petites

Getting dressed in the morning is hard enough in winter, even without being petite. It’s often still dark when we stand in front of our wardrobes searching for something to wear, we never know if it’s going to be freezing outside or oddly mild. Now add to that the stress of being shorter than 5’3” in a world where most clothes are designed for 6-foot, size-8 models… It’s tough, okay! As a petite fashion editor, having to search that little bit harder for outfits that work (and make friends with my local tailor) is something I’ve learnt to tackle my whole adult life. By now, though, I think I’ve managed to crack the code of where to find the best pieces that work for us shorter people. Yes, I still struggle sometimes trying to re-create street style looks or lust after a desi...

From talking to my friends who are under 5’3″, I’ve gathered that there’s often a compromise to be made in shopping for petite-friendly clothing. Either they’re forced to settle on an item that isn’t quite their style, or a trip to the tailor is a post-requisite (and extra cost). At 5’7″, I haven’t come up against this issue, exactly. Though I have taken home pieces that don’t fit me perfectly, I can only imagine the frustration of having this be a regular occurrence. Luckily, fashion is becoming increasingly inclusive both in terms of height options and with more extensive sizing ranges. While there’s still a way to go, the options have opened up for all kinds of body types, and nowadays, searching ...

It’s not easy being petite. For all the money you spend on clothes, often you have to then fork out even more for alterations. Hemlines are too long, billowing sleeves have too much excess fabric, and don’t even get me started at waistlines that usually end up sitting somewhere around your hips.  Thankfully though, there are currently several brands that are making things easier for those of us lacking a little bit of height. From Reformation to New Look, Boden to ASOS, dedicated petite ranges are becoming much easier to find if you just know where to look.  You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power. Get to meet Beautiful people, chat and make...

As a petite woman, I can pretty safely say that I’ve experienced all the pros and cons that come with my stature. Sure, I might not be able to see over the crowd at a concert, but I know I’m the one having the last laugh when there’s always ample legroom on a long-haul flight or cross-country train journey. While there are some issues I have just learned to accept (reaching the top shelf of the kitchen cupboards is a losing battle), there are other realities I refuse to give up on. One such example is finding well-fitting clothing. Thankfully, with every passing year, there seem to be more and more options for women who stand below 5’4″, which, by the way, is a large percentage of the British female population, as the average height of women in ...

These added stresses can really take the fun out of summer wardrobe shopping, and on top of that, knowing which brands have dedicated petite sections to aim for can be hard. More often than not, you won’t find them in-store, and you have to dig through menu options to find them online. I wouldn’t blame you for giving up, but before you turn to that old-faithful minidress or pair of denim shorts again, I’m coming to the rescue with some fresh, expensive-looking pieces to add to your summer rotation.  To save you the hassle of failed orders and time-wasting returns, I’ve done a deep dive into some of our favourite summer brands to find their petite sections and then edited those collections down to 30 beautiful buys that—get this—will actually fit and keep you looking el...

All of these added stresses can really take the fun out of summer wardrobe shopping, and on top of that, knowing which brands have dedicated petite sections to aim for can be hard. More often than not you won’t find them in store and you have to dig through menu options to find them online. I wouldn’t blame you for giving up— but before you turn to that old faithful mini dress or pair of denim shorts again, I’m coming to the rescue with some fresh, expensive-looking pieces to add to your summer rotation.  To save you the hassle of failed orders and time-wasting returns, I’ve done a deep-dive into some of our favourite summer brands to find their petite sections, and then edited those collections down to 30 beautiful buys that— get this— will actually fit. And keep you ...

Remembering how to dress for a new season is difficult for anyone, but when you’re under 5’3”, it can be even more of a chore. Yes, we can always turn to our old faithful minidresses and cropped jackets that we rely on every spring, but if you’ve noticed some gaps in your capsule or are looking to update your basics with some on-trend 2022 pieces, the process of finding exciting items that actually fit can seem a little overwhelming and even off-putting, right? I feel you. I’m 5’2”, and it’s been an uphill battle over the years to nail down what wardrobe heroes work for my height, where to go to find the best petite styles and all the little hacks and tricks that make getting dressed a little less frustrating. That alongside my job as a Who What Wear editor means I’m constantly scroll...

Remembering how to dress for a new season is difficult for anyone, but when you’re under 5’3” it can be even more of a chore. Yes, we can always turn to our old faithful mini dresses and cropped jackets that we rely on every spring, but if you’ve noticed some gaps in your capsule or are looking to update your basics with some on-trend 2022 pieces, the process of finding exciting items that actually fit can seem a little overwhelming and even off-putting, right? I feel you. I’m 5’2” and it’s been an uphill battle over the years to nail down what wardrobe heroes work for my height, where to go to find the best petite styles and all the little hacks and tricks that make getting dressed a little less frustrating. That, alongside my job as a Who What Wear editor which means I’m constantly scrol...

Getting dressed in the morning is hard enough in winter, even without being petite. It’s often still dark when we stand in front of our wardrobes searching for something to wear; you never know if it’s going to be freezing outside or oddly mild; and most of us are still experiencing the ‘working from home’ outfit rut. Now add to that the stress of being shorter than 5’3” in a world where most clothes are designed for 6ft, size 8 models… it’s tough, okay! As a petite fashion editor, having to search that little bit harder for outfits that work (and make friends with my local tailor) is something I’ve learnt to tackle my whole adult life. By now, though, I think I’ve managed to crack the code of where to find the best pieces that work for us shorter girls. Yes, I still struggle som...

What is a mock-neck jumper? I hear you ask. Well, let’s start with what it’s not. A roll-neck (or a turtleneck, as they’re known in the U.S.) typically has just that—a roll neck, a portion of fabric on the neckline that folds back on itself to create a double-layer effect. Most roll-necks sit under the chin, even when doubled over. Of course, thicknesses vary, and you can choose whichever one speaks to you. Still, generally, I find a large percentage of roll-necks come up too high and feel somewhat suffocating on my petite frame—especially the fitted iterations. As for my bust? I feel like the height of roll-necks doesn’t do my curves justice. Irrational as this may sound, I have spoken to other women with bigger busts who, although we can’t put our finger on why, just don’t love wear...

Of course, we muddle our way through, don’t we? And over the years, my fellow petite editors and I have made an effort to record all the helpful insider tips we’ve learned along the way—like how to build a capsule wardrobe of petite staples or where to find the best petite pieces on the high street. Most recently, I’ve been trying to decode some of the biggest trends of the moment so that we can wear them as easily as our taller counterparts. If you’ve been wanting to try wide-leg trousers, for example, I wrote about that here. And if you thought it was impossible to pull off a long puffer coat, well, I’m here today to tell you to think again. I recently set out to find the best puffer coats for women below the height of 5’3” and was surprisingly successful. Yes, there are s...