If you are a Petite, everyone assumes you have no issues buying clothing, but if you are under 5’ 2” (or 158cms) you probably find it very hard to track down grown up styles that do not make you look as if you are a little girl who has raided her mum’s wardrobe.
And the hardest thing to find is beautiful party and occasion clothes since so many Petite brands assume that because you are a Petite you love frills, froufrou and icky pastels.
We feel your pain. We have some great clothes and clever tips for Petites on the lookout for beautiful, grown up, Petite party wear, and Petite occasion wear.
Whether you are looking for a cocktail dress, an evening gown or evening separates, the most important thing to keep in mind is to wear a single colour or print from head to toe (or, more accurately, neckline to hem). That will not only make you appear taller but will look more dramatic and imposing. If possible avoid belts on short dresses, as that immediately creates a horizontal line which makes you appear less tall than you are. If you do need a belt, ensure it is in exactly the same colour as your dress or separates.
Dresses
M&Co£89.00 |
ASOS£35.00 |
Bloomingdale’s£226.16 |
CC£49.90 |
Next£75.00 |
Precis Petite£95.20 |
Jacques Vert£159.20 |
Jacques Vert£103.20 |
Jumpsuits
M&S£65 |
ASOS£45 |
M&Co£45 |
Separates
Coast at Debenhams£29.00 |
Coast at Debenhams£69.00 |
Jacque Verts£31.20 |
Jacque Verts£47.20 |
Jackets
CC£63.60 |
Jacque Verts£63.20 |
M&S£65.00 |
You should also keep in mind that there are some brands which don’t market themselves as Petite brands, but cut in a way that make them perfect for Petites. These include Darling Clothes and Yumi. And, there are the brilliant American Petite brands, such as Eileen Fisher Petites, Tadashi Shoji Petites, Adrian Papell Petites and Betsy & Adam Petite, which are available on SoSensational from Bloomingdales and Macy’s.If you can walk in high heels, they are your best friend for party wear and occasion wear. In fact, even if you can’t walk in high heels, what the hell; it is a party, a special occasion or a wedding, not a trek across the Pennines. And you can always arrive in heels to make an impression and later switch to a pair of more comfy ballerina flats (possibly the fold-up kind that you can stow in your handbag). Also, there are dressy platforms and wedges around now, which are more comfortable than stilettos but still add height.
And always keep in mind that it is only in the UK that we expect an off-the-peg garment to fit us correctly without alteration. Across most of the world, but especially in France and Italy, chic, well-dressed women of any size, expect to have a garment altered to ensure a perfect fit. So, if a hemline is too long, or sleeves are falling below where they should, get the garment altered or learn how to take up a hemline or a sleeve.
Yet another challenge for a Petite woman is when she is on show as the Mother of the Bride. Here are some stunning Petite MoB outfits as well as some Bespoke Mother of the Bride outfits that you can have made to perfectly fit your smaller frame.
Joyce Young |
Accessories are always important because it is fun to put our own stamp of individuality on an outfit. But never more so than for parties and for special occasions such as weddings – especially if you are the Mother of the Bride and not only prominently on show, but with a wedding album and video to remind you of any fails! When it comes to accessorising, the key essential for a Petite to keep in mind is proportion, proportion, proportion. A Petite can wear a “big” hat. It just has to be the correct size for her (never wider than shoulder width). She can wear bold fashion jewellery, just not too huge. It is all about scale.
For more MoB fashion tips, see our Mother of the Bride edit here.
And do comment below. We’d love to know about your petite buying shopping experiences…
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