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
Tags: petite, petite fashion, petite sizes
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Thank you for this important information. I am a 50 year old petite and i am so glad i found your site. Do you discuss older women’s needs?
Great question! I am over 50, wear a size 4 or 6 petite, and have a real challenge finding clothes that are modern yet classic. The petite clothes I find are either too young or old. Help!
Shopping for petite clothing has become a bigger challenge than ever due to reduced inventories. For contemporary classic styles, my personal favorites are Nordstrom, Banana Republic, and J. Crew. I am also a big fan of Macy’s INC label for more updated looks. Hope this helps in some small way.