How To Shop For Petite Clothing – 5 Things To Look For
Despite constant media attention on supermodels towering at 5’8 and taller, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, the average woman in the US is 5’4″. These women along with their shorter counterparts are considered petite in the fashion world.
Although petite is considered the ‘norm’, being petite size and shopping for petite fashions can be a tall order. Many designers immersed in the fashion world create their pieces based on high fashion model measurements. So when those 5’4″ and shorter head to the mall to try on clothes, they often end up with pants that are way too long, shirts loose at the waist, skirts hanging at the hips or dresses that are just too big all over, even in the smallest size.
Shopping online hasn’t made the petite shopping task any easier. Many stores and brands claim to carry petite clothing, but how can you know it will fit? Unfortunately when shopping online, you don’t find out your items are too big until you’ve already paid for them. Next stop…a trip to the tailor! Great. Another to add to the price of your items. Just what you need, right? I didn’t think so.
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Even though it’s difficult to find a TRUE petite fit, there are 5 simple things you can look for that can help you rest assured that the clothing you want will fit:
1. Petite Shirts: Princess seams or shirring around the waist. These really help give a tailored fit to blouses on a small frame. Princess seams are long, rounded seams sewn into the front and/or back of a woman’s shirt and extend from the waist up to the arms. Shirring goes a step further – it’s 2 or more rows of gathers, usually used to decorate clothing, but when used with elastic near the waist, they help pull the fabric closer to the body.
2. Petite Skirts: Darts. If you buy a skirt without darts, chances are it will fit loose at the waist. Darts are vertical stitches in the front, side and or back of garments that help give it shape. In the case of a skirt, it allows for the waist to be a decent size smaller than the hips, a typical trait of the petite size.
3. Petite Jeans/Pants: Stretch material. Not only do you want to choose short/petite sized jeans (so they aren’t too long), but you also want stretch so that it molds to your shape comfortably.
4. Petite Dresses: 3 S’s…Spandex, Straps & Seams. When each of these on their own aren’t enough, the sum of all 3 make for a fabulous petite fit!
5. Petite Coats/Jackets: Belting. Even if a petite size coat is too big, a belt can save you by making it nice and fitted at the waist. If it doesn’t come with one, try adding one from your closet that compliments the coat’s fabric. Also, rolled sleeves on jackets are en vogue, so if the sleeves are too long, rolling them up will likely make it look even more fashionable.
If you are petite and looking for petite fashions with a true petite fit, I recommend checking out http://shop.CandyBlueShop.com. It’s a petite clothing boutique that carries contemporary petite fashions including petite dresses, petite blouses, petite skirts, petite pants, petite shirts, accessories and more.
You may have not intended to do so, but I think you have managed to express the state of mind that a lot of people are in. The sense of wanting to help, but not knowing how or where, is something a lot of us are going through.