Comments on: Are you really a Petite?

By: Renee

Renee — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:41:23 +0000

I have a true petite figure but unfortunately a lot of petite clothing is cut for a longer-waisted/longer armed person - And hence are not true petite sizes at all. I am 5′2″ tall with relatively average body proportions for my height according to statistics compiled by the U.S. Army on this site: http://robyn.faeriemanor.org/B.....ons.phtml. Plug in your height and it will tell you what average measurements are for others of your size and gender. Despite that a lot of petite clothing is not cut short enough in the waist or arms, but the pants are cut way too short! They are supposedly fitting a woman who is 5′3″ and under, but a lot of petite pants are cut for someone who is no more than 5′ tall. I have had to learn the brands that tend to cut longer or shop in the regular misses’ department.

What really bugs me is the lack of selection. If 60% of women in the U.S. are 5′4″ and under, then why are there so few choices for them? And why do they cater for an increasingly older market? I am 50 years old and I think a lot of the clothes they push in petite sizes look matronly! And I don’t dress too young for my age, either. I know this has been a rant for a long time amongst petites but no one is listening. I am happy that chain stores like Banana Republic, the Gap and Ann Taylor are selling petite sizes of the same styles that come in regular sizes. I also wish manufacturers would not “cutesy-fy” petite clothing. We don’t want to look like little Betty Boop dolls, just regular women! OK, rant over for now!

By: Tessa

Tessa — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:51:45 +0000

Am I really a petite? I am 5′4″ 130 lbs, 35-29-39 (pear/triangle). I have narrow shoulders, short arms, a long torso and short legs. Petite tops fit perfectly across the shoulders, through the chest and in the sleeve length but are just too short (ending at my navel). Regular tops/coats/dresses are too big in the shoulders and chest but just right in length. I am having difficulty deciding what size trench coat to order, should I order the petite to have it fit across the shoulders and through the arms or a regular to ensure proper coverage around my hips (the pear issue)? I’m interested in the Gallery Belted Trench Coat at Nordstrom.
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/29.....0423c27407

By: monkey

monkey — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 13:44:46 +0000

Don’t forget that the rise of the pant/ short is also different in petite styles. Too often people have told me that I can just have regular pants hemmed, however this still leaves me with the dropped crotch effect.

By: Kasmira

Kasmira — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 20:53:59 +0000

Although I’m nearly 5′5″ with long legs, I like to shop the petite’s for skirts because I can find professional styles in shorter lengths than in the regular dept. I’m not talking mini-skirt lengths, just at or above the knee.

By: Laura

Laura — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 17:20:56 +0000

I was browsing the old body type entries and found this one. Something else to consider is frame size, especially if you are on the heavier side.

I am 5′2″ and generally wear a sz 12 or 14R. I can’t wear petite sizes at all — not because I don’t fit into them, but because they’re hideously uncomfortable. They assume I have a small frame surrounded by fleshy bits, but I don’t; my hipbones, ribs, shoulderblades, collarbones, and wristbones are all either readily visible or actively engaged in the sticking-out process. As a result, petite bottoms pinch over the bones and gap hugely in front. As you might imagine, this is both not a good look and not going to win any awards for comfort.

I spend a lot of time either hemming things myself, or paying people to hem them.

By: Meredith

Meredith — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 15:19:40 +0000

And for those of us that have been short our whole lives, what fun indeed to buy something in the regular sizes.Hallelujah, indeed!