The Problem with Traditional Style Advice

The vast majority of style advice out there stinks. Whether that advice comes from a Petite influencer or one who is supermodel tall, and what’s even worse is that it often sends us in the completely wrong direction, compounding the problem that we already have going on in our closet.

Because you’re more than just short, two women can be petite, and if one has an athletic shape and the other has a curvy one, the styles that look good and flatter their body shape best are going to be completely different.

So in this episode, we are going to tackle body shape and how Petites can use it to their best advantage.

Introduction to the S.P.A.R.K. Style Method

In case you’re new here. First, thank you so much for listening. And second, the S.P.A.R.K. Style method is likely new to you. It’s the signature framework I came up with to help clients create a wardrobe that fits their height, flatters their body shape, and fits in with their lifestyle.

It’s an acronym, and the first step is S for body shape. Now, in case you’re thinking, I already know what my body shape is, I’m going to hit fast forward and skip to the good stuff. You might want to reconsider because we look at body shape a whole lot differently around here.

Why Traditional Body Shape Categories Don’t Work

And here’s the reason why. When I first started style coaching, I would jump on, well, back then it was Skype, but now it’s Zoom. I would jump on a call with a client and ask her about her body shape, and she would say, Oh, I’m an apple, and my shoulders are too broad, and my bust is too big. Or I’m a pear and my hips are too wide, or my butt is too big. It was always putting ourselves in a category, and here’s what’s wrong with it.

The Coffee Morning Analogy: How Negative Thinking Affects Your Day

If you’ve ever had one of those mornings where you’re all out of coffee beans, the creamer is spoiled, and you can’t find a sweetener to save your life, and you leave the house, and you feel all kerfuffle, the same thing happens when we get dressed. If we just stood in our closet, threw on clothes, and all we can think about is what’s wrong with our body shape or what we don’t love about our figures, it’s really hard to leave the house in the mindset that we’re going to go out and completely crush the day and tackle our goals.

The Mindset Shift: From Fruit Salad to Favorite Feature

Instead of that old-fashioned thinking, you and I are going to flip the switch because you’re not a fruit salad, nor are you any of the ingredients that go into a fruit salad. Instead, we are going to figure out what your favorite feature is and then emphasize the heck out of it so that you leave the house every single day feeling confident in your clothes.

For Those Who Can’t Identify a Favorite Feature

If a thought popped into your head of, I can’t think of anything that I like about my figure, please know that’s not unusual, and you are not alone. I get that message or some version of it once or twice a week, either via DM or email from somebody new to the Petite Revolution Community.

There are a couple of things that I would ask. So do me a favor, hang with me for the rest of the episode, because I am confident you are going to determine what your favorite feature is by the end.

Understanding Women’s Self-Criticism and Changing Bodies

Women are phenomenal at being hypercritical. So you might want to just take a step back and say, “Am I just picking myself apart?” The second thing is, as women, our figures are always changing. We get pregnant, we have the baby, we lose the weight. We don’t; we go through menopause. On and on and on. And unfortunately, one of the great joys about being petite is that those changes show up more dramatically on us. And once you know how to accentuate the favorite feature, because I know you’re gonna find one, and also camouflage areas that you don’t love, which we’ll talk about in the next episode, and flattering your shape. All of this is gonna get a whole lot easier.

Now we’re ready to cover the four most popular features and different ways for you to accentuate the heck out of them.

Addressing Common Concerns About Accentuating Features

This is the time when you might be getting a little bit scared. So, for example, you think, I really love my bust, but if I choose that, is Angela going to tell me I need to wear super low-cut tops? And show lots of cleavage and flash a lot of skin, because that does not work in my work environment. Or I don’t want to choose my legs because then she’s going to tell me to wear skirts that are hoochie-mama short. Please rest assured, accentuating what you love about your figure is so much more subtle and so much more tasteful. It’s about attracting the eye where you want to, not by being flashy, but by really living into your own personal style.

Now we’re going to go over a few suggestions. You are more than welcome to take one of those and try it on. Or you can choose your own.

Also, after you take the Petite Body Shape quiz, you are going to get a favorite feature style guide, which has links to all of my different Pinterest boards with even more ideas and suggestions.

How to Accentuate Your Waist

If you love your waist, there are some really simple, easy ways for you to accentuate it. Think belts right at your visible or natural waistline. One thing about belts, though, is that oftentimes for petites, so that we don’t break up our visible line, it’s best to either do a belt that matches the color of our blouse or pants or a small skinny belt. And again, just make sure you wear it at your natural waistline and not let it fall down to your hips.

The second one is high-waisted pants or paper bag-waisted pants. Wrap styles, whether they be dresses, tops, or sweaters, are all brilliant at emphasizing your waist.

How to Accentuate Your Legs

Now, if you love your legs, straight or wide-leg pants, one caveat on that, you want to make sure that the hemline falls long enough that it grazes the toes of your shoes. Shoes that match your skin tone, which we will talk about a lot in future episodes. Skirts and dresses that hit right under the widest part of your thigh.

How to Accentuate Your Bum

If you chose your bum as your favorite feature, you are going to want to make sure that all of your blazers, your tops, and your sweaters don’t fall any lower than the top of your hip bone. You’re also going to want to think about your pants. And pants that have pockets or a deeper yolk in the back are all things that emphasize your booty.

How to Accentuate Your Bust

Now, if you love your bust, V-necks, scoop necks, and any kind of wrap tops are great layered necklaces that draw attention to your décolleté. And one of my favorites is French girl scarves.

Alternative Features: Wrists and Collarbone

For those of you who were having trouble deciding, one of those might have really resonated with you. If not, and you’re still struggling a smidge, then think about emphasizing your wrists or your collarbone. Both areas are such a beautiful, feminine, and typically delicate area of a woman’s body, and they’re so easy to emphasize.

With the collarbone. Same thing as with the bust, v-neck sweaters, delicate necklaces. You don’t want anything too statement. That will actually cover up the collar bones. For your wrists, it’s so easy to get a couple of delicate bangles that just bring a touch of attention.

What’s Coming Next and Your Style Assignments

Now, in the next episode, we’re going to talk about very specific styles and silhouettes for each of the three signature body shapes. In the meantime, though, there are two style assignments.

The first one is to take the style quiz, and like I mentioned, you will be getting a favorite feature style guide that will give you more inspiration.

The second one is when you get dressed tomorrow, pick your favorite feature, and choose a way to emphasize it, and just take note of how you feel differently and more confident when you are leaving the house. Until next time, have fun and stay stylish. Bye-bye.