While out shopping recently, I encountered several salespeople who tried to convince me that petite sizes and extra small sizes are one and the same. Here is how the conversations typically went:
Me: Do you carry petite sizes?
Salesperson: No, but we carry Extra Small.
Woe is me. The controversy and confusion over petite sizing rages on. I am more convinced than ever that there exists a huge need for a massive education campaign. Many designers, manufacturers, and retailers use the terms petite and extra small interchangeably. For example, a clothing designer who doesn’t even cut their line in petite sizes could label the smallest size they offer as size Petite even though the garment is not remotely proportioned for a short body frame.
Yes, some petite women are extra small. But the reality is that only 8% of all petite customers weigh 100 pounds or less and would be considered tiny. The rest of us have the same bust and hip measurements as a regular sized customer, but regular sizes don’t fit us because we are short. Petite sizing is based on height, not weight. Petite actually refers to an all-over proportioning on the body from head-to-toe, not left-to-right.
One of my favorite blogs www.about.com/fashion ran a survey recently asking petite women if clothing designers and manufacturers should continue calling clothing for short women petite and drop use of the term petite when it means extra small. An overwhelming 64% of their readers responded that they should adopt this practice. What do you think? Should the clothing industry standardize sizing terminology and quit confusing customers?
Tags: petite, petite sizes
I can understand that frustration. It’s worse when the SA is petite and tells me the same thing! Being short is not the same as being thin. The clothing industry needs to standardize terminology and sizing to make it easier on the customers!
I know exactly what you mean. i’m trying to set up a petite clothes store and when i ask manufacturers if they do petite sizes they try and sell me xsmall as petite. Something definitely needs to be done about this and i think this confussion is why most clothing companies stay away from selling petite lines. but it’s great that there are so many petite blogs out there like yours getting the word out. Thanks for posting.
I receive many catalogues through the mail. There are places I’d love to buy from but they offer no Petite sizes; only extra-small. I am 4 ft. 8 in. and currently weigh 115 lbs. with a DD bra cup size and not so slim hips. Does the clothing industry ever “get it?” I’m not a freak and people think I have a nice figure. Fortunately, I can make my own clothes but it does take a lot of fussing with a pattern to accommodate a small frame with a real bosom and hips. I don’t understand why retail clothing manufacturers or pattern companies for sewers overlook this. Isn’t it obvious? Look around–the average American woman is not the tall, willowy type.
Actually the average American woman is 5′4″ tall and weighs 165 pounds. It sounds like you have a great petite figure and is sad that you have such a hard time finding clothing to fit. Clothing manufacturers have been very sporatic over the years about addressing the needs of petite women and the current trend seems to be to ignore this huge segment of the population. All we can do is join together and make our voices be heard in an effort to force change.
I feel your pain and frustration! I’m in my 20’s and wear Extra Small Petite on top (even though I have long legs and am 5′ 5″)! People always try to sell me small tops that are not in Petite sizes because they just don’t get it. It’s sooo frustrating! The next time a sales clerk offers me an extra small top in regular Women’s sizes I’m tempted to try it on for them so they can see with their own eyes how it looks on me (then they can see how the breast part of the shirt hangs down below my own breasts and looks ridiculous).
I would LOVE it if the clothing industry stopped using the term “PETITE” and instead used the term “SHORT.” The term “TALL” is used in clothing for taller people so why not use the term “SHORT.” I think it would make more sense to people and all the confusion would go a way. I also think it would make it easier for shorter women (or women who are short on top like me) to find clothes that fit them. I didn’t even know I had a Petite torso until I was in my mid twenties and went to get fitted for a bra at Nordstrums (the lady told me I needed a Petite bra which has SHORT straps). Up until that point I didn’t buy much clothing because nothing fit me right. I could never figure out why…I just thought there was something wrong with my body. If someone had only told me I was Petite on top years ago it would have saved me a whole lot of tears and frustration.
As I’ve explored blogs etc. online I’ve realized that a lot of the women who wear my size in Petites are young women or Asian. Perhaps if more of these women spoke up people would realize that being PETITE is not the same thing as just being Extra Small with a normal body length.
On a side note: I think there are actually more women than people realize that are Extra Small Petite. It’s just that a lot of women aren’t educated about their size. If they are young or small they are told to go to Kids or the Juniors department. Kids and Juniors are not designed to fit PETITES and adult women. These departments also more than likely don’t have appropriate styles. (Just educating those non-petite people out there.)
Thankyou for your post! : )
I absolutely agree! I’m an aspiring petite fashion designer also committed to educating the population on this miseducation of petite=xxxs. I’m becoming more and more fed up everyday at the lack of options us petites have when shopping because most “petite” retailers don’t understand that petite is in fact a proportion and not a size. I am 4′11” and I am definitely not a size 0. In fact, my measurements are 35-25-36. It’s time the industry realizes the need for the large percentage of the population that require REAL petite sizing. My Petite Collection will be launching this fall (with correct proportions lol) but definitely check out the blog in the meantime! http://www.THE16THBAR.COM