Pink is the “IT” color for Spring 2011.  For as long as I can remember, pink has been my favorite color so I love seeing retailers push pink.  Pink has long been viewed as the color of romance, innocence, and tranquility.  Did you know that pink is also recognized as the color of comfort by shoppers during troubled times? 

Pink looks good on virtually everybody because some shade of the color works with any skin tone.  Choose from petal, peony, geranium, salmon, rose, fuschia, blush, bubble gum, and cherry.  Nothing says “I am a girly girl” better than feminine pink ruffles, pink lace, or pink petal trims.

If pink from head-to-toe is too much for you, pair pink dangling earrings or a pink chiffon scarf with white, neutrals, or denim.  A pink belt or handbag will add a burst of color to any spring ensemble.  Petite women should remember that the brighter the shade of pink you are wearing, the more basic the rest of your outfit should be.  A pop of pink on top will always draw attention upward for added height.

One of my favorite parts of being a Petite Fashion Specialist is educating petite women about fashion.  I love answering questions and dishing out advice.  One of the questions that I am constantly asked lately is, “Can petite women wear skinny jeans?”  The answer is ABSOLUTELY, especially when the jeans are proportioned in petite sizes.  Petite-sized jeans usually feature a 28″ – 30″ inseam, raised pockets, shorter zippers, tapered legs, and obviously shorter lengths. 

It is true that skinny jeans look best on a slender petite frame.  However, a skinny jean in a dark denim finish works for petite women with heavier thighs.  The straight leg of a skinny jean forms a vertical line that visually elongates the leg. 

So what is the difference between a skinny jean and a straight leg jean?  The difference is the leg opening.  A skinny jean has an 11″ opening while the leg opening on a straight leg jean is around 14″.  The hottest new version of a skinny jean is called a jegging, the combination of a skinny jean and a legging, perfect for tucking into your boots.  The beauty of a skinny jean is that you can also wear it with ballet flats or heels. 

My favorite skinny jeans for petites are Gap’s Always Skinny Jeans $59.50 and Real Straight Jeans $69.50, available in petite sizes at www.gap.com.  I also love  Not Your Daughter’s Jeans Slim Leg Jean $98 and Jeggings $88.  I just did fashion shows for a chain of Florida specialty stores called Anthony’s last week, and Not Your Daughter’s Jeans were the hottest selling item after the shows.  They feature a tummy control panel designed to make you instantly look 10 pounds slimmer.  Check out where to buy NYDJ using their store locator at www.nydj.com. 

NYDJ Slim Leg $98

With heavy snowstorms and cold weather blanketing much of the country this winter, a hat has become an essential item for every petite woman’s wardrobe.  It is important to cover your head in the winter because studies show that roughly 40% of your body heat escapes through your head.  The big plus for petite women is that a hat can also instantly add inches to your height.  Here are a few quick tips for choosing a hat that is both functional and fashionable.

If you have short hair, any style goes.  The most popular styles for petites include beanies, berets, cloches, newsboy hats, and fedoras.  If you have longer hair and are worried about “hat hair,” choose a looser fitting hat like a cloche or fedora.  I have shoulder length hair with bangs and my personal favorite is the newsboy hat.  (pictured below)

Petite women should choose a hat in the same color or family of color as their coat or outerwear for an elongating effect.  Cover your ears for added warmth, and always try the hat on before you buy.

Petite celebrities hit the red carpet in red hot fashion at Sunday night’s Screen Actor’s Guild awards.  Here are my picks for the evening’s Best Dressed Petites!

TINA FEY

Red is certainly her color!  Tina should ditch the dark colors she traditionally wear to awards shows from here on.  This is the absolute best she has ever looked!  The color and cut of her Oscar de la Renta strapless red lace gown perfectly complimented her 5′4″ petite frame. 

MILA KUNIS

Mila Kunis emerges as the hot new petite fashionista after two strong back-to-back appearances on the red carpet.  The 5′3″ actress took some chances in her strapless red print Alexander McQueen gown but they paid off.  Mila gave the dress a modern twist by adding a skinny belt perfectly proportioned for her petite size. 

HELENA BONHAM CARTER

Helena Bonham Carter wins the ”Most Improved” fashion award and clearly listened to the shrill whistles of the Petite Fashion Police after her fashion disaster at the Golden Globes.  She looks simply elegant in her black and white lace Marc Jacobs dress complete with MATCHING black pumps.