I was asked in an interview recently “What is the biggest mistake most petites make?” I would have to say that it is thinking you are going to get a good fit in regular sized clothing. When you are petite, fit is everything. And when clothing budgets are tight, who wants to spend a fortune on alterations? If you are 5′4″ or shorter, you will usually get a better fit in petite sizes simply because they are designed for a shorter body frame. Petite garments are cut smaller in key areas, and the rest of the garment is proportioned to match. The differences in petite and regular sized clothing include:
- Shorter hemlines (the obvious)
- Shorter sleeves
- Shorter lines neck-to-waist
- Shorter lines waist-to-hip
- Narrower shoulders
- Higher armholes
- Shorter rise and inseam
- Raised pockets
- Shortened zippers
- Buttons sewn closer together
- Less volume in skirts and dresses
- Details scaled down including pockets, collars, lapels, belts, belt loops, and embellishments
