Posts Tagged ‘petite clothing’

Feb

THE SKINNY ON SKINNY JEANS FOR PETITES

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

Posted by: Kim at 10:34 am Comments Off | Topic: Trends

Aug

SEASONLESS PETITE CLOTHING

I am a big fan of seasonless petite clothing – clothing that you won’t put away all year. These are the priceless pieces that you can layer up or down, depending on the weather. Fabric is the key. The best seasonless fabrics are rayon, poly-rayon, wool gab, wool crepe, jersey, denim, and silk. Here are five seasonless pieces that could be the foundation of a year-round petite wardrobe:

1. A cardigan

2. A black pencil skirt

3. A great-fitting pair of denim jeans

4. A silk blazer

5. A Little Black Dress in matte jersey

Posted by: Kim at 3:56 pm Comments Off | Topic: Fashion Tips

Aug

PETITE WARDROBE CLASSICS

This fall promises a return to the classics. Here is my ”Petite Classics Hall of Fame,” a list of classic items that will never go out of style:

1. Animal Prints - have become a timeless look for clothing, handbags, and shoes.

2. A Leather Jacket – now a year-round item.

3. A White Shirt – a “must have” for every petite wardrobe.

4. A Pencil Skirt – works for any petite woman, any size, any shape.

5. A Neutral Shoe – if it matches your skintone, it will lengthen the leg.

Photo Image: Courtesy of www.nordstrom.com

Posted by: Kim at 4:54 pm Comments Off | Topic: Trends

Jul

COOL TIPS FOR PETITE FASHION

Let’s face it. July means that it is HOT everywhere. The Northeast is wilting under a heat wave. Here in suburban Orlando, you can’t even walk to your mailbox without sweating. So how can a petite woman keep cool in July and August and still look stylish?

The obvious answer is to wear the least amount of clothing possible. Bare arms, bare shoulders, bare legs, exposed toes. Wear sundresses, strapless or one-shoulder tops and dresses, halters, tanks, shorts, minis, flip-flops, and sandals wherever, whenever you can.

Another simple petite fashion solution is to stay cooler by wearing fabrics that breathe. Exactly what does that mean? How can a fabric breathe?

To explain, let’s take a look at the two types of fibers used to make petite clothing, natural fibers and synthetic fibers. Think of a fiber as a piece of thread that is woven together to create fabric. Natural fibers originate from plants or animals. Synthetic fibers are created from man-made chemicals. Natural fibers breathe due to a looser weave. Synthetic fibers don’t. Synthetic fibers like polyester, nylon, and rayon don’t absorb moisture. It gets trapped between the fibers causing your body temperature to rise. On the other hand, natural fibers like cotton, linen, and silk make the best choices for a summer wardrobe because they absorb moisture, offering you a natural source of air conditioning.

Featured: Banana Republic blue silk dress $110.00

Posted by: Kim at 12:27 pm Comments Off | Topic: Fashion Tips, General