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

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?

• 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 

The key to wearing animal prints when you are petite is to wear one animal print piece at a time.  A cheetah print twinset with matching shoes and handbag results in “overkill.” (pardon the pun)   A cheetah print twinset worn with a pair of black wool gab pants and black accessories  makes a flattering choice for all petite women.  The animal pattern worn on the top half of the petite figure draws attention upward for added height.  However, the petite woman with fuller hips or thighs should avoid wearing animal print bottoms.  A giraffe handbag could be the perfect accessory for a brown dress or suit but when paired with a giraffe print skirt, you have one too many animals in the zoo. 

 I am all for a walk on the “wild side” to update your fall wardrobe, but urge petite women to coordinate outfits around one fabulous animal print piece in order to avoid fashion “faux paws.”  

Since Michael Kors is actually a designer himself, he pays attention to details and can envision how real women can wear (or not wear) the runway looks.  Last week when he told Ari her dress looked like a disco soccer ball, I thought to myself – what  a perfect description! 

You can find Michael Kors petite line at Macy’s in sizes 2-14P and PXS-PL.   Favorite early fall styles include a black wide leg pant in poly/rayon and animal print tops with interesting sleeve treatments. 

In fashion, one day you’re in and the next day you’re out.  Let’s all hope that ”for petite sake,” Michael Kors stays in for a very long time.

Featured Top:  Michael Kors snake print elbow sleeve top $69.50 paints strong vertical lines on the petite figure.  Available at www.macys.com.