Everything you need to know about finding the most flattering fits for your frame …
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Despite all measuring in at 5ft 4 or under, Victoria Beckham, Sienna Miller, Julianne Moore and Jessica Chastain all manage to appear taller through smart clothing choices and clever styling. Next time, before immediately dismissing a look you think may only work for a more elongated frame, consider whether with some minor modifications you can adapt your favourite outfit inspo to suit your body shape.
While we don’t like to follow a strict set of rules for dressing, there are some flexible pointers you can follow when shopping for petite clothes that will help you achieve a more put together fit. Take the Olsen twins for example, who at barely 5ft have managed to create some of the most iconic oversized looks over the last decade with their own personal style and through their fashion label The Row.
Despite their petite frames, both Mary-Kate and Ashley know the importance of good tailoring combined with high quality fabrics and the difference it makes to an overall outfit. They balance their oversized shirts, blazers, and coats with either cropped tailored pants or ankle length jeans and skirts. While they stay away from any bold jewellery they know how to use a statement belt to subtly enhance their silhouette. Follow the Olsens’ lead by choosing cropped trousers, midaxi length skirts or dresses and invest in a chic belt to make your everyday outfits look effortlessly pulled together.
Black leather belt with double buckle, €49.95, at Massimo Dutti.
Invest in Key Petite Basics
While it isn’t necessary to shop solely petite ranges, investing in essential pieces designed for those 5ft 4 and under will allow you to mix and match with other clothes while still keeping your look well-fitted. By doing this you can start to build the basis of a solid capsule wardrobe. If we had to go for just three petite pieces we would invest in the below cashmere jumper from Whistles, these pleated trousers from Marks and Spencer’s petite range and a pair of leather-look leggings from Spanx Petite. With this trio you have a chic everyday office look along with a more casual weekend outfit. It’s also worth checking out the rest of the options from these petite lines as they have some gorgeous designs.
Black petite cashmere roll neck sweater, €259, at Whistles.
Cream petite pleat front wide leg trousers, €65, at Marks & Spencer.
Black faux leather petite leggings, Spanx, €99, at Brown Thomas.
Dress Shopping
Whether you are in the market for a cute day dress or a more formal gown, one of our favourite places to browse for petite pieces is Reformation. Along with their fabulous selection of silk and satin dresses, they also have a wide range of trend conscious trousers, skirts, and tops all designed for petite frames.
Ivory silk Jeany dress, €398, at; www.thereformation.com.
The Best Petite Jeans
The search for the perfect pair of jeans can seem endless. This is one piece of clothing where we recommend shopping petite exclusive ranges to ensure you find your perfect fit. We love Mother Denim’s Lil’ Mother line and while Topshop as we once knew it doesn’t exist, you can still shop their wide selection of petite denim here at ASOS.
Blue denim The Lil’ Tomcat Roller petite jeans, €330; www.motherdenim.com.
Alteration Options
While the options for petite clothing have definitely increased substantially over the last few years, it is not always possible to get what you are looking for ready-made. If you find a second-hand treasure or your dream dress on sale, consider whether it can be altered to fit. A good seamstress will be able to take a size 16 down to a 10 leaving barely any trace of its former shape.
Petite Style Inspo
If you are ready for a wardrobe overhaul check out one of our favourite petite influencers, Grace Ghanem, below for some style inspiration.
This Canadian street style star breaks all the rules when it comes to dressing yet still manages to always look flawless. Nobody wears prints, statement sunnies, and sparkly accessories as well as this 59 year old. At just 5ft 2, Grace is the perfect example of how to make maxi lengths, co-ords and bright clashing colours work for petite frames, in addition to having fun and experimenting with your style.
