Why Shopping is Hard for Short Women

For many “high-achieving petites,” the phrase “I hate to shop” is all too familiar. The frustration often stems from spending hours in dressing rooms, only to leave “empty-handed, sweaty, hot, and frustrated” because the store doesn’t even carry petite clothes. There’s a crucial “puzzle piece missing for most short women,” which is understanding their proportion and how it translates into finding clothes that actually fit efficiently.

What is Petite Size Clothing? It’s More Than Just Shorter!

While most people would correctly say petite clothes are shorter, the reality is that petite size clothing isn’t just about length. It’s about the overall proportion, specifically eight measurements that are different between petite and regular-sized clothes. This difference is why some short women can wear regular sizes, while others need a mix, or exclusively petite.

Petite Tops: Understanding the Differences

When it comes to tops, blouses, blazers, and sweaters, petite sizes feature several key adjustments:

• Shorter length
• Narrower shoulders
• Shorter sleeve length
• Higher elbow allowance (to allow arm bending)
• Higher armholes
• Higher and often shorter darts in blazers and fitted tops to maintain shape

Do Regular Tops Cause These Issues for You?

• Sleeves that are too long
• Necklines that are too low
• Shoulder seams that land on your bicep
• Armholes on sleeveless tops or dresses that are too low and show your bra strap

If you’re nodding along, then Petite tops will likely fit you best.

Petite Bottoms: Understanding the Differences

For pants, dresses, and skirts, petite sizes also feature important proportional adjustments:

• Shorter length
• Smaller rise (the measurement from crotch to waistband)
• Higher knee allowance (so you can bend your knees comfortably)

Do Regular Bottoms Cause These Issues for You?

• Distressed jeans where the knee wear hits your shin
• Mid-rise pants where the waistband hits your belly button
• Maxi dresses that drag on the floor
• Mini skirts that hit closer to your knee

If these sound familiar, then Petite bottoms will fit you best.

Are You a True Petite or a Petite Hybrid?

Based on these measurements, you fall into one of two categories:

• True Petite: You require Petite size clothes on both the top and bottom. You should primarily shop with Petite brands or Petite size clothing stores that exclusively sell Petite size clothes.
• Petite Hybrid: You require Petite size clothes for either your top and regular sizes for your bottom, or vice versa. Knowing this about your sizing and body shape is incredibly powerful, helping you avoid “oodles and oodles of hassle and unnecessary returns”.

Where to Find Petite Size Clothing That Actually Fits

Now that you understand your proportions, it’s time to shop smarter!

The Best Petite Boutiques Directory: Your Go-To Resource

To help you find clothes that fit, consider grabbing a copy of “The Best Petite Boutiques” directory. This resource lists 50+ brands and stores that design clothes specifically for Petites, categorized by career wear, casual, and curvy. It also includes sections for “hard to shop for necessities like bras for small boobs and shoes for small feet”.

Shopping for Petite Hybrids: Stores Carrying Both Petite and Regular Sizes

For Petite hybrids needing to mix and match, focus on stores that carry both Petite and regular sizes. There are more brands than you might think!

• Top Brands to Consider: Karen Millan, Banana Republic (now online only for Petites), Ann Taylor, White House Black Market, and Whistles. Many more are available in the directory.
• Accessible Luxury Brands: Ralph Lauren, ME + EM, and Lafayette 148 are also great options, with more listed in the directory.

Translating Sizes: Petite Size vs Regular Size

When shopping as a petite hybrid, it’s important to know how to translate sizes:

• An 8 Petite is going to be the most similar to a 6 regular.
• A 12 regular is going to be the most similar to a 14 Petite. Don’t be thrown off by different numbers in your closet; it’s most important that the clothes fit.

Alterations: A Last Resort, Not a Default

While alterations are an option, they should be your “last resort, not our default”. Often, clothes intended for alteration end up unworn in closets, or the result isn’t quite right. It’s “so much easier just to find clothes that actually fit” from the start.

Non-Petite Brands That Often Fit: European and British Brands

Some non-Petite brands can surprisingly fit well, especially British, European, and Italian brands, which often “run smaller than US brands”. Examples include Mage, Sandro, and Max Mara. French Connection dresses have also been noted to fit beautifully. However, exercise caution and “check them out thoroughly from all angles” before committing, as sizing can be inconsistent even within these brands.

Your Petite Style Challenge

Ready to transform your shopping experience? Here’s an easy style challenge:

1. Determine your sizing: Are you petite on top, bottom, or both?
2. Download your copy of The Best Petite Boutiques directory.
3. Browse the brands that resonate with you.
4. The next time you’re looking for an item, go to those brands first and notice how much easier shopping becomes!
5. Share your shopping success by visiting insidepetitestyle.com.

Ready for More Personalized Petite Style Tips?

For more insights into creating a wardrobe that fits your height and flatters your body shape, visit Inside Petite Style. com You can also take your free Petite Body Shape Quiz for personalized tips and strategies tailored to your proportion and height. Don’t forget to share this episode with a girlfriend who’s always rolling up her sleeves and hemming her pants – she needs to know she’s not alone and that “there are real solutions”!