If you have been in a department store lately, I am sure that you will agree with me that the Petite Department has become increasingly hard to find.  Finding petite clothing in major discount chains like Ross or T. J. Maxx is now like finding a needle in a haystack.  Like many of you, I have never been more frustrated with shopping.  Petite women have always been the misunderstood customer, now they are also the forgotten customer. 

So why is a consumer base estimated to spend $10 billion annually on clothing being ignored?  Having spent over 20 years in the petite fashion industry, I have my theories.  When I started my career as a Petite Buyer, the petite business was booming.  Every manufacturer wanted to produce their line in petite sizes.  Every trendy item, every hot look was offered in petite sizes.  Department stores jumped on the petite bandwagon and profits surged.

But as the years passed, these same stores started to take the petite customer for granted and eventually got lazy.  Management always loved the sales that the Petite Department produced, but never really saw the petite customer as having different needs from other customers.  They failed to understand that not only a large selection of merchandise, but special attention kept this customer loyal to their store.  When upper management got bored with the petite niche market, they moved on and sought new areas of business to develop.  The centralized check-out counter dealt another blow to the petite customer accustomed to high levels of customer service. 

As the economy started to stagger, department stores having already lost their zeal for the petite business, started to let manufacturers dictate what is cut in petite sizes.  Inventory became more about basics, less about fashion and newness.  The bottom line is that Petite Buyers, store management, and manufacturers quit fighting for us.  Thus, the dramatically altered or non-existent state of the Petite Department.

So what is a petite girl to do?  Unite as a group and vent your frustration loud and clear.  Power comes in numbers.  Join a grass roots movement like www.bellapetite.com and advocate for change in the petite industry.  Please send me your thoughts and suggestions on how we can collectively stand tall and be heard.

Talk about a fashion flashback.  I just saw a Fendi Bermuda bag advertised for a mere $1995 in a recent edition of Women’s Wear Daily.  Rumor has it that Bermuda bags also made appearances at designer runway shows during New York’s recent Fall Fashion Week.  Ahhhh… the fashion memories of my collegiate preppy phase came rushing back.  

If you are not familiar with the Bermuda bag,  it is not a straw handbag from the islands.  The Bermuda bag is an oval shaped handbag with wooden handles and changeable covers.  The beauty of the perfectly proportioned petite handbag is that by simply changing the fabric covers, you can match virtually every outfit you own.  I had a huge collection of covers in college - prints, solids, plaids, some even monogrammed with my initials.   So the favorite handbag of my youth has now come full circle.        

 Featured Bermuda Bag from www.thejessebcollection.com

It is hard to beat the graphic combination of black and white.  Here is why every petite woman should have black and white combinations in her wardrobe:

1.  Black and white outfits are so easy to put together and always look stylish. 

2.  You are sure to get noticed (in a good way) in this dynamic duo. 

3.  Black and white is great for travel because everything mixes and matches.

4.  Accessorizing is mindless.  Black and white works with shoes and handbags in every color – bright, neutral, pastel, or neon. 

There are a few tips petite women need to keep in mind to flawlessly pull off the look.  First of all, keep it simple.  Too many blocks of black and white on a petite figure is overwhelming.  If you opt for a black and white print, don’t wear a pattern bigger than the size of your fist.  Finally, remember that black conceals and white reveals.  Use this unbeatable combination of color to maximize your assets and minimize your flaws.  For example, a pear shaped petite can balance wide hips with narrow shoulders by pairing a solid black bottom with an eye-catching black /white  pattern on top.

A basic khaki pant is a “must have” for every petite wardrobe.  Dress it up or dress it down.  You can wear khaki with virtually any color – neutral, pastel, or bright.  This spring’s “Military Chic” trend gives petite women more options than ever before for finding a great fitting khaki pant.  Wear this versatile item with:

1.  A ruffled lace top in a soft, sheer fabric

2.  A chic black top with cutouts or keyholes

3.  A ladylike lace blouse and strands of pearls

4.  Something wild – an animal print top or jacket

5.  A lingerie inspired tank top

6.  A pretty pastel fitted jacket

7.  A tribal print top and wooden beads

8.  Nautical stripes

9.  A camouflage tank or camp shirt