For Petite Sake » Fashion Tips

COOL TIPS FOR PETITE FASHION

Kim — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 16:27:05 +0000

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

DRESS LIKE A PETITE GODDESS IN A ONE-SHOULDER LOOK

Kim — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:49:57 +0000

The trendy one-shoulder tops and dresses that are all the rage this season make great additions to any petite wardrobe. Originally inspired by the Greek goddesses in ancient mythology, one-shouldered silhouettes paint a diagonal line on the petite figure that draws the eye upward. It is a great look for summer because you can show a little skin and still be more covered up than in a strapless dress or top. Sexy one-shoulder gowns have been a major hit on the red carpet recently, including Sarah Jessica Parker’s asymetrical cut yellow Valentino worn to the Sex and the City 2 movie premiere. (featured below)

DIFFERENCES IN REGULAR AND PETITE SIZES

Kim — Tue, 04 May 2010 19:33:08 +0000

I was asked in an interview recently “What is the biggest mistake most petites make?” I would have to say that it is thinking you are going to get a good fit in regular sized clothing. When you are petite, fit is everything. And when clothing budgets are tight, who wants to spend a fortune on alterations? If you are 5′4″ or shorter, you will usually get a better fit in petite sizes simply because they are designed for a shorter body frame. Petite garments are cut smaller in key areas, and the rest of the garment is proportioned to match. The differences in petite and regular sized clothing include:

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

CAN PETITE WOMEN WEAR CAPRI PANTS?

Kim — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 21:11:49 +0000

The “Capri Fashion Controversy” wages on for petite women. Shorter women truly have a love/hate relationship with capri pants. Some petite women love them, others wouldn’t be caught dead in a pair of capris. Capri pants prove to be tricky when you are short but can be flattering on the right petite figure shape. Women who are 5′4″ or under need to follow a few simple fashion rules when wearing capris. Always, always, always wear shoes in the same color of family of color as your capri pant. This pairing visually lengthens short legs. Good choice: Black shoes with black capris. Bad choice: Red shoes with black capris.

If you are really short, have heavy calves or thick ankles, capri pants may not be your best look. For those of you in the 5′2″ to 5′4″ height range with shapely legs, matching your shoes with your hemline will help you pull off the look with confidence and style.

Gap cropped denim capri pant $54.50 www.gap.com

BLACK AND WHITE: THE PERFECT PETITE PAIR

Kim — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:16:02 +0000

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.

PETITES: THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKING

Kim — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:30:17 +0000

Since we all live in boots this time of year, here are a few guidelines for wearing boots when you are 5′4″ or shorter:

1. Be sure your hemline covers the top of your boot to create a long, unbroken line of color on the leg.

2. Choose a boot in a color than blends rather than contrasts with what you are wearing. A black boot with black pants is way more flattering on a petite woman than a red boot with black pants.

3. Wear boots with opaque hose or ribbed tights in the same color as your skirt or dress to elongate short legs.

EXCESSORIZING

Kim — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:39:45 +0000

It is important for petite women to choose accessories that flatter rather than overpower their petite frame. The wrong accessories can throw an entire look off balance. That said, two current fashion trends are driving me crazy. Everywhere I go, I see petite “fashion victims.”

“IS THAT A CHANDELIER HANGING FROM YOUR EARLOBE?”

Petite women simply must keep proportion and scale in mind at all times. Without exception, earrings that graze your shoulder overwhelm you. Go for the same look on a smaller scale.

“YOUR HANDBAG IS BIGGER THAN YOU ARE.”

Avoid a handbag as big as your body. Nobody has that much to carry, unless you are going away. In that case, you will need a suitcase and not a giant handbag.

PETITE FASHION DON’TS

Kim — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:33:14 +0000

My personal fashion philosophy is that there is very little a petite woman cannot wear as long as she follows a few simple rules for putting outfits together. Order a copy of The Petite Handbook for my Top 10 Petite Tips www.thepetitehandbook.com. The list is short, but the following looks pretty much NEVER, EVER work on shorter women.

Border Print Skirts

The border pattern edging the hemline paints a horizontal line on the petite figure that is guaranteed to make you look shorter. Check out the 50% off racks at your favorite petite store to see how many border prints skirts have been marked down. There is a reason they are still hanging there.

Color Blocking

This fashion trend is not petite friendly. Blocks of color on the body chop the petite torso into sections that put visual emphasis on width, not length.

Thigh-high Boots

Simply stated, you need to be tall and skinny to wear thigh-high boots. It takes a lot of leg to pull this look off.

Ankle Strap Shoes

A sure way to make short legs look even shorter is to cut them off at the ankle with a strap.

STRETCH SHORT LEGS

Kim — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:50:13 +0000

Opaque and patterned tights are hot fashion trends in legwear this season. This is GREAT news for all petite women because one of the best ways to stretch short legs is by matching your hemline, your hosiery, and your shoes. A black suit or dress worn with black opaques and black pumps creates a long unbroken line of color from head-to-toe on the petite figure. Ditto for a chocolate brown sweater dress with brown opaques and brown boots. Ribbed tights paint vertical lines that automatically lengthen short legs. My personal favorite for both fit and selection is Hue hosiery, available at most major department stores. You can visit their website http://www.hue.com for details and store locations.

THE TOP 5 PETITE FASHION MYTHS

Kim — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:25:02 +0000

1. PETITE MEANS TINY. Petite sizing is based on height, not weight. Actually, only 8% of all petite women weigh 100 pounds or less.

2. PETITE WOMEN CAN EASILY SHOP IN THE CHILDREN’S OR JUNIOR DEPARTMENT. Wrong. Children’s clothing and junior styles are not designed for most figure shapes. Real women have curves. There aren’t many pear or hourglass shaped kids out there.

3. HEMMING A GARMENT PURCHASED IN REGULAR SIZES WILL GIVE A PETITE WOMAN A GOOD FIT. Since the petite body frame is shorter, petite garments are cut in totally different proportions from regular sizes and are not just shortened versions.

4. PETITE WOMEN SHOULD WEAR HIGH HEELS AT ALL TIMES. It is true that heels add height and can make your legs look shapely. But… teetering on stilettos often throws petite proportion off and can also lead to serious injury.

5. PETITE WOMEN SHOULD ALWAYS TRY TO LOOK TALLER. Embrace your short stature. If you are 5’ tall, there is no way to look 5’8” tall. The key is dressing with confidence and style and avoiding looks that make you appear shorter than you really are.