try it! Lately I’ve resorted to the more sensible idea of shopping online. Most online stores boast their vast petite selection, but I’m usually left craving more. Is it not too much to ask for designers to snip and tuck a little here and there for us shorter clientele? After all, some of fashion’s biggest trend setters skirt a not necessarily "petite" but definitely smaller frame: Audrey Hepburn, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jackie Onassis. But unlike these star-studded fashionistas, who have undoubtedly never had to sift through racks of clothing at the local H&M, we live in the real world, and we have to know how to handle it.
Shopping petite can be a miserable experience. Low rise covers half the navel, the lower back is revealed by a gaping pant waist, sleeves hang past the thumb, and dresses fall inches from satisfaction. Though I shouldn’t admit it, I’m guilty of once purchasing Capri pants in lieu of ankle length. It didn't work; don't try it! Lately I’ve resorted to the more sensible idea of shopping online. Most online stores boast their vast petite selection, but I’m usually left craving more. Is it not too much to ask for designers to snip and tuck a little here and there for us shorter clientele? After all, some of fashion’s biggest trend setters skirt a not necessarily "petite" but definitely smaller frame: Audrey Hepburn, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jackie Onassis. But unlike these star-studded fashionistas, who have undoubtedly never had to sift through racks of clothing at the local H&M, we live in the real world, and we have to know how to handle it.
In this post, I'd like to offer my fellow short shoppers a list of some of the best petite shopping and relative links. We first have to understand the petite figure. You should remember that just because you're taller than 5'3" and never had to purchase short length pants, you could still be petite up top. And some may need a shorter inseam, but find that petite sized sleeves hit inches from the wrist. I’ve offered a list below of signs that you may need a petite size.
- Your sleeves are too long; petite tops are adjusted to hit in just the right spot, usually with a sleeve length between 29 and 31 inches
- Your pants are too long; petite pants have inseams of around 27 to 31 inches depending on the type of pant you are wearing
- The rise in your pants fits higher than it should; low rise pants should fall 2 to 3 inches below the belly button
- Dresses are longer than they should be; if the dress description says "just above the knee," the skirt should hit just above the knee-- they didn't lie!
When you're shopping petite, be sure to check all of the measurements, not just the pant, sleeve or skirt length. You may need to go one size up in order to find a really good fit in other areas.
Now, where to go to find these perfectly tailored styles? Below is a list of stores with the best petite selections.
- Banana Republic: Make sure you check your local store, but if they've recently discarded their petite selection (which many have), you'll need to look online.
- Ann Taylor & Ann Taylor Loft: I'm not the biggest fan of their styles, but they do offer many sensible petite choices, especially for business attire.
- J.Crew: The selection isn't extensive but offers a number of dresses, pants, and tops in petite sizes.
- Zappos.com: You can narrow your shopping search within many categories and find top trends in petite sizes.
- VictoriasSecret.com: The website offers petite length pants, but that’s about it.
- The Little Bra Company: This site has the perfect bra for up top petites.
- Amazon.com: This is definitely a must see if you’re looking for big name designers in petite sizes (e.g., Michael Kors, Lauren by Ralph Lauren, Alfani, etc.).
- Paige Premium Denim: They have pretty much all the denim you’ll ever need in a petite wardrobe.
- Sweet Petites Apparel: This is the one-stop shop for sportswear, active wear, and more just for petites.
- Petite Legs: If you have short legs or even really short legs (24”-31”), you can find great jeans here.
